Click to Download: Streaming music and cloud services gear up

Now that Spotify and We7 have taken music streaming to the masses, the next shift in our listening habits is expected to be towards a new breed of "cloud services". These allow users to upload their digital music library from their computer to a website, then access it from any computer or mobile device. Both iTunes and Google are strongly rumoured to be launching services in the coming months. Until then, you can give this latest technological new dawn a whirl with mSpot.com . Sign up for a free mSpot account and you can easily sync parts or all of your PC or Mac's music collection with the site – although it can take around 90 seconds for each song to upload. Once your music is there, access your account through any computer's browser, and you can play, search and make playlists. In the US, there's already a free Android mobile app, which allows you to play your mSpot library on the go, with an iPhone app expected to follow. With mSpot, free users aren't subjected to any adverts. We7 and Spotify use their ad revenue to pay their hefty streaming royalty bills. But mSpot argues that if you already own an MP3, you have the right to play it on your own devices, without the need for further royalties. So, you can upload up to 2GB of music to mSpot for free. It's an impressive service, but it seems likely that mSpot's outlook on royalties will be challenged by the big four labels before very long. Plus, the launch of those higher-profile cloud music rivals is looming. The big question, though, is whether any service built solely on music that a user "owns" can compete against the streaming sites that allow people to hear whatever they like, without having to purchase it first. Apple, of course, would prefer people to keep buying music from its iTunes store. But even they have been offering some impressive free streaming this week. The shows taking place at this month's iTunes Festival in London are being webcast live via both MySpace.com and the free iTunes Live iPhone/iPad app. So far, Scissor Sisters, Tony Bennett and N-Dubz have appeared. On-demand highlights should soon begin to appear at itunesfestival.co.uk , where you can also check the full lineup. But, if you're staying in tonight, the folkpop double bill from Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling should be well worth catching live. Send your links to [email protected]