Comments on: BBC Music Beta Launches

By: Nigel Smith

Nigel Smith — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 19:53:59 +0000

Most ‘free’ images aren’t really free.

I suspect very few images on Last.FM are actually copyright cleared - note how many of the same photos are uploaded by different users. The images on Wikipedia, often taken by amateurs in the audience, probably aren’t all up to snuff considering how many photos we’d ultimately want.

By using a photo agency, yes, we’re paying, but the photographers are getting an income and we know we can order an image one day and get it on the site the next.

Nigel (BBC)

By: coxy

coxy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:26:55 +0000

They purchased images? What? Really? With so many free image resources out there, I can’t help but think that was a waste of money.

In my blog post, I noted that it would’ve been ace to see artist images being dragged from Last.fm instead of Wikipedia; I didn’t realise they’d actually purchased these images. Ouch.

http://my.opera.com/coxy/blog/2008/07/30/bbc-music-beta

Nice blog you have here, btw.

By: David Long

David Long — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:51:28 +0000

the images are great although understandably limited in number (i.e. 2 pics per artist mostly from what I saw - headshot and concert shot). I’d say they were worth the purchase as the site wouldn’t be as polished without them.

By: Nick Humfrey

Nick Humfrey — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:33:37 +0000

What do you think of the artist images? BBC bought lots of copyright cleared artist images from Redferns to jazz up the site.