Startup Qtrax has been promising free, legal music downloads from all the major labels via an ad-supported site that was supposed to launch this morning. Too good to be true? Maybe. On the eve of its debut, things started to unravel, with Warner, Universal and EMI all denying agreements with the startup, reports CNET.
The companies said they were in talks with Qtrax, however, and Qtrax’s CEO insisted that his company had “understandings” with the labels even if “some of the deals may not be locked in ink.” Qtrax also promised its downloads will be transferable to portable music players, including—for awhile—iPods, despite Apple restrictions against other sites’ protected tracks, says AP. (More music downloads stories.)