MetroLyrics

MetroLyrics
FoundedDecember 30, 2002; 21 years ago (2002-12-30)[1]
DissolvedJune 29, 2021
Headquarters
Vancouver, British Columbia
,
Canada
Founder(s)Milun Tesovic, Alan Juristovski
ServicesLyrics
Employees10+[2]
ParentRed Ventures
URLwww.metrolyrics.com

MetroLyrics was a website dedicated to song lyrics. It was founded in December 2002, and its database contained over one million songs by over 16,000 artists.[3] Unlike other lyric websites, MetroLyrics places a warning on songs that contain explicit lyrics so that users can proceed with caution. The site abruptly went offline in late June 2021, and as of November 2022 its owners and maintainers have made no explanation.

History

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In 2008, MetroLyrics was the first lyrics-dedicated site to license Gracenote Inc.'s lyrics catalogue.[4] Through its licensing model, copyright holders of lyrics accrue royalty revenue when their work is displayed on MetroLyrics.com, which MetroLyrics recoups by collecting money from banner advertisements on its site. Royalties are paid on all displayed lyrics and are handled through Gracenote. In January 2013, LyricFind acquired Gracenote's lyrics licensing business, merging it in with their own.[5] MetroLyrics' licensing model is distinct, as many lyrics websites offer content that is unlicensed and possibly copyright infringing.[6]

MetroLyrics was acquired by CBS Interactive in October 2011.[7][8] Red Ventures acquired the CNET Media Group, including MetroLyrics, from CBS Interactive in 2020.

References

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  1. ^ "MetroLyrics.com WHOIS, DNS, & Domain Info - DomainTools". WHOIS. Retrieved March 26, 2016.
  2. ^ MetroLyrics: How a B.C. teen created one of the world's biggest music sites
  3. ^ "About us". MetroLyrics. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Gracenote and Metrolyrics Extend Authorized Lyrics Service to Mobile Devices and iPhone Applications". MetroLeap Media. Archived from the original on February 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ "Welcoming Gracenote and Larry Marcus!". January 15, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  6. ^ Plambeck, Joseph (May 9, 2010). "Lyrics Sites at Center of Fight Over Royalties". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "CBS Interactive Music Group broadens distribution of its core assets to metrolyrics.com's Global Audience of more than 25 million users". Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  8. ^ Shaw, Gillian (October 11, 2011). "MetroLyrics acquisition by CBS Interactive a high note for Canada's new media". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
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