Yahoo searches for the music

Yahoo combined two of the hottest topics in the Web world--music and search--this week, releasing a beta version of an audio search service that allows users to look for music downloads, podcasts, newscasts, speeches and interviews.

The search service scans content available from Yahoo, along with music from partners such as Napster and Rhapsody.

The launch was welcomed by music buffs and search engine watchers alike. A main issue of interest is how the service would combine searches for legit music, with illicit files.

While some commentators bemoaned the inclusion of paid services, saying it would turn off audiophiles, others proclaimed it the wave of the future.

Blog community response:

"From a search perspective, it's pretty impressive but the fact the service is heavily geared toward paid downloads takes away from its appeal."
--Mark Evans

"Get used to this, I'd wager it's coming from Google as well - search as the interface to finding and then paying for stuff."
--John Battelle's Searchblog

"I'm looking forward to seeing what the next release offers in terms of features, relevancy, and organization of results. I'm also interested to see how Yahoo handles tracks that might be available on the "open web" illegally but also available from a legal, music service."
--SearchEngineWatch

"Of course, its success or otherwise will depend on people sharing the details of their audio files with Yahoo, and the RIAA not turning up and spoiling things..."
--No Rock and Roll Fun