I wrote about the launch of SpiralFrog last August – an online music store that provides free music through advertising supported downloads. I didn’t think it had a chance. I still don’t:

2006’s launch target was missed and it now hopes to launch in February 2007. It still only has Universal Music Group on its roster of major music labels although some independent labels are signed too. Critics may well scoff at the “puny” library, but the main problems are..

• It’s a subscription service, even though you don’t pay anything. Users need to visit the SpiralFrog website every month to validate their music.
• The music cannot be transferred to a CD.
• The music can only be listened to on one PC and two mobile devices.
• According to this report from CNET News, customers will have to wait 90 seconds for each song to download. Company managers deny this is to ensure people look at the ads.

Infighting between SpiralFrog’s management and board members lead to SpiralFrog CEO Robin Kent leaving on 26 December 2006, followed soon after by half of the board directors and 5 company managers.

And what about these other major labels? Well, last summer EMI teamed up with Qtrax – a start-up which is also to provide free ad-supported music. Universal Music Group has signed a distribution deal with Qtrax so it surely can’t be long before SpiralFrog folds.