I'd like to think I had a role in this, but frankly I'm just glad they've seen sense: SingShot, the so-called YouTube for karaoke, is now completely free with full access to all the features. Previously, SingShot offered a two-week free trial, followed by a charge of $59.40 for an annual subscription, $23.85 for a quarterly subscription or a monthly fee of $9.95. This is pretty much a guaranteed way to lose all your visitors after two weeks, or prevent them joining in the first place - would we have seen Monday's Google-YouTube deal if YouTube had been a paid service? Of course we wouldn't, because the new model is to offer everything for free and figure out how to make money once you're big - it worked for MySpace, and now it looks hopeful for YouTube, too.
Another tidbit suggests they're watching YouTube closely: they've just opened up the site to music labels, film studios and other music-related companies who want to use SingShot as a promotional tool. The latest promotion involves Ice Age 2: The Meltdown - users are asked to submit their own version of the song "Food, Glorious Food" for the chance to win a 4GB iPod Nano. This is a great idea that's very similar to what Jumpcut are doing: launching video remixing competitions based around movies (another good sign: Yahoo acquired Jumpcut recently). However, it might be cool to open this up to everyone: how about allowing bands to create their own accounts, and post the "original" version of a track? They could then invite their fans to record their own versions. Such a move would give SingShot the same cool factor as MySpace Music or Bebo Bands. See also the pseudo-grassroots feel of YouTube Underground.
I've always liked SingShot, but others don't seem so keen. Personally, I think they may be headed for a small acquisition within a year or so.
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