World Music Network (WMN), a newly formed media download technology company, has announced the creation of a unified technology standard from which all forms of music content can be accessed, delivered, tracked and billed on behalf of the artists and record companies. WMN's technology takes an individual song or video at the moment it's recorded and instantly converts it into several marketable and easily distributed products – at a multiple of millions. The announcement is expected to be embraced by the music industry as it steps up its efforts to re-gain control of distribution and put an end to illegal copying of songs and videos.

WMN's technology ends the ability of P2P software providers and MP3 distributors to deliver their illegal files to the end user and, in its place, delivers those same products over a secure, controllable and profitable Internet-based system.

WMN uses existing technology to create an MP3 file from an original CD or music track that can be legally shared. The unique file has its own exclusive identifier or tag that allows the file to be recognized by MP3 players, MP3 P2P applications and Internet browsers. The tag also allows MP3 files to be transferred across the Internet and between operating systems seamlessly and without corruption.

Working to revive the retail side of the music industry, WMN is planning tests of its licensed point-of-sale MUSIKiosks. Installed in malls and other high-traffic retail centers, consumers can browse through a selection of high-quality, fully licensed CD music and MP3 tunes -- downloadable via high-speed Internet connections to memory-stick flash cards at the music retailers locations.