On August 4th 2005, Yahoo! introduced a new audio files search service for audiophiles. Basically, it is a meta site for music lovers and audiophiles of every sort, which offers links to mostly subscription-based music download services. These services enable you to download songs, podcasts, speeches, and additional audio content to your computer, iPod or other MP3 player.

Can't find the song you're looking for on iTunes, go to Next.Yahoo.com (a showcase of Yahoo's newest, cutting-edge projects), click on Audio.Search.Yahoo.com, and you may find it available on Napster, Rhapsody, GarageBand, eMusic, ArtistDirect, AudioLunchbox, BuyMusic.com, dMusic, Epitonic, Livedownloads, MP34U, MSN Music, Musicmatch, PassAlong, RealPlayer Music Store, SoundClick or Yahoo! Music Unlimited.

Yahoo's new service is called Yahoo Audio.

It is the Internet company's latest effort to differentiate itself from Google and Microsoft.

It is also one more way to better serve Yahoo's loyal customer base while generating some incremental ad sponsorship revenue in the process.

Millions of audio files will now be available. While other search engines such as Singingfish already offer audio search, Yahoo Audio is the first to access songs featured on most major music download sites.

The service works much like the company's image and video services.

Type in a set of words or phrases in the search field and

Current suggested searches include:

* Music - from "Coldplay" to "Bloc Party"
* Interviews, speeches and newscasts - "Colin Powell interview"
* Podcasts - "NPR"
* Jokes
* Sound effects - "horror scream"

A cool feature is the ability to say, "My preference is iTunes first (as I'm already a subscriber) before other sites serve up their offering. If iTunes doesn't offer the song, at least I know I can get it through independent audio producers or one of the nearly twenty music download services currently available through Yahoo Audio.

If you're looking to download a song via Kazaa and Grokster which is copyrighted, you will not find it here.

Likewise, if a record label complains about any song featured on Yahoo Audio, their copyrighted song will be quickly removed from the site.

Bradley Horowitz, Technology Director for Yahoo Audio said:

Eventually, we hope to add lyrics and similar features.

While much of Yahoo's popularity comes from Yahoo Maps and their e-mail service, this feather in their cap could lure a new set of customers in their direction. I would be one of them.

With three iPods in our family and a plethora of music interests, Yahoo Audio will be a welcome addition to my Bookmark Bar on my PowerBook G4.

I'm here to get the viral marketing campaign going through the online Rugged Elegance community. The more we pass on this news, the faster this great service can improve. For one, access to lyrics would be a great addition.

For instance, the other day I did a search on Jonny Blu's "Miracles Happen" lyrics which I believe is in both Mandarin and English. I couldn't find them. Perhaps once Yahoo Audio gets out of "beta" the full-blown service will provide hard-to-find lyrics such as these - which were originally discovered on the Princess Diaries 2 CD. Great song, by the way! I plan to use his inspirational song in an iMovie tied to Baidu's IPO tomorrow. But before I present this gift to co-founder Eric Xu, CEO Robin Li and his first investors from Peninsula Capital and Integrity Partners, I wanted to make sure it is in the Chinese dialect Robin & Co. speak at home in Beijing. Once we get to New York to join in the celebration, I'll have to pull aside their IR manager and have her listen to our iPod, so she can tell me whether or not I'm on the right "track".

I'd also love to get news alerts when one of my favorite artists has released a new single or CD. Talk about the quickest way for us to max out our iPod 60GB Photo.

For instance, I had not heard that Van Morrison just released a new CD until probably a month after its release. I'm not inclined to create a Google News Alert for Van Morrison, Jamie Cullum, Joss Stone, Diana Krall, et al. I would get inundated with stories I don't care to hear about. However, if an alert were sent to me only when one of these artists and others had new music available, I'd sign up in a heartbeat.

Congratulations Yahoo! and the Yahoo Audio team!!

Inspire & Be Inspired.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful, "the 'next' big thing in music" living!

~ Jennifer Carolyn King, Rugged Elegance, LLC