View source for Music Store/Spec

you have a script that runs over your database periodically, OR whenever you add new tracks. this script exports your entire database as an xml file (the "Music Store.xml" file).  The XML file must be encoded in UTF-8, and it includes every bit of meta-data you have for each song eg:<br>
<pre>
name
artist
publisher (sunfly, zoom, legends, chartbuster, etc)
price (USD)
unique song ID (supplied by you, i use this to reference the song to you when requesting a purchase)
a URL for playing a sample of the song (hosted on your server, typically 15-30 seconds of the song in m4v format)
genre
duration
media format type (MP3+G, mov, avi, mpg)
url to icon
song key (eg: "Key of Gm")
if it's a duet
any and all other meta data you have
</pre>
many are optional, but the more you have, the more the user can search and filter on.

this xml file is then published to a known URL at your site, optionally zipped for download speed.  My software, periodically, checks this file for updates.  if it is newer than last time (ie: the "Last-Modified" header HTTP header is changed) then i re-download, parse, and display the newly updated store list.

the user can then search and filter your song store from within kJams.

when the user clicks the buy song button, i send an HTTPS request url to your server in one of 2 forms:
1) full credit card credentials of the user plus the song ID
2) "bulk purchase code" credentials plus song ID

for 1) i send, within the URL, the user's (buyer's) name, address, email, credit card, my affiliate ID, and song ID, and whatever else you'd require
for 2) you would have to have some method of allowing the user to pre-purchase a block of credits for song purchases at your store.  this would allow discounting for buying more.  if you don't have that set up then oh well, you may not get as many sales but we can cross that bridge later.

upon successful processing of the credit card or purchase code (which is handled by your site), the result URL sent back to me is the actual download link for the purchased song.  simultaneously you will send a receipt to the buyer (since you got their email address as part of the purchase request), this receipt would ALSO include the download URL, in case something went wrong.  this URL may expire in a set number of days if you wish.  Note I require the "Content-Length" http header field on this download.  if this is not possible due to some technical reason, then you must include the size of the download within the meta data of the "Music Store.xml" file.

you price the songs however you wish, and for each song i sell i would simply get an affiliate commission, eg: 10% per song or something, whatever you feel is reasonable.  you may cut checks whenever it is fiscally reasonable to do so (eg: when i make more than say $100 or something, or just quarterly or bi-anually or whatever) or just use paypal to pay me.

i think you'd also want a download link for kJams on your website.  users can use the free version to get to your music store.  the ONLY limit on the free version is they can't make a playlist with more than 3 songs, can't export more than 10 songs to iPod, and can't rip from CD more than the first 2 songs on any disc.  other than that it is fully functional.  Note the "playlst size limit" does not affect the actual "Library" playlist, they can add as many songs as they want to that.  i've got more than 20,000 kJams users that are using the free version (unregistered), i've purposely made it very useful and functional even when used in "Tryout" mode.

the Tricerasoft and KaraokeLocker stores are functioning now.  go ahead and download kJams and give it a try, in your 1 click settings, enter 4111111111111111 as your credit card number, make up the rest except do '''use your real email address'''. and you'll be able to test the store (you'll always get a bon jovi song) so you can see just how dead simple it makes purchasing songs.  it's impulse purchase at it's finest.

Summary:<br>
-> client asks for song list (Music Store.xml)<br>
<- server returns download URL link of xml or zipped xml file of song list including all meta data

later:<br>
-> client sends purchase request (SSL)<br>
<- server performs financial transaction and succeeds<br>
<- server responds to client with new unique URL to download purchased song<br>
<- server emails user directly with receipt including (optionally expiring) download URL
-> client downloads purchased song and installs into user's library<br>