During a special Sunday meeting, the Board of ICANN, the international organization that overseas domain names, approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net. A new .music domain, the longtime dream of Constantine Roussos and his supporters, will likely be included.
The changes could effect the way people search for information including music on the net and how artists and music companies structure their online presence. "Internet users search the web using keywords," explains Roussos, who founded .music (dotMusic) to encourage the domain. "The dominance of Google was a direct result of providing users with the best search result for the keyword phrase they were looking for…The other way Internet users search the web is typing the website directly into their browser. However, unless you have a distinct name, there is minimal chance you will be able to register your brand name in .COM."
As examples Roussos offers:
Justin Bieber – It is not JustinBieber.com
Queen – It is not Queen.com
Prince – It is not Prince.com
Eagles – It is not Eagles.com
Bruce Springsteen – It is not BruceSpringsteen.com
Van Halen – It is not VanHalen.com
Tool – It is not Tool.com
Kiss – It is not Kiss.com
Chicago – It is not Chicago.com
Boston – It is not Boston.com
Oasis – It is not Oasis.com
Usher – It is not Usher.com
Nirvana – It is not Nirvana.com
Journey – It is not Journey.com
Foreigner – It is not Foreigner.com
Scorpions – It is not Scorpions.com
A new .music domain could change all that for artists and music tech companies ready when the names become available. ICANN will soon begin a global campaign to raise awareness of the new top level domain names Applications for new doamins will be accepted from January12 – April 12, 2012.
