Method and apparatus for embedding advertisements in audio files for internet and network distribution

Abstract

A method for distribution of advertising that includes combining an audio data file that produces an advertising message when processed with a data file that produces a performance of a musical composition when processed. Alternatively the invention may be viewed as a method for distribution of music which includes providing a server connected to a computer network, permitting message data files to be provided for a fee paid by the party providing the message, purchasing rights to multimedia data files from owners of such rights and making available to end users data files comprising a message and a licensed multimedia file by a connection to the network server. Preferably the method provides a multimedia file that comprises a musical composition. An especially preferred embodiment provides a multimedia data file that is an MP3 file comprising a musical composition.

I claim: 
     
         1 . One or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media storing a media file suitable for transmission over a computer network, the media file comprising:
 a first data portion configured to deliver a commercial advertising message to a user when executed; and   a second data portion configured to deliver a non-commercial audio experience to a user when executed;   wherein the media file is configured such that the first and second data portions are executed each time the user executes the media file.   
     
     
         2 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the media file is in a compressed file format. 
     
     
         3 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the media file is in a way format. 
     
     
         4 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the media file is in a MP3 format. 
     
     
         5 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the media file can be transferred or copied by the user from one multimedia device to another. 
     
     
         6 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the non-commercial audio experience comprises a multimedia experience. 
     
     
         7 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the commercial advertising message is from about three seconds to about sixty seconds in length. 
     
     
         8 . The media file of  claim 1 , wherein the first data portion is provided by a third party for a fee. 
     
     
         9 . The media file of  claim 8 , wherein the first data portion is executed each time the media file is executed regardless of the amount of the fee paid by the third party. 
     
     
         10 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions for implementing a method of distributing a commercial advertising message, the method comprising:
 providing a first media file configured to deliver audio multimedia to a user when executed;   combining the first media file with a second media file comprising a commercial advertising message to form a third media file;   receiving a request for the first media file from a user; and   transmitting the third media file to the user over the computer network.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising executing the third media file on a computer or a multimedia playing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first media file is provided by a party for a fee. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the commercial advertising message is played every time the third media file is executed, regardless of the amount of the fee. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first, second, and third media files are audio files. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second media files are combined using a sound editor. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second media files are combined using a hexadecimal editor. 
     
     
         17 . A server connected to a computer network and including one or more non-transitory, computer-readable storage media configured to perform a method of distributing multimedia, the method comprising:
 permitting a party to provide first multimedia files comprising commercial advertising messages to the server for a fee;   purchasing rights to second multimedia files from owners of such rights, thereby providing licensed second multimedia files to the server;   combining at least one first multimedia file with a second multimedia file to form a third multimedia file;   making the third multimedia file available for download by a user over the computer network.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the third multimedia file can be transferred or copied by the user from one multimedia device to another after being downloaded by the user. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the commercial advertising message is played every time the user plays the third multimedia file. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein first, second, and third multimedia files are audio files.