Monetary distribution of behavioral demographics and fan-supported distribution of commercial content

Abstract

A method includes identifying a media file for distribution and identifying a plurality of commercial messages as possible content that can be associated with the media file when it is distributed. Votes from a plurality of customers can be received, with each vote reflecting a customer's preference for at least one of the plurality of commercial messages. The votes can be calculated and at least one preferred commercial message can be designated based on the calculation. At least one preferred commercial message can be associated with the media file to create a combined media file and the combined media file can be distributed and/or made available for distribution.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for providing rewards to customers for supporting commercial messages, the method comprising:
 registering a plurality of customers by obtaining personal and/or geographic information about each customer and associating that information with a unique username;   providing a voting forum for the registered customers to vote on their preferred commercial messages;   receiving votes from the registered customers, each vote reflecting a customer's preference for one of a plurality of commercial messages;   calculating the votes and designating a preferred commercial message based on the calculation;   associating the preferred commercial message with a media file; and   streaming the preferred commercial message with the media file without charge to the plurality of customers.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media file and the commercial messages comprise audio files. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the media file and the commercial messages comprise video files. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of commercial messages comprise commercial messages created by one or more of the registered customers. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 calculating a number of viewings of the commercial message by respective customers; and   providing a reward to the one or more registered customers after they have streamed the commercial message a predetermined amount of times.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reward comprises:
 providing the one or more registered customers with free copies of the media file without the commercial message.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 allowing respective registered customers to provide access to the streamed file to unregistered users;   tracking whether the unregistered users view the commercial message; and   providing a reward to each customer that forwarded access to the streamed file to unregistered users that viewed the commercial message.