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.music

.music is a community-based generic top-level domain (gTLD) delegated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to DotMusic Limited on October 29, 2021, for exclusive use by verified participants in the global music industry, including artists, songwriters, labels, and professionals.^[1]^[2] The TLD emphasizes authenticated digital identities through a mandatory verification process known as MusicID, which requires proof of legitimate affiliation with the music sector to prevent cybersquatting and safeguard intellectual property.^[3] Following ICANN's new gTLD program, .music underwent a sunrise period from September 11 to November 15, 2023, for trademark holders, followed by phased launches culminating in global general availability on October 9, 2024, supported by endorsements from organizations like the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC).^[4]^[5] Backed by over 600 music rights organizations worldwide, the domain has achieved rapid adoption with more than 35,000 registrations across 110 countries within months of launch, including allocations of up to one million free domains to eligible industry members prior to May 2024.^[2]^[6] The initiative faced significant contention during ICANN's application process in 2012, one of the most disputed strings, but DotMusic prevailed as the designated registry operator committed to community governance and anti-abuse measures.^[7] By providing tools for brand control, merchandise, and data ownership, .music aims to empower the music ecosystem against unauthorized use, though its restricted access model distinguishes it from unrestricted gTLDs like .com.^[2]

Historical Context

ICANN New gTLD Program Origins

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) initiated efforts to expand the generic top-level domain (gTLD) namespace in 2000 through a limited sponsored round that delegated seven new TLDs, including .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, and .pro, aiming to address growing demand for domain alternatives beyond legacy options like .com.^[8] This early expansion highlighted the potential for industry-specific and community-oriented namespaces but revealed limitations in scalability due to restrictive criteria. In response, ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) launched a policy development process in 2005 to evaluate broader introduction of new gTLDs, culminating in a comprehensive framework by 2008-2012 that emphasized private-sector innovation, competition in domain registration services, and mitigation of risks like cybersquatting through evaluation criteria for applicants.^[9] The program's design prioritized causal mechanisms for namespace growth, such as allowing unrestricted generic strings proposed by entities demonstrating technical and operational capability, over ad hoc allocations. The 2012 application round, launched on January 12 and closing on April 20, received 1,930 applications from 611 unique applicants across 140 countries, each requiring a non-refundable evaluation fee of $185,000 to cover ICANN's processing costs.^[10] This fee structure, combined with additional requirements for financial viability and technical infrastructure, ensured only committed private entities pursued extensions, fostering a market-driven proliferation of TLDs tailored to sectors like music, technology, and brands. ICANN's goals included enhancing consumer choice, reducing reliance on crowded legacy TLDs, and enabling first-principles organization of the domain space by thematic relevance rather than geographic or generic defaults. Empirically, the program has delegated over 1,200 new gTLDs into the root zone by 2025, expanding the total number of TLDs to approximately 1,500, including legacy gTLDs and country-code TLDs.^[10] ^[11] This proliferation has driven measurable growth in overall domain registrations, with new gTLDs collectively accounting for tens of millions of domains, yet uptake remains uneven: many extensions average fewer than 10,000 registrations initially, reflecting challenges in market adoption, marketing costs, and user inertia toward established TLDs like .com.^[12] Such outcomes underscore the program's success in diversifying the namespace technically while revealing causal limits in end-user behavior, where branded or niche TLDs (e.g., .google) outperform generic ones absent aggressive promotion.

2012 Application Round Specifics

The ICANN new gTLD application window opened on January 12, 2012, and closed on April 20, 2012, accepting submissions for 1,930 applications across various strings, including multiple for desirable generic terms like .music due to their appeal for industry-specific uses.^[13] The .music contention set formed with five primary applicants, reflecting high demand for the string among entities seeking to establish a dedicated namespace for music-related domains. Applicants were required to provide comprehensive documentation proving technical and operational expertise, financial stability—including a $185,000 non-refundable fee—and adherence to ICANN's applicant guidebook specifications for registry operations. .mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,0,0,.1)}Certain .music applicants pursued community-based designation under ICANN guidelines, asserting structured ties to the global music sector for endorsement and governance purposes, which triggered specialized reviews beyond standard initial evaluations.^[14] ICANN's reveal day on June 13, 2012, publicly disclosed applied-for strings and applicants, highlighting contention sets like .music where multiple bids necessitated resolution mechanisms such as auctions or private agreements. Initial evaluations began in July 2012, with phased results released starting March 22, 2013, identifying early flags for .music including potential string confusion risks and community claim validations that extended processing into 2014 and beyond, delaying delegation until 2019 amid unresolved causal factors like overlapping eligibility interpretations.^[15] These mechanics underscored the program's emphasis on rigorous vetting to mitigate namespace fragmentation, though high-contention strings amplified procedural complexities without immediate resolutions.

Applicants and Contention Sets

DotMusic Limited (.MUSIC)

DotMusic Limited, founded by Constantine Roussos, pursued the .music generic top-level domain (gTLD) as a restricted namespace dedicated to verified participants in the global music industry, encompassing artists, record labels, songwriters, and fans, with the aim of curbing cybersquatting and fostering authentic digital identities tied to musical activities.^[16]^[17] The company's application, submitted during ICANN's 2012 new gTLD round, proposed stringent eligibility criteria mandating proof of a substantive nexus to the music sector, such as professional involvement or fan affiliation demonstrated through endorsements or affiliations with recognized music organizations.^[18]^[19] The proposal articulated a rationale centered on establishing a centralized verification mechanism to ensure that .music domains signal credible connections to music, thereby reducing risks of impersonation and enhancing trust in online music-related interactions, with policies requiring registrants to obtain validation codes affirming their industry ties.^[20]^[21] This community-focused approach contrasted with unrestricted commercial alternatives by prioritizing empirical safeguards against abuse, supported by backing from music sector stakeholders who endorsed the restricted model for preserving the TLD's integrity.^[22] DotMusic withdrew from certain contention resolution auctions to pursue legal and procedural challenges, ultimately securing the .music delegation in April 2019 following ICANN's affirmation of its prevailing status amid multiple objections and evaluations, where metrics of community endorsement and alignment with music-specific governance demonstrated advantages over rival bids.^[17]^[23]^[24]

Far Further LLC

Far Further LLC, a company based in Franklin, Tennessee, and founded in 2008 by music industry executives, submitted an application for the .music generic top-level domain (gTLD) via its subsidiary .music LLC as part of ICANN's 2012 new gTLD program (application ID 1-959-51046). The bid targeted registrations from music-related entities worldwide, securing endorsements from major trade groups such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Music Publishers' Association, which represented commercial interests in the sector including labels and publishers. These backers emphasized the TLD's potential to create a dedicated online space for music commerce, promotion, and collaboration, with projected operations leveraging partnerships for technical infrastructure, including Neustar for registry backend services and Architelos for domain security monitoring.^[25]^[26] The application pursued community priority designation under ICANN's evaluation framework, proposing policies to limit registrations to verified music participants through accreditation processes tied to endorsing organizations, thereby enforcing music-centric use while enabling revenue from a broad base of industry stakeholders such as artists, labels, and publishers. This approach contrasted with more open commercial bids by incorporating gatekeeping mechanisms to align with supporter-defined community boundaries, yet it underscored a profit-oriented model reliant on industry alliances rather than universal access. Implementation plans included multi-registrar access but prioritized controlled onboarding to sustain TLD value, with financial projections hinging on adoption by established music entities amid a contention set of six applicants.^[27]^[28] Following ICANN's initial evaluation, .music LLC underwent Community Priority Evaluation in 2014, scoring only 3 out of a possible 16 points—well below the 14-point threshold for prevailing over non-community rivals—due to shortcomings in demonstrating broad community representation and enforcement mechanisms. Far Further LLC withdrew its application in early 2019, as competitors like Amazon, Google, and Donuts exited the race through private resolutions, obviating the need for a high-stakes auction that could exceed millions in bidding costs for a single TLD. This exit reflected pragmatic recognition of competitive dynamics and escalating expenses in the prolonged contention process, embodying a commercial calculus favoring withdrawal over uncertain high-risk investment in an oversubscribed namespace.^[27]^[29]

TLDH Holdings and LHL Holdings

Top Level Domain Holdings Ltd. (TLDH), a domain investment firm, partnered with LHL TLD Investment Partners—a consortium of music industry figures including artists, managers, publishers, and executives—on March 23, 2012, to submit a joint application for the .music gTLD under ICANN's 2012 new gTLD program.^[30]^[31] The partnership leveraged TLDH's experience as a portfolio applicant, which had pursued dozens of premium gTLD strings, while LHL provided music-sector connections to position .music as a versatile asset.^[31] The proposed .music registry envisioned unrestricted registration policies open to any interested party, without community-specific gating, aiming to maximize registrations through broad commercialization or potential resale of the TLD rights post-resolution.^[32] Backend registry services were to be handled by Minds + Machines Group Ltd., TLDH's technical partner, emphasizing scalable operations for high-volume domain sales rather than niche music ecosystem protections.^[32] This investor-oriented model treated .music as a speculative high-value string, akin to TLDH's strategy for other desirable extensions like .vip or .site, where the focus was on acquiring TLDs for monetization via second-level domain sales or portfolio consolidation.^[33] Facing a multi-applicant contention set—including community-backed bids—the joint TLDH-LHL application withdrew prior to ICANN's final auction phase around 2017, avoiding escalation costs and enabling contention resolution among remaining parties.^[34] This exit exemplified portfolio players' pragmatic approach in gTLD competitions, where data from the 2012 round shows investor applicants like TLDH secured or divested over 100 strings but often exited contested premiums to preserve capital, drawing critiques for prioritizing speculation over targeted industry utility.^[35] Such strategies contributed to ICANN's observed pattern of auction-driven outcomes for high-demand strings, with portfolio firms recovering investments through selective wins elsewhere.^[33]

Amazon Registry Services

Amazon EU S.à r.l., an affiliate of Amazon Registry Services, Inc., applied for the .music generic top-level domain (gTLD) during ICANN's 2012 new gTLD application round, with application ID 1-1316-18029.^[36] The proposal envisioned an open registry model permitting broad registration of .music domains, supplemented by trademark protections such as a sunrise period for rights holders and uniform dispute resolution policies to mitigate cybersquatting risks.^[37] This approach aligned with Amazon's e-commerce ecosystem, aiming to support music-related services including digital sales, streaming platforms, and content distribution integrated with its existing digital music offerings, which by 2012 encompassed the Amazon MP3 store serving millions of tracks.^[25] The bid emphasized leveraging Amazon's infrastructure for scalable domain management and enhanced user trust through backend services like robust security and search optimization, positioning .music as a namespace for commercial music entities rather than a restricted community domain.^[38] However, it faced scrutiny over potential market dominance, with concerns raised that a tech giant's control of a generic term like "music" could disadvantage smaller music industry players lacking comparable resources for promotion and enforcement.^[37] Amazon's application was one of 76 gTLD bids submitted by the company, reflecting a strategy prioritizing vertical integrations in retail and media sectors, such as complementary applications for .song and .shop that ultimately advanced to delegation.^[39] In 2016, Amazon withdrew its .music application amid ongoing contention sets, legal challenges, and a reassessment of operational costs versus benefits, opting instead to concentrate on successfully delegated TLDs like .buy—acquired via auction for $4.6 million—and .song, which support similar e-commerce synergies without the protracted disputes associated with .music.^[38] ^[40] This decision underscored broader dynamics in the gTLD program, where large-scale applicants like Amazon could absorb evaluation fees exceeding $185,000 per application but pivoted from high-contention strings to lower-risk opportunities, leaving niche claimants to navigate extended resolution processes.^[25]

Radix Registry

Radix Registry, an applicant headquartered in Mumbai, India, submitted its .music gTLD application (ID 1-1058-25065) during the 2012 ICANN new gTLD round on June 13, 2012, as part of a 31-application portfolio focused on generic dictionary terms suitable for broad commercial use. The company, a subsidiary of Directi Group, positioned itself as Asia's largest new gTLD portfolio applicant, investing over $30 million across its bids to target high-volume, low-barrier domain ecosystems, particularly appealing to users in emerging markets through affordable pricing strategies observed in its successful operations of other generic TLDs like .site.^[41]^[42] In its .music proposal, Radix emphasized robust technical infrastructure via partnership with ARI Registry Services as backend provider, alongside aggressive global marketing to promote adoption among music enthusiasts, creators, and businesses without restrictive eligibility requirements.^[41] This commercial approach contrasted with community-based bids in the contention set, aiming instead for unrestricted registrations to maximize registrations through competitive wholesale pricing projected to undercut incumbents and stimulate secondary market growth in music-related digital identities.^[43] The application passed ICANN's initial evaluation, underscoring Radix's operational readiness, but faced challenges in demonstrating differentiated value amid multiple portfolio competitors including Amazon and Donuts affiliates.^[20] Radix withdrew its .music application in early 2019 during final contention resolution, following DotMusic Limited's success in Community Priority Evaluation (CPE), which prioritized established music industry endorsements over generic commercial models.^[44]^[14] This outcome exemplified ICANN's structural bias toward applicants evidencing pre-existing community support structures, despite Radix's representation of non-Western geographic diversity in the program and proven scalability in other awarded TLDs.^[41] The withdrawal aligned with private settlements reducing the contention set, enabling .music delegation to the prevailing community applicant later that year.^[44]

Evaluation and Objections

ICANN Initial Evaluation Process

The ICANN Initial Evaluation Process for the 2012 new gTLD application round, which included multiple bids for .music, began after the application submission deadline of 20 June 2012, with a prioritization lottery held on 17 December 2012 to sequence reviews. Processing occurred in phased batches starting 22 March 2013, focusing on verifying applicants' technical, operational, and financial qualifications as defined in the Applicant Guidebook's evaluation criteria. This mandatory first-stage review preceded any contention resolution or objection phases, ensuring only viable proposals advanced.^[9]^[45] Financial assessments required applicants to submit audited statements or equivalent proof of sufficient funding for at least three years of registry operations, including escrow deposits covering projected costs—often exceeding $500,000 based on scale and backend provider commitments. Technical and operational vetting examined commitments to DNSSEC deployment for domain security, WHOIS data accuracy and privacy compliance, and backend registry services reliability. All six .music applicants passed these string and capability reviews without outright failures, confirming baseline eligibility despite the string's placement in a high-contention set.^[46]^[47]^[48] The process uncovered delays from incomplete documentation, prompting iterative clarification requests and extended reviews that pushed .music evaluations into 2014–2015. These inefficiencies, compounded by the 1,930-application volume, causally extended the round's timeline, with contended strings like .music not reaching delegation until 2019 after subsequent dispute mechanisms. No .music bidders required formal Extended Evaluation for technical deficiencies, though contention flagging deferred deeper operational probes until resolution.^[15]^[8]

Legal Rights Objections

DotMusic Limited filed multiple Legal Rights Objections (LROs) in March 2013 with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) against competing applicants for the .music generic top-level domain (gTLD), invoking prior trademark rights in marks including ".music LLC" registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.^[49] These objections asserted that the applicants' use of the .music string would cause confusion, dilution, or unfair competition by leveraging DotMusic's established branding in the music domain industry.^[50] Targeted applicants included Charleston Road Registry Inc., Google's designated gTLD registry operator, and Amazon EU S.à r.l., with DotMusic claiming the .music string was not merely descriptive but embodied proprietary rights tied to its trademarks and operational history.^[51] WIPO expert panels, applying ICANN's LRO criteria requiring demonstrable standing via prior trademarks and a substantial likelihood of harm, rejected these claims, ruling that "music" constitutes a generic and descriptive term lacking sufficient distinctiveness to confer exclusive rights over the gTLD.^[52] For example, the panel in DotMusic Limited v. Charleston Road Registry Inc. (Case No. LRO2013-0058) determined on July 30, 2013, that no standing existed due to the string's common usage in commerce and absence of evidence for dilution or confusion in the gTLD context.^[50] Additional LROs by DotMusic against entities such as Entertainment Names Inc. and .music LLC followed similar trajectories, with panels on August 15, 2013, dismissing them for failure to prove proprietary exclusivity over a descriptive term widely used in the music sector.^[53]^[54] Objections lacking adequate standing, including those emphasizing post-application trademark filings, were invalidated, underscoring WIPO's emphasis on pre-existing, substantive rights rather than opportunistic claims.^[55] The uniform rejection of DotMusic's LROs ensured no trademark-based veto halted .music delegation proceedings, reflecting ICANN's framework prioritizing TLD proliferation for generic strings while safeguarding against demonstrable legal harms, without permitting descriptive terms to monopolize namespace expansion.^[52]

Community Objections

Community objections to .music gTLD applications were filed primarily by music industry associations asserting harm to the sector's identity from applicants perceived as insufficiently connected to musicians, labels, and creators. The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), representing independent labels, submitted objections against multiple contenders, including DotMusic Limited (case 1-1175-68062), DotMusic Inc. (case 1-1058-25065), Amazon Registry Services, and others, arguing that unrestricted or inadequately nexus-driven operations would dilute the namespace's value for the music community by prioritizing commercial interests over sector-specific protections like intellectual property enforcement.^[56]^[57] These challenges, adjudicated by ICDR panels under ICANN's objection framework, required objectors to demonstrate standing as community representatives and substantiate claims of substantial opposition or detriment, such as failure to enforce music-focused policies that could lead to cybersquatting or non-music uses. While public determinations for .music-specific cases remain limited, the process revealed factional splits: A2IM, aligned with independent networks like WIN affiliates, critiqued applicants lacking "indisputable, substantial standing" in the music ecosystem, yet broader endorsements for community models emerged from other groups emphasizing global cohesion.^[52]^[58] DotMusic Limited countered with evidence of endorsements from over 600 music organizations, claiming representation of entities covering more than 95% of global music consumption, which bolstered its priority assertion against commercial rivals by illustrating organized support for restricted access tied to verified music affiliations.^[59]^[60] This support, including from export offices and creator bodies, contrasted objections from independents wary of centralized control, fueling debates on whether a singular "global music community" exists or if decentralized voices should prevail. The objections ultimately amplified scrutiny on applicant legitimacy, influencing ICANN's contention evaluations without resolving underlying representational disputes.^[61]

Resolution and Award

Contention Resolution Mechanisms

In the ICANN new gTLD program, string contention occurs when multiple entities apply for the identical top-level domain label, forming a contention set that requires resolution to delegate a single applicant. Primary mechanisms prioritize applicant-driven solutions, including private negotiations resulting in withdrawals or settlements, over ICANN-administered processes. Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) serves as a comparative tool for applicants claiming representation of a defined community, allowing a qualifying community application to prevail without auction if it scores sufficiently high against non-community rivals. Auctions, conducted by ICANN as a last resort, allocate the string to the highest bidder only after other options fail.^[14]^[62] For the .music contention set, DotMusic Limited pursued CPE based on its proposed representation of the global music community, defined by established institutions, professionals, and enthusiasts with shared interests in music creation, performance, and distribution. Evaluation criteria demanded demonstration of a delineated community structure, a substantial nexus linking the .music string to community values and activities, stringent registration gatekeeping to prevent non-member access, and formal enforcement mechanisms against misuse. DotMusic's application satisfied these under independent review by the Economist Intelligence Unit, achieving the requisite threshold to assert priority over non-community competitors, notwithstanding later procedural disputes and ICANN's post-evaluation audits.^[63]^[20] Escalating costs associated with contention—encompassing legal fees, evaluation expenses, and potential auction deposits often exceeding $100,000 per participant, with winning bids historically surpassing $10 million—drive over 90% of resolutions toward non-auction paths. Across the 2012 program, 234 contention sets formed, with 233 resolved; only 16 underwent ICANN auctions, while the remainder settled via withdrawals or agreements, underscoring how financial disincentives causally favor early private resolution to avert protracted, high-stakes bidding wars. The .music set exemplified this pattern, bypassing auction through such mechanisms while leveraging CPE to substantiate DotMusic's claim amid multi-applicant rivalry.^[13]^[64]

Key Settlements and Withdrawals

In the .music contention set, which originated from the 2012 ICANN new gTLD application round with multiple applicants including Far Further LLC (.music LLC), Amazon Registry Services, Radix Registry, and others, resolution proceeded via voluntary withdrawals rather than auction. ICANN's procedures encouraged private negotiations during extended evaluation and objection phases, enabling settlements that reduced the applicant pool without public disclosure of terms. These agreements typically involved compensation or strategic concessions, allowing exiting parties to recover some sunk costs—estimated in the millions per applicant from evaluation fees and legal disputes—while avoiding the high-stakes risk of an ICANN auction, where bids could exceed tens of millions based on comparable gTLD outcomes.^[64] Withdrawals accelerated in the final stages, compressing the multi-year contention into a rapid conclusion. Far Further LLC, whose community application had scored poorly in initial evaluations (3 out of 16 points in 2014), remained active through prolonged challenges but exited alongside others in early April 2019. Amazon Registry Services withdrew around the same period, forgoing its standard application amid ongoing community objections from DotMusic Limited. Radix Registry followed suit, abandoning its bid after years of contention.^[65]^[34]^[44] This sequence of exits, spanning from preliminary evaluations around 2015–2016 (where weaker bids like TLDH Holdings faced viability scrutiny) to the decisive 2018–2019 phase, exemplified market-driven attrition: applicants with limited differentiation or resources conceded to a frontrunner positioned via community designation and nexus commitments, paving the path for unilateral award without further ICANN intervention. No auctions were triggered, preserving resources and underscoring how negotiation frameworks incentivize efficient, voluntary de-escalation over adversarial proceedings.^[34]

ICANN Board Approval and Delegation (2019)

On 15 April 2019, the ICANN Board approved DotMusic Limited's application for the .music generic top-level domain, recognizing it as a community-based TLD after the resolution of contention sets and independent reviews that prioritized demonstrated endorsements from the global music sector over unrestricted registry proposals.^[17]^[66] This decision overcame competing bids from applicants including Amazon Registry Services and Google, with DotMusic's model validated for its restrictions ensuring registrations aligned with music community criteria.^[67]^[68] The approval concluded a protracted evaluation stemming from the 2012 new gTLD application round, where .music faced multiple legal rights and community objections, ultimately resolved through evidence of stakeholder support for a gated-access extension over open alternatives.^[68]^[17] DotMusic Limited, incorporated in Cyprus with its principal address at 19 Mesolongiou Street, Limassol 3032, was designated the sponsoring organization responsible for registry operations.^[1] This board action represented one of the final delegations from the 2012 round, enabling subsequent contract execution and root zone integration, though full delegation to the IANA database occurred on 29 October 2021 following registry agreement finalization.^[7]^[69]

Launch and Operations

Delegation to Root Zone

The delegation of the .music top-level domain to the root zone occurred on October 29, 2021, following the execution of the Registry Agreement between DotMusic Limited and ICANN on May 4, 2021. ^[7] Managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), this process updated the DNS root zone database to include name server (NS) records for .music, which point queries to DotMusic's authoritative nameservers deployed across their global infrastructure.^[1] ^[70] As a prerequisite, DotMusic verified compliance with ICANN's technical and operational specifications for generic top-level domains, including IPv6 support for nameserver reachability and protocols for detecting and mitigating domain abuse, such as mandatory reporting procedures and potential takedowns.^[71] IANA conducted pre-delegation assessments to confirm nameserver functionality, stability, and adherence to root zone management protocols, with post-delegation monitoring handled through ICANN's contractual compliance framework to address any deviations. This root zone integration causally enabled universal DNS resolvability for .music, allowing recursive resolvers worldwide to obtain valid referrals from root servers to DotMusic's zone.^[70] An ensuing quiet operational phase, spanning from delegation until the sunrise period began on September 11, 2023, provided time to scale backend systems—including zone file management and verification tools—without active domain registrations disrupting stability.^[72]

Sunrise and Claims Periods (2023-2025)

The Sunrise Period for the .music top-level domain ran from September 11, 2023, to November 15, 2023, permitting holders of trademarks validated through the Trademark Clearinghouse to register corresponding domain names on a priority basis, with a focus on music-related terms to protect intellectual property in the sector.^[4]^[72] This phase aligned with ICANN's standard procedures for new generic top-level domains, aiming to mitigate cybersquatting risks for brand owners in the music industry.^[4] The subsequent Trademark Claims Period spanned October 8, 2024, to January 6, 2025, during which prospective registrants of .music domains matching Trademark Clearinghouse records triggered automated notifications to the respective trademark holders, providing awareness of potential infringements and opportunities for legal recourse.^[4]^[73] This mechanism extended protections beyond Sunrise, overlapping with the onset of broader availability while enforcing .music's community-specific eligibility criteria.^[74] General availability opened progressively after Sunrise, with registrations restricted to entities demonstrating a verifiable nexus to the global music community under DotMusic's governance policies, including mandatory MusicID verification.^[75] Initial uptake remained modest, consistent with patterns observed in niche new gTLDs, as the registry prioritized targeted outreach to music professionals via promotions such as up to one million free first-year registrations for qualifying organizations.^[76] By mid-2025, this approach supported controlled growth amid the domain's emphasis on authenticity over mass adoption.^[77]

Registration Policies and Verification

The .music top-level domain restricts registrations to individuals and entities demonstrating a verifiable nexus to the global music community, such as artists, labels, producers, or organizations affiliated with music creation, performance, or distribution.^[19]^[78]^[79] To establish eligibility, applicants must attest to their connection during registration and subsequently provide supporting documentation, including membership in recognized industry bodies like BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, or the Recording Academy, or equivalent proofs of professional involvement.^[80]^[81] This nexus requirement, outlined in the registry's Registrant Eligibility Policy, aims to preserve the TLD's integrity as a sector-specific namespace, excluding non-music-related parties.^[78] Verification processes are mandatory and non-realtime, with new registrations placed on server hold until completion to prevent unauthorized use.^[82]^[83] Registrants receive an email prompting submission of government-issued identification for identity confirmation, alongside nexus evidence, ensuring only legitimate music stakeholders gain access.^[82]^[3] In June 2025, MY.music introduced the National Music Validator (NMV) program, a global initiative with localized verification partners, starting with U.S. artists to authenticate .music domains and digital identities against fraudulent claims by cross-referencing official records and industry affiliations.^[84]^[85] This program enhances trust by providing certified validation badges and integrates with id.music services for verified digital passports tied to .music domains.^[86] Additional policies enforce a code of conduct prohibiting spam, phishing, malware distribution, and bulk domain resale, which could facilitate abusive practices.^[19] These restrictions, combined with ongoing monitoring by the registry operator DotMusic Limited, are intended to foster a lower incidence of abuse compared to unrestricted generic TLDs, though comprehensive empirical data specific to .music remains limited post-launch.^[2] Violations trigger suspension or revocation, prioritizing the TLD's role as a secure space for authentic music representation.^[19]

Usage and Impact

Adoption Metrics and Market Performance

As of January 2025, the .music top-level domain had over 30,000 registered names, reflecting initial post-launch uptake following general availability in October 2024.^[87] By mid-2025, registrations exceeded 35,000, primarily among artists, creators, professionals, and companies in the music sector from over 110 countries.^[2] However, only approximately 8,000 domains were actively delegated in the zone file as of June 2025, attributable to mandatory verification requirements confirming registrants' nexus to the global music community.^[88] These figures position .music as a niche gTLD with targeted adoption, far below legacy domains like .com (over 150 million registrations) but aligned with its restricted eligibility model enforced by the registry, DotMusic Limited.^[87] The verification process, including MusicID authentication, has acted as a barrier to broader registration volumes compared to unrestricted new gTLDs such as .app or .shop, yet it has ensured domain usage by verified music entities, such as bands and labels (e.g., bandname.music).^[88] ICANN transaction reports underscore net additions driven by this community focus, with early growth concentrated in sunrise and limited registration phases prior to full availability.^[89] Renewal metrics for .music remain limited due to its recent delegation in late 2021 and operational launch in 2024, precluding comprehensive first-year data as of October 2025. General new gTLD renewal rates averaged 39% in 2023, with higher figures for specialized operators, suggesting potential stickiness for .music given its branded appeal to music professionals despite activation hurdles.^[90] Market performance indicates value in enhancing authentic online presence for the industry, though scaled-back nexus enforcement announced in June 2025 aims to boost accessibility and future registrations without diluting community integrity.^[88]

Benefits for Music Industry

The .music top-level domain (TLD) establishes a dedicated namespace restricted to verified participants in the global music community, including artists, bands, industry professionals, and related organizations, thereby enhancing intellectual property (IP) protection for music entities. This community-based structure implements tailored policies to safeguard creators' rights and prevent unauthorized use, distinguishing it from generic TLDs where music-related domains face dilution and competition from non-music actors.^[79]^[91] Verification requirements mandate identity and nexus confirmation for registrants, appending a trust badge to domains that signals authenticity and reduces instances of cybersquatting, fraud, and impersonation prevalent in broader internet spaces. Such measures create a safer ecosystem for secure fan interactions, professional networking, and content distribution, as verified .music domains enable reliable connections to streaming services and collaborative tools without the risks associated with unverified sites.^[74]^[3] By concentrating music-specific online presences, .music domains improve discoverability through immediate content recognition—visitors to sites like artist.music inherently associate them with legitimate music offerings—potentially boosting search visibility and direct traffic to official profiles over fragmented generic alternatives. Community governance under the .music registry further supports industry alliances, as evidenced by endorsements from global music organizations promoting its use for transparent ecosystems.^[92]^[67]^[93] In June 2025, the launch of the National Music Validator program expanded verification capabilities, allowing broader authentication of .music identities for artists and professionals, which strengthens secure engagement channels and counters phishing-like threats through rigorous eligibility checks. This initiative aligns with the TLD's foundational aim of benefiting the music sector by prioritizing verified, rights-respecting digital presences.^[94]

Criticisms and Challenges

The .music top-level domain's status as a community gTLD imposes strict eligibility criteria, mandating that registrants demonstrate a verifiable nexus to the music industry through identity verification and issuance of a special activation code.^[77] These self-imposed restrictions have drawn criticism for creating barriers to entry, excluding non-music brands and broader commercial users, which limits market adoption and potentially hampers open competition in domain naming.^[77] Opponents argue that such gatekeeping prioritizes narrow community control over unrestricted access, echoing broader debates on whether regulated TLDs stifle innovation compared to unrestricted generics like .com.^[95] The ICANN evaluation and contention resolution process for .music highlighted institutional inefficiencies, with applications submitted in 2012 facing protracted disputes, including challenges to the community priority evaluation (CPE) and multiple reconsideration requests spanning years.^[96]^[97] DotMusic's successful CPE win over commercial applicants like Amazon and Google avoided an auction but involved extensive legal filings and ICANN reviews, delaying delegation until 2019 and imposing substantial costs on all parties through application fees of $185,000 each plus ongoing advocacy expenses.^[59] Critics, including affected applicants, have pointed to ICANN's opaque handling of CPE scoring and failure to adhere strictly to published criteria as evidence of bureaucratic overreach, fostering perceptions of arbitrary decision-making in the new gTLD program.^[98]^[99] Post-delegation, empirical data reveals challenges in registrant activation, with reports indicating that while thousands of domains were sold during initial phases, a significant portion remain inactive due to rigorous validation processes requiring proof of music industry affiliation.^[87] Independent artists and smaller entities have lodged complaints about the verification system's stringency, citing difficulties in documentation and delays that effectively exclude grassroots participants despite the TLD's purported community focus.^[100] Some view these hurdles as unintended consequences of the community model's emphasis on exclusivity, contributing to lower-than-expected usage metrics relative to unrestricted music-themed alternatives.^[87]

References

[1]
.music Domain Delegation Data
IANA Reports. Delegation of the .music domain to DotMusic Limited (2021-10-29). Record last updated 2025-05-15. Registration date 2021-10-14. Domain Names.
[2]
registry.MUSIC
registry.MUSIC (DotMusic, Limited) is the domain name registry operator for the innovative new .MUSIC Top-Level-Domain (TLD).
[3]
.music domain names | Register your .music TLD with 101domain
Rating 4.6 (743) A .music domain is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) for the global music community. It is intended for use by artists, bands, industry professionals, ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[4]
music | ICANN New gTLDs
Important Dates ; Sunrise Type: Start Date Sunrise ; Sunrise Period: 11 September 2023 to 15 November 2023 ; Trademark Claims Period: 08 October 2024 to 06 January ...
[5]
CISAC welcomes the .MUSIC Domain
Oct 9, 2024 · The .MUSIC registry announces the global launch of the community-based .MUSIC top-level domain name extension and its verified MusicID. Today, ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[6]
MUSIC Offers 1 Million Free Domains to Global Music Industry
Apr 9, 2024 · MUSIC domain names are now being given away for free to members of music organizations and legitimate music communities before May 24, 2024. The ...<|separator|>
[7]
Delegation Report for music
ICANN produces a “New gTLD Program String Delegation Readiness Report” that serves as a confirmation ...
[8]
History of the New gTLD Program - ICANN
In 2000, ICANN launched the first round of applications for new generic top-level domains. It included the delegation of .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .
[9]
About the Program | ICANN New gTLDs
Program History In 2005, ICANN's Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) began a policy development process to consider the introduction of new gTLDs, ...
[10]
2012 New gTLD Round
The 2012 round of the New gTLD Program resulted in more than 1,200 new gTLDs being delegated into the Internet's root zone, the top of the Domain Name System ...Missing: development history 2000-2012
[11]
How many domains are there? Worldwide stats for 2025 - Cybernews
Feb 26, 2025 · There are 1591 domain extensions in total · 1249 generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Examples include .com and .net, which are widely used by ...316 Cctlds Exist Worldwide · Thousands Of Domains Expire... · New Generic Tlds Are Growing...
[12]
New gTLDs data study + 13 statistics and findings - Namecheap
Mar 16, 2022 · new TLD has 1,322 domains registered, with an average price of $463.68 and .inc (3,992 domains registered) with an average price of $1,717 ...
[13]
Program Statistics | ICANN New gTLDs
New gTLD Application Submission Statistics. The statistics in this section were calculated based on applications received by the 29 March 2012 deadline.
[14]
Community Priority Evaluation (CPE) | ICANN New gTLDs
ICANN began inviting eligible applicants to elect the CPE process on 9 October 2013. The invitation date and evaluation results are represented in the table ...Missing: initial | Show results with:initial
[15]
Initial Evaluation Results Released for First Set of Applications - icann
Mar 22, 2013 · ICANN anticipates having Initial Evaluation results for all applications published by the end of August 2013.Missing: .music 2013-2014
[16]
History of .MUSIC - DotMusic - TLD - gTLD
The history of .MUSIC began in 2000 when Constantine Roussos was a student at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of ...Missing: Limited | Show results with:Limited
[17]
DotMusic Limited wins rights to .Music domain name extension
Apr 15, 2019 · The Constantine Roussos (pictured) founded DotMusic Limited will be awarded the rights to the .Music domain name extension by ICANN (Internet ...
[18]
[PDF] Exhibit A20 | icann
If all entities included in the official NAICS definition are not included in the proposed community, please clarify the delineation of members and non-members ...
[19]
.MUSIC Domain Policy : Enom Customer Support
Oct 8, 2024 · .MUSIC, community gTLD, regulated by DotMusic Limited and administered by Tucows Registry. The purpose of this gTLD is to exclusively serve ...
[20]
[PDF] RE: .MUSIC Community Priority Evaluation (“CPE”) for ... - icann
Apr 29, 2016 · Requester invokes ICANN's accountability mechanisms to request documentation to determine whether the CPE Panel and ICANN followed established ...Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
[21]
.MUSIC: The only exclusive domain for the global music community
Oct 12, 2023 · Unleash the power of music with the exclusive .MUSIC domain name, a unique digital platform dedicated solely to the global music industry and community.
[22]
Global music community prevails in winning the rights to the .MUSIC ...
ICANN will award DotMusic the rights to the .MUSIC top-level domain name extension and move to contracting soon. Other applicants for .MUSIC ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
[23]
DotMusic beats Google, Amazon to win .music domain - IQ Magazine
DotMusic Limited has won an eleven-year legal battle to gain rights to the .music top-level domain (TLD), beating the likes of Google and Amazon, as well as ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
[24]
DotMusic delays gTLD launch again - Domain Incite
May 24, 2024 · Moment of truth as .music domains finally go on sale October 1, 2024. David and Goliath? DotMusic confirms .music win April 12, 2019. DotMusic ...Missing: award | Show results with:award
[25]
Google, Amazon Among ICANN Applicants For .music Domain
Jun 13, 2012 · According to its website, Far Further is working with a host of music industry associations such as the RIAA, the National Music Publishers ...Missing: details | Show results with:details
[26]
Far Further Selects Architelos' NameSentry to Secure and Enhance ...
Far Further's subsidiary, .music LLC, was created with the express purpose of serving the global music community through the .music top-level domain. Far ...
[27]
[PDF] New gTLD Program - Community Priority Evaluation Report
Oct 6, 2014 · After careful consideration and extensive review of the information provided in your application, including documents of support, the Community.
[28]
[PDF] music LLC Address: Email: Phone Number (optional): 2. Request
Oct 22, 2014 · The action of ICANN and the EIU places our application in a contention set with applicants with “open” registration policies. We are therefore ...
[29]
https://domainincite.com/24120-did-roussos-pull-off-the-impossible-google-donuts-radix-all-drop-out-of-music-race
[30]
Top Level Domain Holdings forms music industry partnership for dot ...
music top level domain under the gTLD programme being run by ICANN. The company has established a joint venture with LHL TLD Investment Partners, a group ...
[31]
TLDH News on .Miami and .Music | DomainInvesting.com
Music gTLD. The company has signed a joint venture agreement with LHL TLD Investment Partners of Beverly Hills, a group that is made up of “leading music ...
[32]
.music - ICANNWiki
.music is a top-level domain names (TLD) dedicated for the use of music dissemination and appreciation. It was one of the most highly contested new gTLDs ...
[33]
Minds + Machines - Domain Incite
... withdrawn over the last week or so. This is a sure sign that the battle is over, and that the rights to .music have been auctioned off. The two remaining ...
[34]
.music update: I'm calling it for Costa - Domain Incite
The two remaining applicants yet to withdraw are DotMusic Ltd, the Cyprus-based company founded and managed by music enthusiast and entrepreneur Constantinos ...
[35]
https://newgtldprogram.icann.org/en
[36]
Application Update History
Program Status · News & Media. Application Update History. Application ID: 1-1316-18029. String: MUSIC. Applicant: Amazon EU S.à r.l.. Posting Date, Summary ...
[37]
[PDF] GAC Early Warning – Submittal Music-‐AU-‐18029 - icann
Nov 20, 2012 · Competition: Amazon EU S.à r.l. is seeking exclusive access to a common generic string (.music) that relates to a broad market sector.
[38]
https://www.domainincite.com/24131-music-update-im-calling-it-for-costa
[39]
Icann Applicants For New TLDs Revealed As Part Of 'Reveal Day'
Jun 13, 2012 · They include some interesting twists: the Charleston Road Registry has applied for “.android” and “.google”; Apple Inc. has applied for “.apple.Missing: .music gTLD
[40]
Amazon Scoops Up the '.Buy' Domain for $4.6 Million - NBC News
Sep 18, 2014 · Amazon Scoops Up the '.Buy' Domain for $4.6 Million. The online retailer reportedly outbid Google and two other companies that had their eye on ...Local · Featured · More From Nbc<|separator|>
[41]
Radix - ICANNWiki
Jun 6, 2025 · The company partnered with ARI Registry Services to serve as its back-end registry service provider for all the gTLDs in its application ...
[42]
Radix Assumes Full Ownership of .online - Tucows
Mar 2, 2015 · Radix is Asia's largest new gTLD applicant under this program with applications to operate 20 suffixes including web, .music, .blog, and ...<|separator|>
[43]
Radix Registry Passes 4 New gTLD Initial Evaluations - CircleID
May 7, 2013 · The applications which are next in line are .hosting, .music and .city. “Apart from customizing the applications, meeting all the ICANN ...
[44]
Looks like .music is finally on its way - Domain Incite
Apr 4, 2019 · Two applicants have this week withdrawn their bids, an almost certain sign that the contention set has been privately settled. The first ...
[45]
[PDF] Module 2 - New gTLD Program
Jun 4, 2012 · Evaluation Procedures The first, required evaluation is the Initial Evaluation, during which ICANN assesses an applied-for gTLD string, an ...
[46]
[PDF] gTLD Applicant Guidebook
Jun 4, 2012 · ICANN's work next focused on implementation: creating an application and evaluation process for new gTLDs that is aligned with the policy ...
[47]
New gTLD Program Initial Evaluation Report
Aug 15, 2014 · Background Screening. Eligible. Based on review performed to-date, the application is eligible to proceed to the next step in the Program.
[48]
[PDF] New gTLD Program Initial Evaluation Report
Jun 7, 2013 · Background Screening. Eligible. Based on review performed to-date, the application is eligible to proceed to the next step in the Program.
[49]
Legal Rights Objections under ICANN's New gTLD Program - WIPO
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center was appointed by ICANN as the exclusive provider of dispute resolution services for trademark based "pre-delegation" ...
[50]
[PDF] EXPERT DETERMINATION LEGAL RIGHTS OBJECTION DotMusic ...
“The purpose of the proposed gTLD, .music, is to provide a dedicated domain space in which copyright holders and their authorized distributors and licensees can ...Missing: verification | Show results with:verification
[51]
Legal Rights Objections under ICANN's New gTLD Program - WIPO
Legal Rights Objection Cases ;.music, DotMusic Limited, Amazon EU S.à r.l. ;.music, DotMusic Limited, Charleston Road Registry Inc. ;.music, DotMusic Limited ...
[52]
Objection Determinations - New gTLD Program - icann
Charleston Road Registry Inc. String Confusion, Objection Withdrawn, --, 15 November 2013. HOSPITAL, 1-1505-15195, Ruby Pike, LLC, Prof. Alain ...
[53]
[PDF] EXPERT DETERMINATION LEGAL RIGHTS OBJECTION DotMusic ...
Aug 15, 2013 · The Legal Rights Objection (“Objection”) was timely filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center. (the “WIPO Center”) on March 14, 2013 ...
[54]
[PDF] DotMusic Limited vs. .Music LLC Case No. LRO2013-0063 - WIPO
May 17, 2013 · According to Annex B to the Response filed by the Applicant, a new gTLD application ID No. 1-959-51046 has been submitted to ICANN by the ...
[55]
DotMusic loses LRO, and four other cases rejected - Domain Incite
Constantine Roussos has lost his first Legal Rights Objection over the flagship .music gTLD. The case, DotMusic v Charleston Road Registry (pdf) was ...<|separator|>
[56]
gTLD Objections Filing Dispute Announcement | ICANN New gTLDs
Below please find a list of Objections filed with Dispute Resolution Service Providers (DRSPs) that have passed the DRSPs' administrative review.
[57]
[PDF] Letter from Rich Bengloff - icann
Mar 6, 2013 · A2IM and our WIN colleague organizations from around the world, Impala and Merlin, and their members, all meet the ICANN objector criteria as.
[58]
[PDF] Request 13-22, DotMusic ANNEX 4 A2IM's Recognized Standing
Jan 26, 2014 · compelling evidence of indisputable, substantial standing in an ICANN Community. Objection for music-themed gTLDs. “Independent” work is ...
[59]
[PDF] DotMusic Reconsideration Request (“RR”) - icann
May 30, 2016 · Requester Information. Name: DotMusic Limited (“DotMusic”)1. Address: Email: Constantine Roussos,. Counsel: Jason Schaeffer,.
[60]
https://music.us/letters/Travis.pdf
[61]
[PDF] Support for .MUSIC Community-based Application1 with ... - icann
Aug 11, 2015 · Please accept this Letter of Support which supports the responsible, trusted and safe operation of the .MUSIC top-level domain under a community ...
[62]
[PDF] Module 4 - New gTLD Program
Jun 4, 2012 · In the string contention resolution stage, ICANN addresses each contention set to achieve an unambiguous resolution. As described elsewhere ...
[63]
[PDF] music-cpe-1-1115-14110-en.pdf - New gTLD Program
Feb 10, 2016 · Your application may still resolve string contention through the other methods as described in Module 4 of the Applicant Guidebook. Panel ...
[64]
ICANN New gTLDs - New gTLD Program Auctions
An ICANN facilitated auction is a last resort for resolving string contention sets, as described in the Applicant Guidebook (AGB) section 4.3.
[65]
Music industry gets its ass handed to it by gTLD panel - Domain Incite
Oct 7, 2014 · The Far Further (.music LLC) application scored a pitiful 3 out of 16 possible points in the evaluation, missing the required 14-point passing ...
[66]
Music industry responds to DotMusic triumph - IQ Magazine
18 апр. 2019 г. · DotMusic beats Google, Amazon to win .music domain. The .music top-level domain extension has been awarded to DotMusic and will be used to ...
[67]
Cheapest .music Domain Registration, Renewal, Transfer Prices
The .music domain extension is a top-level domain (TLD) being specifically developed for the global music industry online.
[68]
Locked-down .music could launch this year - Domain Incite
One of the most heavily contested new gTLDs, .music, could launch this year after new registry DotMusic finally signed its Registry Agreement with ICANN.
[69]
.music Registry Agreement - icann
May 4, 2021 · .music Registry Agreement ; U-Label music ; Operator DotMusic Limited ; Agreement Date 4 May 2021 ; Agreement Type Base, Community (Spec 12), Non- ...Missing: TLDH Holdings
[70]
Delegating a generic top-level domain
Oct 21, 2013 · The delegation process results in the “NS” records being placed in the DNS root zone to make the domain active in the domain name system.
[71]
ICANN 's IPv6 Initiative
Feb 28, 2017 · Enforcement of DNS Abuse Mitigation Requirements: Periodic Reviews ... Registries and Registrars comply with their agreed-upon IPv6 requirements.
[72]
The .music domain is now available on the market! - Openprovider
On September 11, 2023, the new .music top-level domain (TLD) started its Sunrise Phase. General Availability will start on April 1, 2024.
[73]
.music | www.trademark-clearinghouse.com
Sunrise period end: Wednesday, 15 November, 2023 - 00:15. Claims notification period start: Tuesday, 8 October, 2024. Claims notification period end: Monday ...
[74]
.MUSIC Domain Policy : OpenSRS Customer Support
Trademark Claims Period. This period follows the opening of a top-level ... Start date: 08 October 2024 at 16:00 UTC; End date: 06 January 2025 at 16:00 ...
[75]
Our Journey - registry.MUSIC
On October 8, 2024, general registration is available through one of hundreds of certified domain name registrars worldwide. 2024. Music Community Registrations.Missing: DotMusic | Show results with:DotMusic
[76]
A million “free” .music domains up for grabs
Apr 15, 2024 · The new .music gTLD registry says it will give away up to one million first-year domains over the next five weeks as part of its launch ...
[77]
Moment of truth as .music domains finally go on sale
Oct 1, 2024 · DotMusic's published policies say that registrants must verify their identities and connection to the music industry and obtain a special code ...Missing: proposal | Show results with:proposal
[78]
[PDF] Registrant Eligibility Policy - icann
As community based TLD, the MTLD requires verification of its registrants and has created policies to protect and preserve intellectual property rights, ...
[79]
Enter the .MUSIC top-level domain - Davies Collison Cave
Jan 21, 2025 · Promoted as a trusted and secure online home for all things music, .MUSIC TLDs are now available for registration through accredited registrars.Missing: period | Show results with:period
[80]
.music Domain Names | Register Today!
.MUSIC protects names of famous music artists and brands by giving registration priority to those entities during a priority-based launch phase. .MUSIC also ...Missing: Far withdrawal
[81]
Get Your .Music Domains - Encirca
Anyone in the global music community can register their unique .MUSIC domain, including artists, creators, bands, groups, industry professionals, music ...
[82]
.MUSIC registry policy updates now in effect: what you need to know
Jun 4, 2025 · Identity verification via government-issued ID is mandatory; · Domains remain on “Registry Server Hold” until verified; · Verification must be ...
[83]
.music - TLDinfo | CentralNic Reseller Knowledge Base
Registrations are non-realtime, as all new registrants will have to prove their identity and connection to music industry. Registrants will receive an email ...
[84]
MY.music launches National Music Validator program for ... - CBS 42
The global initiative is designed to verify and validate .MUSIC domain names and .MUSIC identities for legitimate artists, creators, industry professionals, ...
[85]
Tony Kim's Post - LinkedIn
Jun 16, 2025 · National Music Validator (NMV) Program for .MUSIC - Global Reach, Locally Verified. We're excited to introduce the National Music Validator ...Missing: June | Show results with:June
[86]
id.MUSIC: Verified .MUSIC Identity
id.MUSIC is the only identity service for .MUSIC, providing a verified digital ID (ID) based on a .MUSIC domain, acting as a digital passport.<|separator|>
[87]
DotMusic has sold a lot of names, but not many are turned on
May 6, 2025 · DotMusic, the company that started selling .music domains seven months ago, has had a relatively successful launch, but one in four domains sold have not yet ...
[88]
.Music registry to sell domains without nexus requirements
Jun 18, 2025 · The .music domain name registry has introduced a new category of domain names called Service Names. These names don't have traditional nexus requirements.<|control11|><|separator|>
[89]
.music Monthly Registry Reports - ICANN
.music Monthly Registry Reports ; music, December, 2024, Transactions Report, music-transactions-202412-en [CSV, 20.2 KB] ; music, December, 2024, Activity Report ...
[90]
New gTLD Registry Average Renewal Rates - 2023
Apr 30, 2025 · The average renewal rate for a new gTLD was 39% compared to 74% for .com in 2023 per the Domain Name Industry Brief (www.dnib.com) data.
[91]
download public portion of application
DotMusic has conducted due diligence in comparing the string “music” toward any existing TLDs, future ccTLDs, 3-character country codes per the ISO list, ...
[92]
.music Domains: Best Choice For Music Websites?
Aug 23, 2025 · To register .music domain names, you must be part of the global music community. Individuals (musicians, bands, or industry professionals) can ...What is the .music domain. · music vs .com vs .band · How do you register your.
[93]
GLOBAL MUSIC INDUSTRY LAUNCHES ITS VERIFIED .MUSIC ...
Oct 8, 2024 · The .MUSIC registry announces the global launch of the community-based .MUSIC top-level domain name extension and its verified MusicID.Missing: reduce phishing
[94]
MY.music launches National Music Validator program for .MUSIC ...
Jun 16, 2025 · The global initiative is designed to verify and validate .MUSIC domain names and .MUSIC identities for legitimate artists, creators, industry professionals, ...
[95]
How .MUSIC Will Go Mainstream and Benefit ICANN's New gTLD ...
How .MUSIC Will Go Mainstream and Benefit ICANN's New gTLD Program. By Constantine Roussos Founder of DotMusic.
[96]
[PDF] reconsideration-16-5-dotmusic-to-icann-bgc-28mar16-en.pdf
Mar 28, 2016 · In contrast, DotMusic would pass CPE if the Panel followed established procedures and ICANN processes were “in conformity with relevant ...
[97]
[PDF] DotMusic Analysis of .MUSIC CPE Process & FTI - icann
DotMusic wants to operate the community TLD .MUSIC to safeguard intellectual property and prevent illegal activity for the benefit of the ...
[98]
[PDF] reconsideration-16-5-dotmusic-to-icann-bgc-06dec16-en.pdf
Dec 6, 2016 · MUSIC can be the first TLD with copyright protection provisions and enforcement. These ensure .MUSIC is a safe haven for legal music ...
[99]
Months after it ordered a review into allegations of mismanagement ...
May 9, 2017 · "We write to protest ICANN's lack of transparency in its treatment of DotMusic's application and ICANN's failure to provide any sort of ...
[100]
Whats the deal with .music? : r/Domains - Reddit
Aug 6, 2024 · We have a .music domain; any luck getting an EPP/auth code and transferring it off of register.music?TIL that .music is one of the most highly contested "top-level domain ...Domain TLDs to use for a website? : r/DJs - RedditMore results from www.reddit.comMissing: TLDH exit