As MP3 music files spread willy-nilly across the Net, a number of companies are creating secure, encryption-based systems designed to control distribution and compensate artists for their work.Audio Explosion announced Monday that the widespread Winamp MP3 player will support its new encrypted file format, dubbed Mjuice. The system allows users to set up an account with Audio Explosion and register their PCs to purchase and download music recorded in the Mjuice format.The MP3 compression format is used to transmit near-CD quality music over the Internet where, until recently, there were no protections built in to give record labels and artists control over the distribution of their work. Several encryption formats have sprung up in the last year, however, designed to protect MP3 files from unregulated distribution, and the Recording Industry Association of America is in the process of creating a secure format of its own called the Secure Digital Music Initiative [as covered in issue //064]. In the meantime, however, companies like Audio Explosion are trying to get into the business of selling secured MP3 music. “Our encryption system is designed to work well with other software applications,” said Arnold Brown, president of Audio Explosion. “We spent over a year developing this, making it secure yet compatible.” The system uses 128-bit security, and Arnold said that the company doesn’t have plans to license the technology, but wants to act as a digital music distributor.Other companies, such as Liquid Audio, a2b, and AudioSoft are also competing to provide the secure digital download formats. AudioSoft and Audio Explosion, though, have gained an early edge on the competition by getting Nullsoft, which makes Winamp, to seamlessly support their files. “The way it works is that a plug-in will be available as part of the standard download of Winamp,” said Rex Manz, director of business strategies for Nullsoft. He estimated that about 2.5 million Winamp players are downloaded every month. In addition, Audio Explosion’s digital songs can be played on the Mjuice player, or new portable digital players like the Rio.