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A Freebox in Berlin, Germany 2005, serving as a distribution center for free donated materials

Gratis /ˈɡreɪtɨs/ is the process of providing goods or services without compensation. It is often referred to in English as free of charge (FOC) or complimentary. Companies, producers, and service providers often provide certain things free of charge as part of a larger business model or pricing strategy.

Etymology[link]

The English term gratis has its origins in late Middle English; from Latin. A contraction of gratiis, meaning 'as a kindness', which in turn stems from the root gratia meaning 'grace' or 'kindness'.^[1] It is widely used in the Afrikaans, Catalan, Czech, Polish, French, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Bahasa Indonesia, Scandinavian and German languages, with the same meaning.

Marketing[link]

In a standard business model where goods and services are exchanged for a monetary compensation, pricing of the goods is a fundamental element of the marketing process. While it would defeat the business model if companies provide all of their goods and services free of charge, it is common for them to provide limited amount of free goods in their promotional mix. Many companies often provide free samples to the press in order to generate media coverage for their products. Depending on the product, companies may provide free samples to prospective buyers.

In addition, many companies would often provide complementary goods and services free of charge (i.e., on a complimentary basis). For example, coffeehouses often provide Internet access free of charge to attract more customers. Hotels often provide free shuttle services. Restaurants often provide valet parking service free of charge.

Companies may also distribute branded stationery, refrigerator magnet, or similar items free to promote their brand instead of any specific line of products.

Mass media[link]

In certain industries, such as the mass media where major part of the revenue comes from advertisers, it is often in the company's interest to reach as many people as possible. In this model, companies would often distribute most of their products and services free of charge, so they can reach the largest possible audience. The advertising, and not the sale of the product itself, is the primary revenue source within these industries.

Software[link]

In software development, where the cost of mass production is relatively small, it is common for developers to publish software under free of charge licenses.

One of the early and basic forms of this model is called freeware. Under a freeware license, software is licensed free of charge for regular use and the developer does not gain any monetary compensation.

With the development of the software industry, other license schemes arose similar to limited free products in standard marketing. These licenses offer users limited use, while attempting to recuperate development cost through the full product. Two common examples are shareware and trialware.

With the advent of the free software movement, license schemes were created to give developers more freedom in terms of code sharing. A distinction has to be drawn between "freedom" and "free of charge", where the latter sometimes also can be referred to as "free as in free beer". This distinction is often called Gratis versus Libre.

See also[link]

• The Wiktionary entry for gratis
• Pro bono
• There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
• Free to Play (F2P)

References[link]

2 Minutos or Dos Minutos are a punk rock band from Argentina. They are one of the most important bands of the genre to emerge in argentine rock in the 1990s, highly influential across the Spanish-speaking world, and also popular in the punk scene of the United States.

Biography[link]

The band can trace its beginnings to the end of the 1980s, playing around in the punk holes of Buenos Aires. Over that period the group would be influenced by the likes of The Undertones, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, and other punk pioneers.

The group continued to play the local circuits in the early 1990s. In 1992, the band participated in a collective album produced by an independent label called Mentes Abiertas, with its songs "Ya No Sos Igual" and "Arrebato" catching the attention of the Polygram Label, who would sign the band soon after.^[1]

1994 would be the studio album debut for 2 Minutos. Valentín Alsina was named in honor of their hometown, and it turned into a bigger hit than even the band or the label had expected on the back of the hit single "Ya no sos Igual" ("You're not the same anymore"), about a corner store clerk whom they found out was also a Federal Police officer.^[2] A controversy erupted however between the band and "Pil Trafa", a member of Los Violadores, with Pil Trafa accusing 2 Minutos of having "un-punk" lyrics about beer, football, and street fighting, which he considered those of bored, middle-class 90s suburban kids.

Nonetheless, 2 Minutos became a mid 90s darling of the argentine punk world, and they also gained large followings by simple word-of-mouth across Latin America, specially after the release of their Valentín Alsina follow-up, Volvió la Alegría, Vieja!. They also gained notoriety in the American punk scene, to the point the became the 1st Argentine punk band to dedicate a tour of the United States in 1995. A highlight of that tour was their performance at the mythic CBGB club, which they sold out. Back home, they shared the stage with The Ramones in their 96 farewell concert.

The third studio album was released in mid 1997. Postal 97 featured the hit singles "Gatillo fácil", "Qué yeta", and "Recuerdos en la arena". International success lead Polygram to renew and improve the contract for 2 minutos that year.

They kept issuing albums every year or two. With the mid 2000s seeing the band as now weathered veterans of the punk movement, 2 Minutos released their latest studio album Un Mundo de Sensaciones, which may actually show a slight maturing process in the, still, small town punks from Valentín Alsina. Guest artists included Sebastián Teysera (La Vela Puerca), and Claudio O'Connor. Some fans argued that the band lost the original sense of punk rock, due to commercial success and non-punk lyrical content of their last albums.^[3]

Discography[link]

• Valentín Alsina, 1994
• Volvió la alegría vieja, 1995
• Postal 97, 1997
• Advertencia, 1998
• Novedades, 1999
• Antorchas, 2000
• Vida Monótona, 2002
• Superocho, 2004
• Un Mundo de Sensaciones, 2006
• Vamos a la granja/Directo al infierno, 2010

See also[link]

• Argentine punk

References[link]

1. ^ Bonacich, Drago. Biography of 2 Minutos at Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
2. ^ 2 Minutos www.rock.com.ar (Spanish)
3. ^ [1] PunksUnidos.com.ar Forum

External links[link]

• Official site (Spanish)

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Bere Gratis
Origin	Bucharest, Romania
Genres	Pop-Rock
Years active	1998– present
Labels	Cat Music/Media Services, exclusive EMI licensee for Romania (2009 - present), Nova Music Entertainment (2000-2008)
Website	www.beregratis.ro
Members
Mihai 'Mitza' Georgescu (vocals) Robert Anghelescu (keyboards) Marian Saracu (drums)

Bere Gratis (Romanian for Free Beer) is a Romanian pop-rock band formed in 1998 in Bucharest, Romania.

Members[link]

• Mihai 'Mitza' Georgescu (vocals)
• Robert Anghelescu (keyboards)
• Marian Saracu (drums)

Biography[link]

In 1998, Mihai Georgescu (vocals), Robert Anghelescu (keyboards) and Marius Dobre (guitar) were playing at the time in a band named “Ghost”. Together with Mihai 'Magga' Suciu (drums) and Marius Mirea (bass guitar), they founded a new band, settling for the name Bere Gratis, which was suggested by a good friend, Alexandru Catona (Cato).

• 1998

At the end of 1998 they recorded the single “Fara rusine” (“No shame”), which was released on the compilation album “Tu poti fi vedeta” (“You can be a star”) (A&A Records).

• 1999

In spring 1999 Matei Damian-Ulmu replaces Marius Dobre on the guitar.

The singles “Cea mai frumoasa fata” (“The most beautiful girl”) and “Ce misto” (“How cool”) were recorded in Magic Sound Studio (“East & Art” Production House) and released on the first single CD of the band.

In the summer of 1999 Ovidiu Halmagean becomes the producer of the band. With his help the band starts recording their first studio album (at Voices Studio, Iasi) in November.

• 2000

The first production contract is signed with Nova Music Entertainment Production House. Also their first album is released on May 20, 2000, named “De vanzare” (“For sale”).

“Ce misto” (“How cool”) is the first single of the album to be promoted on heavy rotation radio playlists and TV, followed by “Ultrafete” (“Supergirls”) and “Curtea scolii” (“Schoolyard”).

• 2001

New changes take place regarding the members of the band. Vlad Vedes is the new bassist of the band and Oliver Sterian the new drummer. The second album , “Vino mai aproape” (“Come closer”) is released on Nov. 28th, 2001.

The first single of this album was “Unu mai” (“May 1st”), followed by “Senor, senor”, “Vino mai aproape” (“Come closer”) and “Nebun”(“Crazy”).

• 2002

In February 2002 Marian Saracu takes the place of Oliver Sterian on the drums.

In the summer the band goes to Fribourg, Switzerland. There the boys record three of the songs for their next album: “La tine as vrea sa vin” (“It's you I want to come to”), “Strazi albastre” (“Blue Streets”), and “Cineva ma iubeste” (“Someone loves me”).

Cristi Solomon joins the band as their music producer.

The single “Strazi albastre” (“Blue Streets”) is released in November.

• 2003

The new single “La tine as vrea sa vin” (“It's you I want to come to”) entered the top 10 of Romanian Top 100 and stayed there for several weeks.

The third album (“Acolo Sus” - “Up there”) is released on June 26 in a concert in Bucharest, revealing a richer sound of the band.

In September 2003, the third single of this album, “Poveste de oras” (“City tale”), is released on the celebration of the band's 5 years anniversary.

• 2004

An important event for the band's evolution took place on January 26 , 2004. Using the National Theatre in Bucharest for location, the band held a huge concert named “Electrika” to celebrate its 5 years existence. The entire concert was filmed and on July 7 the DVD “Electrophonica - Live la TNB” was officially released. This was the first surround DVD for a Romanian band.

In the fall of 2004 “Post Restant” is released. This is the 4th album of the band. The first single promoted was “Eu nu am sa te las” (“I'm not going to let you”).

• 2005

On February 7 another huge concert took place in the same location, the National Theatre in Bucharest to promote their fourth album. The concert "Post Restant" was broadcast on Romanian Television few days after the show.

In March the single “Campuri de lupta” (“Battlefields”) is released. After a few months the band releases a video on music channels for the song “Post Restant”. The video uses the footage that was shot during the concert in February.

• 2006

The video for their first single from their next album is released on April 29. The song is called “Speranta din priviri” (“The hope in your eyes”).

On June 1, the EP album “Editie de buzunar” (“Pocket Edition”) is released in Music Club, Bucharest.

In September the promotion for the song “Ce n-a vazut Parisul” (“Not even Paris has seen this”) begins.

• 2007

In February new changes in the band take place: Matei Damian-Ulmu leaves the band and Vlad Vedes replaces him on guitar. Nicu Avram joins the band to play bass guitar.

In July the boys go to Switzerland to sing in the International Festival “Ete Tchaux 2007” in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The band played under the name “The Postcards”. Using this name they released an EP containing two songs in English: “Where we go” (“Unde mergem”) and “Rosy” (which is actually the English version of “Battlefields” – “Campuri de lupta”). The EP album was recorded in Relief Studio (Fribourg, Switzerland) by Dom Torche and produced by W2prod – Wave2prod SA (Switzerland).

On Oct. 30th the video for “In brate” (“In my arms”) is released. In December a new Bere Gratis album is released: “Revolutie de catifea” (“Velvet revolution”) in an MTV Romania live show.

• 2008

On March 21 the video for the song “Curcubeu” (“Rainbow”) is filmed.

A new single is released at the end of the year: “Vacanta la Roma” (“Vacation in Rome”).

• 2009

In the same anniversary location that the Bere Gratis audience got used to, the National Theatre in Bucharest, the band held a 10 years anniversary concert on February 23. It was a true spectacle of lights, emotions, great music and lyrics that made this concert unforgettable. The concert was broadcast on Romanian public TV network, TVR.

In June the boys released the album “Bere Gratis - Live X” (X referring to the 10 years of the band's existence). It is a double audio CD recorded during the February concert. The song promoting this album is “Gloria”.

Between Sept. 2nd and 6th, the International Music Festival “Cerbul de Aur” (The Golden Stag) took place in Brasov. In the beginning of the festival, Mihai interpreted the famous Queen song “I want to break free”. On the first night of the contest the Russian singer Nikolay Demidov sang the Bere Gratis song “Curcubeu” (“Rainbow”) and on the second night, Rolf Jr. from Estonia interpreted the song “In brate” (“In my arms”).

In December a new studio album was released: “Pe marele ecran” (“The world is a stage”). The song promoting it is “Pas in doi” (“Paso doble”).

In 2009 Bere Gratis participated in a few civic actions such as “March on Stage” (for the children with Down syndrome), UNICEF Gala in Romania, “The Recycling Movement” and “ECO Litoral” (an ecological movement for the Romanian seaside). One of the most important humanitarian campaigns of 2009 had the goal of raising funds for the establishment of a cardio-surgery department at the Marie Curie Children's Hospital in Bucharest. The campaign ended on July 26 with a concert where Bere Gratis sang together with Bucharest Wind Orchestra.

• 2010

In January Vlad Vedes and Nicu Avram leave the band. Bere Gratis band continues with two collaborators, Marius “Neuro” Bob (guitar) and Radu Vastag (bass).

In March 2009 “Pas in doi” won the award for “Best Pop Rock Song of the Year” at the gala organized by Radio Romania Actualitati.

In 2010 Bere Gratis’ participation at concerts organized for charity purposes continued. The first concert, organized in February - “Cantec pentru Haiti” (“Song for Haiti”) - had the goal of raising funds for the children of Haiti, a state heavily affected by an earthquake. The humanitarian actions organized by Fundatia “Salvati-va Ingerii” (“Save your Angels” Foundation) for raising funds for the new Marie Curie Children's Hospital from Bucharest continued. These actions undertaken didn’t leave the various personalities from the cultural, social and sports life of Romania untouched. On 1 June Bere Gratis, together with other important names of Romanian pop rock music, participated pro bono at the mega concert “Rock pentru Viata" (“Rock for Life”). On 1 September Mihai played “Fotbal pentru Viata” (“Football for Life”), a game organized for charity purposes. Many artists and sportsmen were reunited on the field, playing for a noble, humanitarian cause.

The second half of December finds the new Bere Gratis album entitled “O colectie” (“A collection”) on the market. The album contains a collection of sensitive songs filled with hope, optimism and has a calming effect on its listeners. Moreover as the winter holidays approach this album is perfect to listen to, near the stove, surrounded by the dear ones. The album contains only ballads, composed during the 12 years activity of the band. The ballads found of the album were rearranged; moreover two new ones were composed: “Stai pe acelasi drum” (“Stay on the same side of the road”) and “Flori de camp la fereastra” (“Field flowers at the window”).

Albums[link]

• De vanzare (LP, 2000)
• Vino mai aproape (LP, 2001)
• Acolo sus (LP, 2003)
• Electrophonica (LP live, 2004)
• Post Restant (LP, 2005)
• Editie de buzunar (EP, 2006)
• Where We Go/Rosy (EP, 2007, "Relief Studio" Fribourg, Switzerland)
• Revolutie de catifea (LP, 2007)
• Vacanta la Roma (Single, 2009)
• Live X (LP live, 2009)
• Pe marele ecran (LP, 2009)
• O colectie (LP, 2010)

Videos[link]

• Ce misto (2000)
• Ultra fete (2000)
• Unu Mai (2001)
• Señor, señor (2001)
• Vino mai aproape (2001)
• Nebun (2002)
• Strazi albastre (2003)
• La tine as vrea sa vin (2003)
• Poveste de oras (2003)
• Cineva mă iubeste (2004)
• Iti mai aduci aminte (2004)
• Eu nu am sa te las (2004)
• Campuri de lupta (2005)
• Post Restant (2005)
• Speranta din priviri (2006)
• In brate (2007)
• Curcubeu (2008)
• Stai pe acelasi drum (2010)

The videos were played on main Romanian musical TV channels (MTV Romania, Kiss TV, U TV Romania and Atomic TV since 2000).

Main events[link]

• participated at very popular Romanian song contest "Mamaia Festival" Mamaia, Romania with songs "Ultrafete" (2000), "Curtea scolii" (2001) and "Vino mai aproape" (2002)
• concerts at Romanian Festival "Callatis" Mangalia, Romania, in 2004, 2007 and 2009
• winners of "Radio Romania Actualitati Music Awards", section "You have a friend" (2007)
• involved in ecological campaigns "Miscarea de reciclare", "ECO Litoral" (2009) and humanitarian actions (UNICEF and "Inima copiilor", 2009)
• collaboration with "Bucharest Wind Orchestra" in the national project "Ce n-a vazut Parisul" (pop-rock and classical music)

External links[link]

• Article "Muzica e mai mult decat un job" in Monitorul de Sibiu

Sources[link]

• Bere Gratis official website
• Artist page on CAT Music website
• Bere Gratis page on MySpace
• Stiumuzica.ro
• Muzicabuna.ro