Sky has announced a tie-up with Universal Music to create a new online music service aimed at UK and Irish consumers.
In return for a monthly subscription music fans will be able to enjoy unlimited listening to a range of music as well as the opportunity to download tracks to own forever. Sky say customers will be able to choose to stream songs on-demand for immediate listening or download tracks for playback at any time.
The broadcaster says it will announce other partners for the service, which launches later this year, shortly.
A range of subscription options will be available, offering different download packages tailored to customers’ needs and downloaded tracks will work on any mp3-compatible fixed or portable device, including ipods, mp3 players and mobile phones.
Universal Music “will provide an extensive and high-quality roster of artists at launch and will play a leading role in the service’s ongoing development” according to a statement issued by Sky. The company will also be a shareholder in the new service which will be operated as a joint venture.
Mike Darcey, Chief Operating Officer, BSkyB, comments: “It’s clear that there’s huge demand for online music and companies like Sky and Universal Music are well placed to work together to meet consumers’ needs. We aim to offer an easy and affordable service for all UK music fans, while ensuring that artists are properly rewarded for their creativity.”
Universal Chairman Lucian Grainge says the new service “will provide a compelling digital music experience, built for the ever growing digital appetite of music fans. In a world where a majority of UK homes have high speed broadband access, consumers will welcome a safe, state-of-the-art service and legal alternative to those services which exploit musicians without compensation.”
