British users will be able to download their favorite music for a monthly fee

Jul 22, 2008 14:51 GMT  ·  By
Britons wil have the possiblity to access all Universal Music's database for a monthly fee
   Britons wil have the possiblity to access all Universal Music's database for a monthly fee

The biggest pay-TV provider in the U.K., BskyB, has just signed an agreement with Universal Music in order to deliver to subscribers the possibility of either listening to music after a short live streaming on the computer and other supports, or downloading the songs they like. These will be available for any type of fixed or portable devices.

The service will be available for a monthly fee that will be differentiated by users' specific needs and requirements. British music fans will have the songs of artists such as U2, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse or Eminem at disposal. The agreement was made primarily to put an end to illicit traffic of music. Having to pay a monthly fee according to music habits and preferences might be the key to stopping piracy, as the method is cheaper and easier to handle than buying the CD or paying every time someone downloads a tune.

"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," comments Mike Darcey, Chief Operating Officer of BskyB. Although the implementation of the agreement with Universal Music will probably be made in a few months, BSkyB's officials say that this is only the first step in a more extended effort to make listening to music a 100% fair action.

"The new Sky 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," says Lucian Grainge, Chairman and Chief Executive of Universal Music Group International. Indeed, most British homes have a technological framework that allows users to download everything they want from the Internet at high speed. This time, legally.