BSkyB set to launch Sky Songs music service
UPDATE:
Our Sky contact has given us brief confirmation regarding bitrates:
"The MP3s run at the best/top rate given to us by the record labels. A large majority of the catalogue is 320kbps but a very small part is 256kbps."
Story posted 12/10/2009
BSkyB is preparing to take on iTunes and Spotify with the launch this week of its own music download service, Sky Songs.
Sky has signed deals with EMI, Sony Music Entertainment and Warners Music, as well as a number of independent record labels and distributors.
Sky Songs will charge users a monthly fee to download an album and stream an unlimited number of songs, and will launch on October 19th with new releases and back catalogue material.
Every track is available via unlimited online streaming as an MP3 file, which can be used on any MP3-compatible device.
There are two subscription options available: users can pay £6.49/month and download either a £6.49 album or 10 songs to keep, and receive unlimited access to listen to more than four million songs online for one month.
Alternatively, you can pay £7.99/month and download a £7.99 album or 15 songs, and receive unlimited access to listen to more than four million songs for a month.
But unlike Spotify there will be no online advertising. Sky hopes it will be able to lure customers away from Apple's iTunes, which dominates the digital download market.
Mike Darcey, Sky's Chief Operating Officer, says:" Our music partners bring an outstanding catalogue and unrivalled expertise that complements Sky's strength in content distribution. Offering legal access to digital music is a vital step in combating illegal downloading."
Sky Songs will be available to anyone in the UK with a broadband connection. To celebrate the launch, all Sky broadband customers who access the site will receive a free downloadable album worth £6.49.
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Comments
I can't see me switching from Spotify just to be able to download one album/albums worth a month. But with Sky entering the market with a format closer to Spotify (concentrate on streaming) and not itunes (concentrate on downloads), it seems to indicate that streaming is more for the future.
Sky confirmation re: bitrates:
"The MP3s run at the best/top rate given to us by the record labels. A large majority of the catalogue is 320kbps but a very small part is 256kbps."
Not yet, John - but as MP3 is mentioned, I doubt it's lossless!
Is there any news on the quality of the bit rates that will be supplied and whether there will be an option for lossless files?
seems very resonable - will give it a go at launch
Not surprisingly, getting a lot of positive coverage on Sky News today...