Virgin Media to launch subscription-based unlimited music download service
Virgin Media is getting together with Universal Music to create the world's first unlimited music download subscription service.
And the company says the new service, which will allow users to both stream and download music from the Universal catalogue, is set to "bring about a rapid and permanent change in the way UK consumers buy and listen to music."
Virgin Media's CEO Neil Berkett (pictured) says that, "In terms of both convenience and value, our new music service will be superior to anything that's available online today and provides a fair deal for both consumers and artists.
"There is no better example of Virgin Media's commitment to harnessing digital technology to give customers what they want, when they want and how they want."
Under the scheme. set to launch later this year, music can be downloaded, kept forever and stored on any MP3-compatible device. Virgin adds that it's in negotiations with other UK major and independent labels, and hopes to offer an even more extensive catalogue by the time the service goes live.
It's also thought there will be an entry-level service, available at a lower cost, giving more limited downloading rights.
Virgin Media will also be taking steps to reduce the amount of illegal downloads it sees occurring over its broadband network. Sanctions for persistent offenders could include temporary suspension of access.
Comments
Give me lossless, unlimited and DRM free downloads and I'd be very happy to pay a reasonably monthly subscription. It can't be long before CD's finally die away, even now I'm having to import music from Europe because the music industry fail to release anything considered slightly risky (from a sales perspective). I've been ripping all my CD's to my PC for a good few years now, and any new ones I buy get ripped straight away, I can't recall the last time I used my CD player.
I will stick with CD's as long as they keep making them. To be honest, on-line (and some shops) prices are not that bad. Older catalogue titles can be picked up for less than a fiver. I recently bought 3 CD's for £10 one being a double disc.
What happens if you cancel your subcription? Do you lose all the music you've downloaded? I'd be quite happy to pay a monthly fee to have access to all the music I wanted. However, should I wish to cancel to swap to another provider I would not want to lose what I already had. That'd be the dealbreaker for me.
Will there be lossless downloads as well as the lower quality stuff?
hmm...very nice but given virgin media's poor download limits is it really worth it for people on their network!