Virgin Media and UMG launching unlimited music service
UK ISP Virgin Media has teamed up with Universal Music Group for its long-awaited unlimited music service, which has been announced today but won’t launch until later in the year. However, alongside it, Virgin is committing itself to “temporary” suspension of internet access for persistent file-sharers using its network.
Users will be able to stream AND download as many music tracks and albums as they want from UMG’s entire catalogue, paying a monthly subscription fee. The fee itself hasn’t been announced. The announcement says “Downloaded music will be theirs to keep permanently” in MP3 format, although it’s unclear whether that means a certain number of tracks can be kept every month, or everything someone’s downloaded.
There will also be an “entry level” service, presumably cheaper, which won’t be unlimited. Virgin Media says it’s negotiating with other major and independent music labels and publishers in the UK to ensure it can offer a full catalogue at launch.
It’s a big carrot, but is there a stick? Possibly: check the wording in the press release:
“In parallel, the two companies will be working together to protect Universal Music’s intellectual property and drive a material reduction in the unauthorised distribution of its repertoire across Virgin Media’s network. This will involve implementing a range of different strategies to educate file sharers about online piracy and to raise awareness of legal alternatives. They include, as a last resort for persistent offenders, a temporary suspension of internet access. No customers will be permanently disconnected and the process will not depend on network monitoring or interception of customer traffic by Virgin Media.”
Virgin Media CEO Neil Berkett has talked up the new service: “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.”
Meanwhile, UMG chairman and chief executive Lucian Grainge is equally buoyant: “Britain has a world-class reputation for artists and music. Now British consumers will have access to a world-class digital music service. I believe this puts all of us at the forefront of a new era.”
The UK minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, Stephen Carter, has also welcomed the announcement, as have a bunch of UMG artists including Ronan Keating, the Sugababes, Duffy and James Morrison.
Tags: UMG, Virgin Media
June 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
[...] The Music Ally Weblog « Virgin Media and UMG launching unlimited music service [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
[...] minister for communications, technology and broadcasting, Stephen Carter, has welcomed the announcement of Virgin Media and UMG’s unlimited streaming and downloads music [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
[...] Media’s unlimited digital music service, which was announced earlier today, uniquely contains both a carrot and a stick for music fans. The carrot is unlimited MP3 downloads, [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[...] interesting, though, that today’s announcement of a deal between UK ISP and Virgin Media DOESN’T involve permanent disconnection – just [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Are there any music companies that DON’T insist that you download their software/adware?
June 15th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
popurls.com // popular today…
story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…
June 15th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Without iPod support, this is DOA. I don’t see anything about it yet.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
[...] Read more here: Music Ally | Blog Archive » Virgin Media and UMG launching … [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Well, i don’t know you people followed the net neutrality issue but Virgin Media is just one big scammy crap company who wants to limit our internet access/freedom around the world! Take that! You may not change the internet!!
June 15th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
[...] hoje o fornecedor de acesso à Internet britânico Virgin Media e a Universal Music Group anunciaram uma nova assinatura mensal que permitirá descarregar um número ilimitado de MP3s em troca de uma [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
[...] Read the rest here: Music Ally | Blog Archive » Virgin Media and UMG launching … [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
[...] View original post here: Music Ally | Blog Archive » Virgin Media and UMG launching … [...]
June 16th, 2009 at 12:51 am
[...] See more here: Music Ally | Blog Archive » Virgin Media and UMG launching … [...]
June 16th, 2009 at 12:57 am
hey Rob, the downloads are MP3s, so iPod support is there I believe
June 16th, 2009 at 1:00 am
“The announcement says “Downloaded music will be theirs to keep permanently” in MP3 format”
If this in fact means that only a LOSSY version will be allowed to be kept – LOSSLESS (wav, aiff, flac) not being allowed to be kept, this will accomplish nothing. MP3’s sound horrid and have very little value to me. If I’m paying, I want CD quality or better. THIS is the issue here – not pirating.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Without iPod support, this is DOA. I don’t see anything about it yet..
June 25th, 2009 at 1:24 am
Jeez that was a long post and I read it word for word, I
October 8th, 2009 at 6:45 am
Респект & уважуха блоггер.
October 9th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Новые посты, имхо, нынче слишком редко случаются
November 5th, 2009 at 9:18 am
[...] surprising in that – they’re working together on a new music service after all. But that’s the thing – sources have suggested to Music Ally that this [...]