6 Music - Music News

Business experts say the new service offered by the entertainment brand won't 'kill' iTunes, as the Sky makes the latest move in the legal download market. 

Sky Songs set to launch next week - the service will offer music fans access to over four million tracks for download and unlimited ad-free streaming.

Justin Moodie, the general manager, claims the service has a good chance in the market because it is "priced very competitively".

He explained to 6 Music: "For £6.49 customers can get an album of their choice to download, or they can mix and match up to 10 tracks, and they get unlimited streaming with access to over 4 million songs."

Already in the marketplace, streaming service Spotify costs £9.99 a month for unlimited music without adverts. There's a free version, if you're prepared to listen to ads between songs. Meanwhile, for an album on iTunes, you would typically pay £7.99 for a recent release, although some are cheaper.

But Robert Plummer,  BBC business correspondent, said the new service isn't a real rival to Apple's online music store. "Maybe someone will invent an iTunes killer, but this is not yet it.

"This is yet another confusing pricing plan - until you can make a subscription model that is going to appeal to people more than iTune's pay-per-track model, iTunes are going to be the leaders."

"Maybe someone will invent an iTunes 'killer', but this is not yet it."

Robert Plummer, BBC business correspondent

Licensed by PRS for Music in the UK, the online store has the four major record labels, EMI, Sony Music Entertainment UK, Warner Music UK and Universal Music Group on board.

The breadth of artists won't just include mainstream acts like Coldplay. Independent labels have been signed up, including Beggars Group - which represents 4AD, Rough Trade, Matador and XL Recordings - as have PIAS Entertainment Group, which stands for more than 100 leading independent labels.

Moodie says the satellite giant is keen to ensure its content is far-reaching.

"I’m absolutely committed to bringing new content in every day," he said. "Every time you search for something and can’t find it, it sends a message to us at the back end."

Songs downloaded via Sky Songs won't disappear if customers leave the service  -  Moodie says one advantage of their product is that users can keep them forever.

"It’s unlocked, DRM free. Our service is fully integrating with iTunes, iPod, any mp3 player and that means customers get music to own, that they keep," added Moodie.

While 'rights free' downloads might hold some appeal, Plummer thinks customers are holding out for a fresh approach. "What people really want is the 'all you can eat' service, where you just pay a certain amount and you can download what you want, when you want, and play it on whatever you like. Nobody's offering this, and Sky Songs certainly isn't either."

Regardless, Sky won't be the new kid on the block for long - Virgin Media also hold plans to launch a rival music service.