Sky Aligns with Universal for Music Service

LONDON, July 22: Sky has
lined up Universal Music Group as the first label partner for its upcoming digital
music service for consumers in the U.K. and Ireland, slated to launch later
this year.

The online music service
will be operated by a new joint-venture company, in which Sky will be the
majority shareholder. As the first partner in the service, Universal Music will
offer access to its entire catalogue, as well as becoming a shareholder. Other
key partners will be invited to take a stake in the future.

Universal’s participation
brings music from the likes of U2, Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Snow Patrol,
Luciano Pavarotti, ABBA, Rihanna and Elton John, among others, to the service.
Users can sign up for a monthly subscription fee, granting them access to
stream songs on demand for immediate listening or download tracks for playback
at any time. A range of subscription options will be available.

Sky is in discussions with
other music companies, both majors and independents.

—By Mansha Daswani