Virgin Media launches unlimited music download service

 

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Posted on 16 Jun 2009 at 12:41

Virgin Media has announced plans for a DRM-free digital music download service designed to "bring about rapid and permanent change in the way UK consumers buy and listen to music," but it currently only has support from one major record label, Universal Music.

The ISP said that when it launches the new service, it will be working together with Universal to prevent illegal file sharing. It said that this would involve "implementing a range of different strategies" designed to educate file sharers about online piracy, raising awareness of legal alternatives in the process.

The company stated that these strategies would include "temporary suspension of Internet access," but added that "no customers will be permanently disconnected." Universal will be the company responsible for doing most of the detective work though, as Virgin said that it will not be monitoring its networks or intercepting its customers' traffic itself.

The service, which is yet to be named, will be a subscription based add-on for your Virgin Media broadband package and will cost "the price of a couple of albums per month."

In addition to this, there will be a streaming service and an 'entry level' free-of-charge package designed for those who don't want unlimited access (or don't want to pay). With this, there will be limited downloads, but the ISP didn't go into any more detail.

Virgin said it is in talks with other record labels, but if it doesn't sign deals with these, the catalogue won't be compelling enough to compete with existing legal services. Moreover, a lengthy contract will be imposed on the service to stop users signing up for just one month and downloading Universal's entire back catalogue.

The service is expected to launch later this year and will only be available to Virgin Media customers.

Author: Tim Smalley