Play.com ties up record-label deals for download service

by Fiona Ramsay, Marketing 10-Oct-08, 09:54

LONDON - Online retailer Play.com has signed up a further three major record labels for its PlayDigital music download service, hailing the agreements as a victory over rival Amazon that will also increase the competition to Apple's iTunes store.

Tracks and albums from the labels - Sony BMG, Warner Music and Universal Music - will be available as MP3s on the site. The trio join PlayDigital's original partner EMI and several independent labels who were signed up at the service's launch in February.

PlayDigital is positioning itself as a cheaper download service than that of rivals. The top 100 tracks are available from 65p each, compared with 79p on iTunes; album prices start at £4.99.