"Universal looks to mobile makers to fund free music"

from money.cnn.com 

 

Universal Looks To Mobile Makers To Fund Free Music

 

October 13, 2007: 08:04 AM EST

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Universal Music Group, the world's biggest record label, is looking to mobile hardware makers to foot the bill for a free music subscription service for buyers of a certain mobile phone or music player, The Telegraph reported Saturday.

Universal approached Microsoft - which makes the Zune digital music player - and some mobile carriers this week to discuss a deal in which the hardware makers would pay the subscription on behalf of their customers, according to sources, The Telegraph reports. Universal Music has been in talks with Sony BMF and Warner Music, the newspaper says, about launching a music subscription service, dubbed Total Music, that would be free on certain devices.