BSkyB, which operates Sky, claimed the new service as a "world first", chiefly because of its DRM-free format.

The subscription lets you listen to an unlimited amount of songs, though the number you can download will be restricted each month.

Unlike iTunes, downloads will be available without digital rights management (DRM) technology and in MP3 format, so subscribers are not restricted to which devices they use.

However, only one of the major labels, Universal Music Group, has signed up so far. Universal said it will provide "hundreds of thousands" of tracks and has artists and groups such as U2 and Amy Winehouse on its books.

Sky said it is in talks with other labels and music companies to offer further content.

Details about the software, the pricing structure and even the name of the service have yet to be announced, but analyst Mark Mulligan of Jupiter Research said that there is a lot at stake for Sky in its attempt to be a "digital pioneer".

www.sky.com
www.umusic.co.uk

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