Sony BMG plans to develop online music service

Sony BMG Music Entertainment plans to develop an online music subscription service that will provide unlimited access to its music collection and also make it compatible with all music devices including iPods.

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO of Sony BMG Music Entertainment made this announcement Monday to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. BMG will provide unlimited music access to their entire catalog for a low fee 6 to 8 Euros ($8 to $12) per month and compatible with all the music players. Schmidt-Holtz told the German newspaper, they will also provide an option with the subscription so “that clients could keep some songs indefinitely, that they would own them even after the subscription expired”. Schmidt-Holtz also said they are in negotiations with other major music distributors but didn’t provide any specific details. They may also offer an option to download music to mobile phones directly in partnership with cellular providers. Sony BMG's artist roster includes newcomers like Leona Lewis, along with stalwarts like Alicia Keys and Celine Dion, as well as country singer Carrie Underwood among others. A Bertelsmann spokesman confirmed that the interview was accurate but declined to provide further details. It seems the music labels were in hibernation, suddenly they wake up with ideas when already many are providing this service for a long time like Real.com, Napster, and others, who also sell BMG music. Apple is also planning to have unlimited music service in iTunes.