Sony BMG signs with We7 to provide free music
It may have taken companies a while to realize that people want free stuff. Providing it ad-free would be ideal but most folks don’t mind listening to or watching short ads between the content. This is the foundation for a bunch of new online streaming video and music services. Hulu is on the video side and We7 is on the music side. We7 has just signed its first major label, Sony BMG.
Starting at the end of April, We7 users will have free access to on-demand streaming audio but will have to listen to a short audio ad between tracks. So far the library will consist of both new and existing releases from Sony BMG’s catalog. The service will only be available to existing users before being rolled out to new subscribers.
According to the company, its service launched back in May 2007 with only 30 tracks; with Sony BMG onboard and several independent artists, it now has in the area of 1 million tracks. It also claims it passed the 2 millionth download mark last month.
The service is available to most of the world but depending where you are; there will be limitations. The full service is available to residents of the UK; everyone else will have a more limited selection of music and albums. You will still be able to view the content of the album but not play any of it; that’s still useful because it enables you to find the songs from another service.
As it stands today, We7 is mostly functional and it can only get better from here. The service is backed by Peter Gabriel.
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