Ad-funded music download service signs up EMI

NEW YORK - SpiralFrog, the company that could revolutionise legal music downloading by offering tracks for free, has signed a deal with EMI, which could mean that artists like Coldplay and Robbie Williams are added to its service.

The deal with EMI means that its artists, also including Norah Jones, David Bowie and Kylie, will be available on the service when it launches in the US later this year.

, headed by former Universal McCann worldwide CEO Robin Kent, is being funded by advertising, instead of users paying for individual tracks or albums as with other download services.

Universal Music, home to bands including U2 and the Scissor Sisters, was the first label to sign up, revealing the deal last week. SpiralFrog is also in talks with Sony-BMG and Warner to make their music available.

Separately, there is speculation that , the market leading legal music download site, is set to expand into movie downloads.

It has been sparked after invitations were sent out to an event on September 12, featuring an Apple logo against a backdrop of spotlights and the words: "It's Showtime".

ITunes already offers podcasts, music videos and television shows alongside music, and a film download service is seen as a logical expansion for the business.

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