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I’ve been saying it was going to happen.  ISPs and music labels would come together to create a subscription service to provide music for users to download legally and it seems it has in the UK.

Virgin Media, a UK ISP, just came together with Universal Music Group to form an unlimited music service.  Although it was just announced today, the actual launch won’t be until later this year.

Users of the service will be able to both stream and download as much music as they want from UMG’s catalogue.  Of course, they first have to join and pay a monthly subscription fee.  No word yet on exactly what that fee will be. 

They’ve also stated that the music you download is yours to keep, although at this point they don’t specify whether that means everything you have downloaded, or just a set number of tracks per month can be kept.  You never know, that might be one way they get you.

There is also going to be an “entry level” service, which lets you download a set number per month, not unlimited.  Music will be downloaded in MP3 format.

And to try to combat those that still don’t feel the need to pay for their music, they’ve also announced that they have committed themselves to a “temporary” suspension of internet access for file-sharers using its network. 

“In parallel, the two companies will be working together to protect Universal Music’s intellectual property and drive a material reduction in the unauthorised distribution of its repertoire across Virgin Media’s network. This will involve implementing a range of different strategies to educate file sharers about online piracy and to raise awareness of legal alternatives. They include, as a last resort for persistent offenders, a temporary suspension of internet access. No customers will be permanently disconnected and the process will not depend on network monitoring or interception of customer traffic by Virgin Media.”

I can see this mode becoming more popular.  Heck, anything for ISP’s to make a little more money I’m sure they won’t mind.  But I just wonder, as I’ve said before, what kind of headache royalty-wise can this turn into?  If this idea and method continues to expand to where anyone can download whatever they want legally think of the royalty nightmare that would ensue.  Does the artist get the same royalty if Johnny downloads song x and plays it once and deletes it, as opposed to downloading song y and keeping it and playing it over and over?  What about artist mash-ups?  It could get hairy.

The thing is, a vast percentage of those pirating music are also willing to pay a small fee for some of the music they download.  And those that aren’t—I don’t think you are ever going to turn them all over from the dark side.

I think much will have to do with what kind of subscription fee they are talking about when they get around to announcing it as well.  And how many artists and songs are available for download.  If I had to pay a pretty hefty subscription fee, I’d expect to have a very nice selection of tunes to choose from.

I’m curious to see how long this takes to get to the States.  What do you think?  Would you pay for an ISP subscription music service?

via: MusicAlley