The independent music trade bodies in the UK, Germany and France (AIM, UPFI and VUT respectively) have all signed a licensing deal with Sony Electronics which will make their music available via the Sony Connect digital download service, which is due to launch next month.
Confirming the deal, Sony Network Services Europe's Robert Ashcroft told CMU: "Online music distribution is a key part of Sony's business strategy, and it is a prime objective to offer as much choice and as high a quality of music as possible. We are very pleased to have completed deals with so many highly respected independent labels, who have long had the reputation for breaking important acts and pioneering new styles of music. We look forward to continuing to expand our catalogue in the future and to working with AIM in the UK, VUT in Germany, and UPFI in France to do so."
Speaking for AIM's online licensing division Musicindie, Steve Johnston said: "We have concluded an important milestone deal with Sony Connect, which is set to become a key provider of digital content this side of the Atlantic. We look forward to seeing the service open for business in multiple territories across Europe in the near future".
As previously reported, the Connect service will launch in June offering music that can be downloaded to play on PCs and a wide variety of Sony portable players including the flash memory players, CD and MiniDisc Walkmans and the new Hi-MD WALKMAN.