MySpace's much previously reported and highly anticipated (by someone, I'm sure) new download service will reportedly be officially announced soon - any minute now, in fact, though most likely tomorrow.
As previously reported, after the lacklustre response to its original download service, a JV with SnoCap that aimed to allow artists to sell music themselves via their MySpace pages, the News Corp owned social networking platform is planning a much more high profile entry into the download space by offering a full digital music service, most likely accessible via a central portal and artists' MySpace pages.
Billboard cite sources as saying that both Universal Music and Warner have now signed licensing deals to make music available to the new download store, and that MySpace are prepared to go ahead and launch their service with just those two majors on board. That said, it is thought that while MySpace will announce their store this week, it will take 2-3 months to actually launch, giving SonyBMG and EMI the chance to sign up before launch (though EMI are reportedly in no rush to sign to the MySpace download store, for reasons I don't really understand).
Billboard reckons that the MySpace Music store will sell DRM free downloads, make ad-supported preview streams available, and also sell tickets, merchandise and ringtones. A mobile version of the store is also reportedly in the pipleline.