The mobile music company Shazam Entertainment has secured a deal with Universal Music that will give them access to the Universal Music's catalogue (which includes music from Polydor, Island, Mercury and Interscope). The deal will allow Shazam to sell 30-second audio clips as part of their Songmail service.
Shazam are best known, of course, for their song recognition service. When you want to know what a track is, you just dial 2580 from your mobile, point it towards the music and 'Shazam' text you the name of the track and the artist (and for a guy who likes highly pretentious obscure rock-breaks and prog-jazz I was amazed at what this little puppy can recognise – great for break/sample spotters).