Social network giant MySpace today announced a landmark music service that brings all four major music labels into a DRM-free market. The service called MySpace Music will initially be available only in the US but will become an international product tied to the MySpace website.

The site has teamed up with the Sony BMG, EMI, Warner and Universal labels to make the deal happen however MySpace will not be delivering all the back-end technology. As of today, DRM-free MP3 music will be available for purchase on MySpace via Amazon.com and ringtones via Jamster.

MySpace Music will be powered by an integrated toolset that will allow users to stream, download and organise their own music. The new service also includes free ad-supported streaming of music from the huge catalog now available.

The first stage of the global roll-out includes:

• The new MyMusic personal music management toolset
• Free and unlimited ad-supported, full-length audio streaming
• Free and unlimited playlist functionality
• Free discography and content catalogues for SONY BMG, UMG and WMG artists
• DRM-free MP3 music e-commerce downloads powered by Amazon MP3
• Ringtone e-commerce powered by Jamster

Nick Love, Business Development Director, MySpace.com, Australia explains, "The MySpace Music  (http://www.myspace.com/music) joint venture announcement, made in the US today, allows American MySpace users to listen to free and unlimited, full-length audio streaming via an unlimited playlist functionality from content catalogues for SONY BMG, UMG and WMG artists. MySpace Music also offers DRM-free MP3 music downloads and ringtones."

The new service will be a direct competitor to Apple's iTune store. The use of DRM-free MP3 compression, a format supported by the millions of iPods on the market, will ensure a ready market outside the MySpace userbase.

But the fact that MySpace users will be able to listen to music free from the massive catalog represented by the four major labels is a breakthrough in digital music and should once and for all break the DRM shackles.

MySpace has not indicated how the global roll-out will continue and declined to give any date on country roll-outs beyond the initial US release today. However, MySpace executives are currently in talks with Australian music industry representatives. Given the huge potential this service has not only for MySpace but for the music industry in general, it's unlikely any country will want to miss out. The new service is available at myspace.com/music .

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