EMI Selling Singles Via MP3

MP3s On Sale

Despite the copyright-protection issues associated with the format, EMI's BLUE NOTE RECORDS yesterday (12/5) released NORAH JONES' latest single, "Thinking About You," on MP3 via YAHOO, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports. EMI/CMG act RELIENT K also released two MP3s on YAHOO yesterday. As MP3s, the songs come without any of the software that would keep users from making unlimited copies.

BLUE NOTE GM ZACH HOCHKEPPEL called the initiative "an experiment" and said he doesn't believe it will cut into JONES' album sales, since most of her fans are adults and would be more willing than teens to buy the full album. "Nobody gets hurt," HOCHKEPPEL said, "we think."

Nobody gets hurt -- we think.

HOCHKEPPEL also told WSJ that he and other BLUE NOTE execs had to overcome "general resistance" to the project on the part of senior EMI executives but that EMI was ultimately convinced a fresh approach to digital sales was needed.

The article notes that SONY BMG, WARNER MUSIC GROUP and HOLLYWOOD RECORDS have also made some music from their catalogs available as MP3s. YAHOO VP/GM DAVID GOLDBERG said his company is talking to independent labels about getting their music in the MP3 format and hopes to have a significant catalog of songs by next year.

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