FULLAUDIO GETS FULL MONTY FROM UNI PUBLISHING

FullAudio announced Tuesday (10/9) it reached a two-year, non-exclusive licensing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group to provide music on its soon-to-launch online music service from the publishing company's roster, which includes works from acts such as Bon Jovi and the Smashing Pumpkins. Owned by Vivendi Universal, Universal Music Publishing owns or administers more than 850,000 copyrights.

The latest licensing deal for FullAudio comes on the heels of similar agreements with EMI Recorded Music, EMI Music Publishing and Bertelsmann's music publishing arms. The company hopes to launch its service in the fourth quarter.

"At Universal Music Publishing Group, we want to create opportunities for our songwriters and artists to benefit from new technologies, while at the same time ensuring the protection of our writers' copyrights and safeguarding their interests," said David Renzer, Universal Music Publishing Group Worldwide President. "This deal with FullAudio will allow our writers to be compensated, while giving music listeners access to the music that they love."

"FullAudio's goal is to provide music lovers with a wide variety of music content and this agreement with Universal Music Publishing is a great move towards that goal," said FullAudio Chairman/CEO Chris Copeland Gladwin. "With our subscription service technology complete, licenses like this enhance our music offerings and make the launch of our service that much closer."

If FullAudio’s service launches as planned, it will compete with the RealNetworks/AOLTW/EMI/BMG joint venture MusicNet and the Sony/Vivendi Universal joint venture Pressplay—quite a victory for a stand-alone company with only 40 employees.

Both of the major label online music ventures should launch as planned, especially since the NMPA (parent company of the Harry Fox Agency) and the RIAA reached an agreement Tuesday regarding music licensing for new subscription services on the Internet (hitsdailydouble.com, 10/9).

FullAudio’s service would allow consumers to download digital music files onto their computers and store them there. If the subscriber fails to pay the monthly fee (between $5 and $20 a month), the user would be unable to access music already downloaded. The service will be available on its own or might also be provided via other distribution partners.