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Reuters are reporting that Warner Music has signed a deal with digital media site 7digital.com to provide its catalogue in the MP3 format, which can be played on nearly all music devices.

Warner Music International, a division of Warner Music Group said its catalogue — with hits from James Blunt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers — would be available to 7digital.com customers in the UK, Ireland, Spain, France and Germany. The site is the first major European download store to offer Warner’s tracks in the DRM-free MP3 format — 7digital offers EMI’s catalogue in the MP3 format and aims to sign more labels soon.

Founded in 2003, 7 Digital’s singles service distributes singles to over 200 partner sites such as AOL, MSN, Yahoo, and NME. 7 Digital is established in the music industry by providing the download capability for all the major record labels and over 200 independents. In addition, 7 Digital helps artists such as Gorillaz and Coldplay make downloads available directly from their own websites.

Investors: Balderton Capital, Sutton Place Managers

Tags: 7Digital, AOL, Balderton Capital, MSN, NME, Sutton Place Managers, Warner Music International, Yahoo

A London-based rival to Apple’s iTunes music store has unveiled plans to expand into the US and Europe after securing £4.25m in funding.

7Digital, one of the first digital music stores on the market when it launched four years ago, has attracted investment from Sutton Place Managers, the venture capital fund in which Mark Getty is a partner, and existing investor Balderton Capital.

While many competitors to Apple’s market leading iTunes music store have faded away, 7Digital has endured by working closely with labels and unsigned acts.

In contrast to Apple, it has experimented with a range of formats, pricing models and delivery systems and notched up high-profile deals with the likes of Radiohead and partnership agreements with ITV, the Independent, Bebo, Last.fm and others.

7Digital Founder Ben Drury said the company was now well placed to expand as the record industry moved to remove digital rights management software from downloads, meaning it could more easily sell music that would work on any device.

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Tags: 7Digital, Apple, Bebo, ITV, Last.fm, Sutton Place Managers, The Independent