Warner Music Group's Edgar Bronfman is often heralded as a digital music maverick. Yesteday's announcement will create more attention and adulation for him and his music company.

WMG announced that it is working with digital company B3 to provide indie music retailers a way to get online and sell digital downloads. The retailers are members of three indie music retail coalitions: Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Association of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) and the Music Monitor Network. WMG will supply the content and licensing. B3 will provide the infrastructure.

The plan is to offer digital bundles (not bundles as in an e-label bundle, rather albums with added value), downloads of in-store performances, downloads from local artists and coupon-based promotions.

Indie retailers have wanted a level playing field, says AIMS' Eric Levin. "What we wanted was an opportunity to sell the same items as our online competition in the same time frame. At best, we'd hoped for a slow-down in the preferential treatment that other major online music stores have received from the music industry; we did not expect the gift of a digital delivery solution for all of our stores."

Continue reading "Digital Downloads Meet Indie Retail" »