SanDisk Corp. announced today a new physical music format called slotMusic, a Micro SD memory card that comes preloaded with music. The four major music groups and retailers Best Buy Co. and Wal-Mart are on board but gave no pricing or availability details. A SanDisk executive told the AP participating retailers are expected to give the format a "sizable amount of shelf space." Universal Music Group said it will start with about 30 new and old titles, including an album by Akon.

The music files will be in MP3 format, and the large amount of storage -- a minimum of 1 GB -- on the cards give labels the ability to include video, artwork, liner notes and other content. The new format is aimed at the many mobile devices that take memory cards. An adapter will enable slotMusic to be played on PCs and some in-car systems.

The slotMusic format joins a list of new formats -- such as USB memory sticks and ringles -- that have largely failed to connect with consumers (memory sticks have been one-off affairs without the coordination of this slotMusic initiative). Labels and retailers obviously hope it pick up some lost CD sales, but there will be many hurdles. Packaging and price will need to communicate to consumers the value of the content. How retailers merchandise and advertise the new product will play an important role. An unknown is to what extent consumers desire a tiny physical product that works with mobile devices -- mostly phones.

Flash memory drives are not a completely new format. Last year, the 30th anniversary release of Bob Marley's Exodus was released on both Micro SD card and USB memory stick. Barenaked Ladies stands as one of the best known bands to release an album on a memory stick, and that was nearly three years ago.