May 23, 2008

By By Aymeric Pichevin, Paris

Universal Music and French bank Soci?t? G?n?rale will launch on May 26 a co-branded credit card offering users access to numerous music services.

The So Music card will be available to customers of Soci?t? G?n?rale in France. In addition to the usual services offered by a Visa card, So Music will enable access to a dedicated portal, where customers will have access to stream or download music from the entire Universal catalog, tap into a Web TV service, and contest for concert tickets.

So Music will also offer artist services, which allows musicians to submit their demo recordings. Also, the service will offer guidance for people interested in working in the music industry.

In a statement issued yesterday, French independent labels trade body UPFI welcomed the initiative, but expressed concerns about "the multiplication of services exclusively offering the catalog of the dominant player in the recording market."

During the past year, Universal Music France has teamed for digital services with mobile carrier SFR and Internet service provider Neuf Cegetel, both of which have carried only Universal content until now.

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