MP3 Compatible logo

A new logo meant to promote legal music download sites and emphasize the fact the files contained on the sites can be played on any digital audio player has been backed by seven of Britain's largest music download sites, according to a Tuesday BBC report. Designed by the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the logo will mean customers can play the purchased files on PCs, Macs and portable music players. The logo will appear on online music stores from HMV, Woolworths, 7digital, Digitalstores, Play.com, Tescodigital and Tunertribe. Also, BPI, the British record industry's trade association is backing the idea, adding that the logo means artists are being paid for their work.

According to October numbers from the Official UK Charts Company, single track downloads in the UK are up 41 percent from one year ago, with album downloads increasing by 69 percent. 7digital's Ben Drury believes the rise is due to the freedom of playing MP3 files wherever users wish, as they are not locked into a single retailer or hardware maker.

The ERA is making efforts to get support from manufacturers of MP3-compatible digital music players next, and eventually hopes, along with other industry players, that the logo will form the blueprint for an international standard.

By Electronista Staff