They will then simply transfer the music to an MP3 - a portable digital player the size of a cigarette packet, using headphones to listen to it. First to move will be EMI, which has some of the worlds' best known artists, including Robbie Williams, Garth Brooks and the Spice Girls, on its books and owns the rights to many Beatles hits. Chairman Sir Colin Southgate has let slip that it intends to begin selling some of the classic records from its catalogue via the Internet. A company spokesman refused to reveal details but sources suggest there will be an announcement in the next two weeks, with sales starting by the end of the year. Internet expert Rob Rogers of the Techtronics company, forecasts an explosion in cyberspace music sales.
People can create a digital jukebox on their PCs and listen to music while they work at the screen.
The advantage of the MP3 players is users are not tied to their computers. They can carry the music around with them and, because there are no moving parts, there is no distortion. First we had the vinyl record, then the cassette tape and CD player, and now we have Internet music and the MP3 players. This is the future. He said the record industry is frightened by the technology because fans can download some songs free.