Andre Yoskowitz
20 Jan 2011 11:56
Following up on last week's rumors that music service Spotify was close to a deal with a major American label, the WSJ is reporting today that the company has "finally signed with Sony for U.S. distribution deal."
The deal has not been confirmed, yet, but the source says the U.S. version of the popular European application will be almost an identical "mirror" of what it currently available.
There will be a free, ad-supported version, with a limited amount of hours of free streaming music, an ad-free version, and a subscription model that allows for streaming on smartphones like the iPhone and Android devices.
Before Spotify can launch in the U.S., it will need to sign at least one other major label, but rumor has it that other members of the Big 4 will not sign on unless Spotify moves completely to subscription.
Spotify has been promising a move to the U.S. since early 2009 but has had many issues bringing the popular European service Stateside.