Nokia, labels deep into Comes With Music talks

A week after EMI Music said it is in negotiations with Nokia to join the handset giant's all-you-can-eat Comes With Music mobile service, Nokia confirmed it is also in talks with rival labels Sony BMG and Warner Music Group, adding it is confident deals will be in place with all four major labels prior to the service's late-2008 launch. Nokia announced Universal Music Group International's participation in the Comes With Music effort late last year; now Nokia executive vice president of marketing Anssi Vanjoki tells The Financial Times, "We have negotiations and discussions ongoing with all the majors and a number of indies as well. I am hopeful at the time of launch, technically we are able to deliver other labels. Certainly our target is to have other labels on board."

According to Vanjoki, the label talks include discussions of revenue-sharing agreements, and he added Nokia would consider similar deals with mobile operators, emphasizing the revenue potential of ancillary products like T-shirts spotlighting popular artists. Vanjoki also said Nokia is mulling additional acquisitions to bolster its mobile services strategy.

For more on the Comes With Music negotiations:
- read this Financial Times article

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