Orange debuts music service for prepaid subscribers

European mobile operator Orange announced an agreement with Universal Music Group and British free-to-air television channel 4Music to introduce Monkey, touted as the first pay-as-you-go mobile music service for the U.K. market. According to Orange, Monkey--aimed primarily at subscribers between the ages of 16 and 24--promises prepaid subscribers a free streaming catalog spanning hundreds of thousands of songs; users may create and share playlists, and Universal will also offer exclusive content, pre-release tracks and related media. In addition, Orange will award subscribers free text messages each month when they top off their service.

4Music will promote the Monkey service from early September across the Channel 4 portfolio. Its 4Music.com website will also promote the Monkey service and music offering, with the 4Music team service as the editorial voice of the official Monkey website, which will feature news, artist features, playlists, exclusive content and competitions.  

For more on Monkey:
- read this release

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