We7 launches free on-demand music

Website We7.com has launched a service which will let you listen to music for free.

You can hear more than 500,000 tracks from artists such as Leona Lewis, Take That and The Hoosiers for nothing provided you are prepared to sit through a short audio advert before every track.

All the tracks can be listened to immediately online, though some can also be downloaded to an MP3 player, with the audio advert attached.

The site recently struck a deal with one of the major record labels, Sony BMG, as Web User reported in Issue 184. However, none of the other majors - EMI, Warner and Universal - have signed up to We7.com yet.

Steve Purdham, co-founder and chief executive of We7.com, said: "To date, music fans have really only had two choices to get the music how they want it – buy or steal.

"Today we're changing that by putting the fans and artists first to deliver a fresh new alternative. Fans get the music they want and now have the choice of paying with their money or paying with a small amount of their time, so everybody is happy," Purdham continued.

The advertising revenue goes toward paying the artist and record labels the royalties they are due, and this means visitors are encouraged to share music with their friends as anyone that hears the track will be exposed to the advertising as well.

Analyst Mark Mulligan of Jupiter Research said that the service put the needs of advertisers before those of the music fan.

"[We7.com's] focus on the advertisers is so strong, it almost feels like it is an advertiser’s service first and a music service second. Which is no bad thing, as the ad-supported offerings are only going to make it if they get their ad story right," Mulligan said.

www.we7.com