Independent record labels sign Web distribution deal

Merlin, the new agency representing the world's independent music sector, has agreed to a deal with digital music company Snocap that will allow its labels' music to be sold from Web sites such as MySpace.

The group announced the deal at the annual MidemNet music conference in France, saying it would allow thousands of independent labels across the world to sell digital downloads of their music from their MySpace pages and other sites.

Merlin was launched on Saturday to secure licensing deals with emerging media such as MySpace and YouTube. The group said it would act as the "fifth major" in the world with a view to rectifying the "poor cousin" status of deals previously offered to independent labels.

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