Two record labels are getting

Two record labels are getting together to trial a stunning new distribution method... releasing an MP3 on the internet. Don't hold your breath for news of vast online sales - the track is a mix of a single by Meshell Ndegeocello, rather than a mainstream single from a really huge star (although a respectful nod goes to Ndegeocello's influence on the "neo-soul" movement, of course :-)). But it's interesting that Maverick Records and Vivendi Universal are experimenting with the MP3 format, which has been dismissed by record labels (until now) as being a Completely Bad Thing. Traditional record label thinking says that you'll sell only a few copies online, before the single is shoved on the various file-swapping networks and folk help themselves for free. But many net users say that, if they had the choice, they'd much prefer to buy their MP3s, rather than pirate them.