BMG Napster deal gets artists' union support

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), which handles the royalties for songwriters and represents over 100,000 composers, lyricists and music publishers in the US and elsewhere said that it welcomes the deal. ASCAPs sentiments were echoed by its UK equivalent.

Marilyn Bergman, ASCAP president and chairman, said: "We ask only that it be licensed for its performances of music so that songwriters may be fairly compensated. We would be happy to see it grow and prosper."

Frances Lowe, director general of British Music Rights, said: "We welcome Napster's acceptance that it needs to work with the rights' owners in developing its service. The alliance between Bertelsmann and Napster represents a positive first step towards developing legitimate business models for online distribution of music."

Looking ahead, Peter Beverley, vice chairman of digital rights service company Magex, said: "It's good to see thinking outside the battle lines. We will see this working in some form or another. Clearly the product will evolve, but how people will pay and how people will be sure they are paid for their works has still to be sorted out.

"It is, of course, absolutely imperative the artists feel they will be paid."