New York - Major record label EMI has held discussions with online retailers on potentially opening its entire catalog for sale in the unprotected MP3 format, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Citing "numerous people familiar with the matter," The Journal said EMI asked retailers to submit proposals by Thursday, detailing what kind of advance payments they'd make for the rights to sell EMI songs as MP3s.

The sources told The Journal that the proposals would weigh heavily on its decision, which could come as early as Friday.

Recently, EMI has experimented with the idea, releasing select singles from artists including Norah Jones and Relient K as unprotected MP3s.

The label is currently going through a restructuring of its operations, having already folded its Capitol and Virgin Records labels in the U.S. into The Capitol Music Group.

As part of the restructuring, a round of layoffs has already begun at Virgin and Capitol.

Related Links:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070209/ap_on_hi_te/emi_unprotected_music_7 (AP)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/business/media/09online.html

http://www.emigroup.com