Los Angeles - Major record labels Warner Music Group and Sony BMG announced this week the formation of a joint venture to launch a wholesale Internet and mobile music distributor in Russia, a country the U.S. has labeled a piracy haven.

Along with the two majors, Access Industries, a private equity firm that also holds a significant stake in Warner Music, and Russian labels Soyuz and Nikitin Records will be partners in Digital Access, which is set to commence operations in the fall of 2007.

The service will distribute full-track song downloads, ringtones, ringback tones, video clips and images to online and mobile music retailers in Russia.

"We are very excited about a unique opportunity with our reputable and experienced international shareholders to establish relations with all market participants interested in developing a legitimate digital content market in Russia," said Oleg Tumanov, chairman of Digital Access.

Related Links:
http://www.wmg.com/news/article/?id=8a0af812135563dd011372f46dc73f32

http://tinyurl.com/2w73zc (Billboard)

http://www.accessindustries.com