New York - Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) announced that it has signed new agreements with Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace and U.K. digital retailer We7, to sell music videos and DRM-free MP3 downloads, respectively. Videos from WMG artists will be available to the 12 million worldwide Xbox Live members for download and viewing on their televisions via the game console. The ad-supported We7 service, which also offers tracks for purchase and download, will offer WMG tracks beginning in October; the company has a similar deal with Sony BMG.

London - We7, a digital music service co-founded by musician Peter Gabriel that offers ad-supported free downloads, has announced a licensing deal with Sony BMG, but for its forthcoming ad-supported streaming service -- not for downloads. "(The labels) have come a long way since this time last year and feel comfortable with streaming, but still have a few more hurdles to jump before they are fully comfortable with downloads. It will get there, and probably at an accelerated pace during 2008 and early 2009," We7 CEO Steve Purdham told Music Ally.

London - We7, a new free, ad-supported music download service backed by musician Peter Gabriel, announced that V2 Records is the first to sign on to its service. The deal will make songs from artists including Bloc Party, Stereophonics and Cold War Kids available for free download to anyone willing to listen to targeted ads grafted onto the tracks. The ads disappear after several listens.

London - Musician Peter Gabriel has announced the launch of a new digital music venture, We7, that will offer free, ad-supported music downloads free of digital rights management (DRM).