Universal Music to release singles on USB

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Universal Music is planning to release singles on USB memory sticks, as part of a strategy to stem falling music sales.

The USB singles will be available from 29 October, priced at around £4.99, significantly more than a typical £2.99 CD single.

However USB provides extra storage capacity, and fans will gain videos and other multimedia with the higher priced format.

The first USB releases will include singles from piano rock band Keane and Pussycat Dolls’ Nicole.

Universal is targeting the 12 to 24 age group, who are looking for an alternative to CDs, which have been around for quite some time now.

Sales of CDs fell 19 per cent in the US and 10 per cent in the UK in the first half of the year.

Universal is testing the USB format market in the UK, prior to the planned release of USB albums.

Back To Black by Amy Winehouse, and Kanye West’s Graduation should be available on USB before the end of the year.