UBC Names Music Buying Service

UBC Media is to name its instant music buying service Cliq. The service will allow consumers to instantly buy the music they like as they hear it on the radio.

It was first announced at a MediaTel Group seminar at the end of 2005, before having its official launch in November last year (see UBC Announces Digital Music Downloading Launch).

The system works by broadcasting, in a dedicated data channel, a real-time information service with track details and a ‘buy’ button, alongside the radio station’s audio stream.

Cliq is broadcasting in a trial form on the digital service of Heart 106.2 in London and UBC is preparing to launch it commercially later this year.

The service currently operates on the Lobster digital radio mobile phone available from Virgin Mobile.

In addition to the Lobster, UBC is developing an application that will display the Cliq service on any mobile phone with Java capability.

UBC says that 85% of mobile phones in the UK are capable of running Java and this application will mean that the growing number of people who listen to FM radio on mobile phones will be able to call up a track listing for their favourite radio stations and buy songs as they are played.

Simon Cole, chief executive of UBC, said: “Having the ability to market the service on both an in-home and a mobile device from launch, with the leading digital radio hardware supplier on board, I believe is a very strong proposition.

“Having already secured the backing of all the major radio groups and record companies I believe we have reached a point of critical mass, and a situation where the astute players in the industry want to be involved in something which is going to change the way the consumer utilises the radio.”

UBC Media are one of several partners lining up alongside 4 Radio in the bid for the second national digital multiplex (see 4 Digital Group Reveals Digital Multiplex Bid).

UBC Media Group: 020 7453 16001 www.ubcmedia.com