Digital finally gets a free hand.

Digital activity in the UK is set to ramp up as retailers start to roll out unprotected MP3 content from majors

A hive of digital activity will hit the UK music industry in the coming weeks as retailers prepare for the imminent roll-out of unprotected MP3 content from all the majors.

HMV last Friday confirmed that it is set to open its MP3 and streaming service before the end of the month and it is expected that this will be the first of a rash of MP3 stores selling content from all four majors to be announced in the coming weeks.

"It is extremely important for HMV to be able to offer its customers music in a digital format that is compatible with all devices," HMV chief executive Simon Fox explains. "Our offering to date has been restricted by only selling WMAs."

"Will we be the first on the market? I really don't know. But it's not a race," Fox adds. "What is important is that we launch when we are ready to launch."

Already Universal has signed deals with 7Digital in the UK and German retailer Saturn to sell its catalogue as unprotected MP3s, while the major recently launched two bespoke MP3 stores - Lost Tunes and The Music From...

In addition, the next few weeks will see announcements from 7Digital - thought to involve a partnership with a social networking site - and a full UK launch for Nokia's Comes With Music.