Free legal music downloads.

A new legal music download service offers MP3s free at the point of delivery. the New York-based www.Spiralfrog.com will be fully funded by advertising.

Spiralfrog will make the entire Universal back catalogue available at no charge, including current hits like Razorlight and Johnny Hallyday, together with its roster of classics from the likes of Stevie Wonder. Independent labels will be hosted too, along with video content. There are currently 40 illegal downloads to every single legal one. Spiralfrog will be pitching to the tech-savvy 13 to 34-year-olds.

The standard download charge at iTunes is currently at $1.00 per track. Whether Spiralfrog's entry will prompt a rethink at the dominant player remains to be seen. There is no mention of which audio codec or DRM solution will be used, although it is very likely that the record labels will insist on some DRM being in place.

And, on that note. Happy Downloads.