A yearlong download promotion planned between Pepsi and Amazon, Billboard has learned, is among several developments forcing further consideration by Warner Music Group (WMG) and Sony BMG Music Entertainment to follow EMI and Universal Music Group"s lead in distributing music in the MP3 format, which forgoes restrictive digital rights management technology.
News of the Pepsi promotion, which is expected to be announced February 3 during the Super Bowl, coincides with Wal-Mart"s ultimatum that major labels supply walmart.com with their music in MP3, sources said.