Bebo signs deal with Apple to provide iTunes access

Bebo will offer its UK users access to iTunes' catalogue of more than 5 million songs after the UK-based social networking site struck a deal with Apple to link to the world's largest online music store. The deal with Bebo, the UK's largest social networking site with 8.8 million users in the region, represents the first time that iTunes has been offered directly through such a site anywhere in the world.

From today, Bebo users can purchase music direct from the profiles of musicians who sell through iTunes. The site already has around 500,000 bands using its "Bebo Bands" service and a partnership with the digital downloading company 7Digital enables those artists to sell directly to Bebo users. Sales count toward official charts in the UK, the US and 20 other countries.

Bebo, which has more than 33 million users around the world, will offer one free song to download once a week to promote new artists. The promotion is aimed at replicating the success of iTunes' Single of the Week that has helped launch the careers of artists including Mika and Paolo Nutini. The partnership will see Bebo competing against MySpace, which has built up a large subscriber base by focusing on promoting musicians.

7Digital said in a separate announcement that it will take on iTunes after launching a web-based "Locker" service that provides consumers with access to their music and videos from anywhere in the world. It will roll out the service in the third quarter.