Some of the biggest music labels could soon allow free legal downloads, after an ambitious ad-funded file-sharing service, Qtrax, signed a deal with Universal, the world's largest record label and home to U2, Kanye West and Mariah Carey.

Universal Music has signed a rights deal with a new music store that promises the first legal free file-sharing service but whose launch was overshadowed by claims that it did not have industry support. The New York-based Qtrax flew in stars including LL Cool J and James Blunt to support it at a £500,000 launch in Cannes in January, celebrating its promise to offer 25 million tracks free to download and share. Record companies, it said, would be compensated through advertising revenue on the site and royalty payments would be linked to track downloads.

the major labels' music? Here it is May, and Universal looks like they're finally on board.

Universal Music Group has finally struck a deal with online music service Qtrax to enable music from Universal artists to be downloaded for free via the ad-supported service. In a joint statement, Qtrax and Universal Music Group said artists and writers will be compensated for the use of their content through a share of advertising revenue, although financial details of the arrangement were not disclosed. Users will also be able to purchase "music-related items" from the Qtrax site.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Universal Music Group confirmed Tuesday that it has reached a deal with file-sharing site Qtrax to allow free, legal downloads of UMG music.

Qtrax announced in January that it had the backing of"all the major labels" to distribute music free online, generating revenue with ads. But New Yorkbased Warner Music Group Corp., said it had not authorized the use of its content on Qtrax's service. UMG and EMI Group PLC also said at the time they did not have licensing deals in place with Qtrax.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Universal Music Group confirmed Tuesday that it has reached a deal with file-sharing site Qtrax to allow
free, legal downloads of UMG music.

We're going to have to figure out a different way to refer to QTrax, which we normally describe as "the service that wants to bring you free, ad-supported music downloads but doesn't have deals with any major music labels". That's because the company now has a deal with Universal Music Group, the world's biggest label. And that means QTrax users should soon be able to get a big swath of music, free of charge, via the service.

Qtrax, the ambitious free P2P service that took a PR beating in January when it mistakenly announced it had major-label deals in place, seems to be back on track. The P2P service made public a legitimate deal with Universal Music Group, the world's largest major label, on Tuesday, a month after announcing publishing pacts with EMI and Sony/ATV. Qtrax also has a deal in place with Universal's publishing group, meaning the company can now legally populate its service with Universal music.

Internet users will be able to download millions of songs legally and for free by artists such as Amy Winehouse and the Killers after the Qtrax website struck a deal with Universal Music. After an earlier effort to provide the service had to be aborted the deal with the world’s largest record company is a major development in online music distribution.
The New York-based company announced the deal in a short press release, avoiding the fanfare that accompanied its previous launch in January when it told the world that it had signed up major record companies to create an online catalogue of 25 million songs.

NEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony/ATV Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier announced today that Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a digital distribution licensing agreement with QTRAX, the free and legal ad- supported peer to peer music network.

The "world's first free, legal P2P service," Qtrax, has deals with EMI Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing and TVT Records, Listening Post has learned.

New York-June 3, 2008- EMI Music, one of the world’s leading music companies, has entered into an agreement with ad-supported digital music service Qtrax to make EMI’s catalog of digital music available to music fans in the US and Canada.

Oracle today announced that Qtrax, a free, legal peer-to-peer music service with an ad-supported delivery model, has implemented Oracle infrastructure software to provide the highly reliable, scalable IT architecture necessary to deliver its global service.

NEW YORK -- May 27, 2008—Kontor New Media, a top European leader in digital distribution, and Qtrax, the world’s first free and legal peer-to-peer (P2P) music service, today announce that they have signed a digital licensing agreement.

New York—May 6, 2008—Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s leading music company, and its global publisher, Universal Music Publishing Group, announced today that they have entered into digital distribution licensing agreements with Qtrax.

March 10, 2008 - New York - Chairman and CEO of Qtrax Allan Klepfisz announced today that Beggars Group has signed a digital distribution licensing agreement with Qtrax, the free and legal ad-supported peer-to-peer music network.

March 11, 2008- New York- Digital distribution industry leader finetunes and Qtrax, the world’s first free and legal peer-to-peer (P2P) music service, today announce that they have signed a digital licensing agreement.
For more than four years, finetunes has been a pioneer in creating opportunities

March 3, May 30, 2008, New York – EMI Music Publishing has signed an extension to its digital distribution licensing agreement with Qtrax, the free and legal ad-supported peer to peer music network.

March 3, 2008—New York--Sony/ATV Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Martin Bandier announced today that Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed a digital distribution licensing agreement with Qtrax, the free and legal ad-supported peer to peer music network.

March 3, 2008- New York- TVT Records recently renewed its long-standing agreement with QTRAX and is the first label to launch music on the ad-supported P2P service.