Tower Records to launch TowerPod

United Press International
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 12:00 a.m. | Tuesday, March 7, 2006 12:00 a.m.

Tower Records of Sacramento, Calif., is about to enter the digital download arena -- but unlike Apple's iTunes, the service will be free.

TowerPod, which will be formally announced during the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, later this month, will offer a free library of 6,000 songs from independent artists and labels for podcast downloads, FMQB.com reported Tuesday.

Revenue will come from embedded ads and will be split between the labels, artists and podcast creators.

The Web site, www.towerpod.com, will be in addition to the music store's existing Tower Connection site, which is linked to the retail sales site.

The retail chain is for sale two years after emerging from bankruptcy protection and is being marketed by the Los Angeles investment banking firm of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin.

Email Newsletters