Mean Fiddler to launch online music store

The Mean Fiddler is to launch its own music download service next month in Britain and Ireland.

Operating under the Mean Fiddler Media banner, it'll have a start-up catalogue of 250,000 tracks which will be available through both the internet and mobile phones.

"I believe that our live music experience will give our service an edge especially as we develop closer working relationships with our music label partners," says Mean Fiddler supremo Vince Power who's already inked deals with V2, BMG and Warner Music and hopes to have EMI, Sony and Universal on board shortly.

Individual downloads will cost from €1.48 and be in competition with existing services run by HMV, British Telecom and Tiscali.

Having gained a foothold in the UK and Ireland, Power says that Mean Fiddler Media will be "rolled out to the rest of Europe, the US and Asia."