Springsteen, Foos tracks online for free

Record label Sony BMG will make the back catalogues of its artists available for free online.

Acts including Bruce Springsteen, Mark Ronson and the Foo Fighters will have their work made available to stream on website We7.com.

Starting in April, We7's UK users will be able to stream music from the Sony BMG catalogue for free. The tracks will be preceded by a short advert, which generates revenue for the site instead of having music fans pay for downloads.

"We are in the business of embracing a multitude of new ways our music can reach audiences. Our deal with We7 is an important step forward in offering fans greater flexibility in how they consume music," said Ged Doherty, Chairman of Sony BMG in the UK and Ireland.

Along with the three aforementioned acts, established names such as Leona Lewis and Kasabian will also feature on the site, complemented by up and comers including The Ting Tings and The Hoosiers.

Steve Purdham, CEO of We7, said: "Today marks a significant leap forward for We7 and the industry as a whole, as Sony BMG lead the way in embracing the on demand streaming model for the benefit of music fans, artists and advertisers alike."

On launch, the streaming service will only be available to existing users of We7, but will later be made available to new subscribers.

In total, BMG hopes to make 250,000 tracks available for streaming through the site.