PSP to benefit from new EMI Music deal

The PSP has received a boost from major record label EMI Music UK, with a deal that will allow users to download music videos direct to the Sony handheld.

Admitting that the performance of the PSP has been disappointing, MD of HiFi Entertainment Bela Molnar, the company offering EMI content via its online store, believes this deal is what the format needs to revive flagging interest in the machine.

"The quick downturn of the UMD market has left many of the big believers of the format disappointed, including us," said Molnar.

"We knew that the PSP market is huge, but it needed a different platform to provide content to users."

EMI Music UK's entire music video library will be made available to users of psp-playlist.com, downloaded directly to the a memory stick and priced between GBP 1.89 and GBP 2.19.

"PSP owners are substantial in number and content hungry," said Graeme Rogan, commercial manager of digital media for EMI Music UK.

"This deal will give consumers of the PSP format access to videos from EMI Music UK's rich back catalogue, generating incremental sales for our artists," he added.

With unit sales of Sony's handheld slowing compared to a triumphant Nintendo DS, some are beginning to question the longevity of the format.

Developer Climax recently told GamesIndustry.biz that it was concerned for the future of the handheld, and wants Sony to act quickly to revitalise the machine, which only launched in Europe last year.