News Corp.'s MySpace has partnered with SNOCAP to provide artists and record labels tools that will enable them to sell digital music from their MySpace profile pages.

Through the deal, SNOCAP will become the provider of digital music retail tools for MySpace.

Bands and record labels have recently created MySpace profile pages to promote themselves to the much sought after MySpace young adult audience.

Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer of MySpace, says, "By introducing a powerful commercial tool set into the industry, we expect to see artists translate their community reach into sales, ultimately allowing more bands to make a living and connect with fans."

The MySpace and SNOCAP music service is expected to be available broadly in the United States by the end of 2006.

"Up until now bands faced the challenges of content availability, technology and distribution," says Tom Anderson, president of MySpace. "This music service enables artists and labels to oversee their own commercial and distribution platforms while lowering the barriers for all bands to sell music directly to their fans in a way that's easy and totally legal."

At press time it was unconfirmed what portable digital music players the MySpace/SNOCAP downloads can be played on.