LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2011 -- Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), a division of Universal Music Group, has launched a fan-facing music playlist service called Digster.fm (http://www.digster.fm). The announcement was made today by Jim Urie, President & CEO of UMGD, and Mitch Rotter, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Product Development of the company.

Digster.fm publishes playlists across a wide variety of musical genres and artists which fans can listen to through Spotify. UMGD is the first major music company to offer this service through Spotify. The service was first developed by Universal Music Sweden and originally launched there. All of the content is chosen by UMGD employees and uses music from all record companies offered within the Spotify service, not just Universal Music Group. The playlists are offered on Spotify's free and premium tiers, making them easily accessible to all Spotify users. Digster.fm plans on incorporating other subscription services in the coming weeks as well.

"Digster.fm provides an excellent platform to enhance Spotify's user experience," stated Mr. Rotter. "So whether you are looking for a soundtrack to a party, or want to find out what your favorite artist is listening to, Digster.fm can help you find the perfect playlist."

The playlists are curated exclusively by UMG employees and regularly updated. Digster playlists can be followed on Spotify by simply clicking a "+Subscribe" button and all Digster.fm playlists can be found within Spotify by entering spotify:user:digsterfm in the Spotify search box. For iTunes users, tracks can be purchased separately through clicking on the individual track within every playlist on the Digster.fm site.

Fans who register for the Digster.fm newsletter at http://umg.fm/q8HNhf can receive an invitation to Spotify's free tier while supplies last. 

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog-Universal Music, Universal Motown, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; and Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCE Universal Music Group