Rhapsody makes add-on deal with phone carrier

PIGGYBACKING SUB SERVICES: In what may become a trend, Rhapsody yesterday announced a deal with niche regional phone carrier MetroPCS to offer its unlimited music service for $10 on top of the $50 unlimited voice, text and data plan for Android phones, the N.Y. Post reports. But wouldn’t you know, Warner Music immediately pulled its content from Rhapsody’s MetroPCS app, most likely over royalty disagreements. In related action, MOG has a billing integration arrangement with Verizon, and soon its app will come pre-installed on 4G Android phones, while Rdio is in talks with U.S. carriers and ISPs to come bundled with consumer plans, an industry source said. Consumers have been reluctant to pull out their credit cards for a monthly music subscription charge, and the hope is they would sign up if the fees were seamlessly tacked on to their phone bills. (8/18a)