UK record company releases MP3s with vinyl albums

First Word Records flogs most of its records to DJs. They are packaged, double-weight vinyl discs that come with a unique code.

Punters buying tunes on the record label's Digiwax format use this code to download an unprotected, 320Kbps MP3 version of the music which they can use however they like.

The advantage is that DJs and audiophiles will always want the top end of quality but want a digital file to carry around with them. Of course there is nothing to stop them making a digital copy of their LP.

Says First Word Records: "Digiwax means that every vinyl copy comes with a free download of the entire album - let's keep vinyl alive!" µ