Digital music phenonmenon Spotify has announced plans to launch a mobile version and expand to the US by the end of the year. The streaming service, which currently lets fans listen to more than three million tracks legally and free, has gained more than a million users in the UK, but is still far behind the likes of last.fm in terms of catalogue.

The web-based service is currently free to users who accept adverts between their songs. But does Spotify presents a feasibly sustainable model for the future of digital music? I don’t believe it does. In terms of developing revenue for artists and labels through advertising and thus allowing the free flow of music it is progressive. But its achilles heel will ultimately rest on how long music consumers will be willing to have adverts played between songs when more and more artists and labels are giving music away for free anyway, and thus allowing people to build their own playlists without the interruption of advertisting.

Amid all the doom and gloom of the credit crunch, record shops and distributors closing by the day, and music buyers flocking to the digital realm,  it’s great to see that the classic 45 or 7-inch vinyl as its more commonly known, is still going strong. Sales are back up over the million mark, and growing fast.  Read the story here