BBC News Online: Entertainment: Music

Bowie launches online radio station

He is preparing to launch an online radio service through his internet community BowieNet.

By tuning in to BowieRadio from 5 April, fans will be able to listen to a vast collection of Bowie's recordings as well as music by other artists.

The 54-year-old has long pioneered the internet as a useful tool for musicians.

His subscription-based site was launched back in 1998.

The Starman singer, who is married to model Iman, also has his own online banking service.

Copyright

Bowie will get around the copyright problems encountered by Napster by using a system which alerts performing rights organisations when records are played.

Users will not be able to download or swap music files.

Listeners will only be only to hear preselected tracks via streaming audio.

Bowie said: "The possibilities are endless.

"We have developed programming that not only satisfies the musical tastes and personal requests of our members, but also does not infringe on the rights of the writers and publishers."