Microsoft ends licensing talks with music labels: WSJ (MSFT, UK:EMI, V, SNE, WMG) By Steve Goldstein

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) has ended licensing talks with the four global music companies, raising questions about whether it plans to start a subscription-based music service, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Microsoft halted talks after the labels -- EMI Group (UK:EMI) , Warner Music (WMG) , Vivendi Universal`s (V) Universal Music Group and the Sony BMG joint venture of Sony Corp. (SNE) and Bertelsmann AG -- in separate negotiations demanded payments of $6 to $8 per user per month.