HMV has taken on iTunes with the launch of a new music download service, hmvdigital. The retailer will present a catalogue of over 10 million songs and a special promotion as it seeks to take trade away from its online rivals. The introductory offer will see every single in the top 40 UK chart made available for 40p each. The new service automatically synchronises downloads with iTunes or Windows Media Player libraries. The move is HMV's biggest development in the digital world since it acquired a 50% stake in digital music specialists 7digital - which powers Spotify - last September. Although it has offered music downloads before, the new service offers millions more tracks. Melanie Armstrong, head of music at HMV, said: "Some people still tend to think of us as a traditional retailer, but the fact is we've completely transformed our business. "The launch of hmvdigital means we now also have a world-class music download platform that creates a really engaging consumer experience and a genuine alternative to all the other digital music services currently out there." Source: Sky News