BlackBerry Messenger to share songs as well as looting targets?

BlackBerry Messenger has had its name sullied a bit recently in light of the recent UK riots that were, in part at least, fuelled by the free, private communications service. But it’s not only looting targets that you’ll be able to share via the service; a new rumour suggests that you’ll be able to share songs too.

According to CNET, RIM are in talks with four of the major record labels to add a music sharing service to BlackBerry Messenger’s box of tricks.

A subscription based service, users will be able to pick 50 tracks at any one time which they’ll be able to share with their friends via BlackBerry Messenger and listen to on the go. The BlackBerry Bold is touted as the first phone to get the new features.

As BlackBerry’s leading USP, upping the amount of features found in BBM makes perfect sense, but is this the right way to go about it? If the service was free perhaps it’d sound more appealing, but when you think of the unlimited freedom and massive catalogue offered by rival services like Spotify, this rumoured music service sounds like it is hamstrung from the start.

We’re heading down to a BlackBerry media event next Tuesday, so we’ll keep you posted on any developments we hear of on the day.