UPDATE 1-Bertelsmann asks $1.5 bln for Sony-BMG stake -FT

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TOKYO, June 12 (Reuters) - German media group Bertelsmann is seeking $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion to pull out of its Sony-BMG music label joint venture with Sony Corp (6758.T), the FT reported on Thursday.

The companies hope to strike a deal over the summer, but there are still differences over the price, the newspaper said, citing three unidentified people familiar with the talks.

Bertelsmann [BERT.UL] is looking for up to $1.5 billion for its half share, although this could fall if Sony pledged to buy services from Bertelsmann, whose Arvato arm makes and distributes CDs, the paper said.

Bertelsmann, which was not immediately available for comment, has said it would focus more on media services and educational-publishing as compact disk sales fall.

Sony, which also owns a stake in Sony-Ericsson, has been shifting weight towards music services for mobile phones as users increasingly use their phones as music devices.

Sony BMG, home to artists including Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen and Celine Dion, signed a deal with Nokia (NOK1V.HE) in April to offer free unlimited downloads for 12 months to Nokia's music phones.

Sony also has a joint venture with Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and is the sole Japanese mobile phone maker with a substantial global presence, despite the country's advanced handset technology.

The two companies agreed that when they merged Sony Music and Bertelsmann Music Group in 2004 that either side could buy the other out by August 2009.

Shares of Sony were down 2.7 percent at 5,140 yen at 0336 GMT, while the Nikkei average .N225 fell 2.3 percent. (Reporting by Mayumi Negishi and Edwina Gibbs; Editing by Hugh Lawson)