Filmed concerts come to iTunes in Live Nation deal

A customer checks out Music Store (on a screen) with Apple iTunes at an Apple store in Tokyo in this August 25, 2006 file photo. iTunes on Tuesday began featuring downloads of live concerts by about 20 artists who are promoted by Live Nation.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple iTunes on Tuesday began featuring downloads of live concerts by about 20 artists who are promoted by Live Nation.

iTunes will have a section featuring the concerts of singers and bands ranging from Jesse McCartney to Ziggy Marley, when the service begins, the companies said in a statement. They expect hundreds of more shows in the coming months. Prices will start at about $7.99.

Los Angeles-based Live Nation will produce most of the offerings from the more than 20,000 concerts it promotes each year. The company has reached licensing rights deals for live performances with major label owners and artists to enable a smooth launch of the service, it said.

Digital technology has made it significantly more cost-effective to produce and distribute concert recordings through online services like iTunes or Amazon.com.

(Reporting by Yinka Adegoke; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)