Update: CNET Confirms MP3.com Buyout; To Change it to Digital Music Info Site

CNET has confirmed that it has signed a definitive agreement with Vivendi Universal Net USA to acquire the assets of MP3.com, with the deal scheduled to close in December. Terms of the transaction were not released.

The revamped site would not compete with music download services such as Napster. Instead, the company plans to turn MP3.com into a source of information for digital music.

CNET has detailed the new plans for the site in this posting on MP3.com.

MP3.com informed users that its site would no longer be accessible in its current form and that CNET Networks plans to reintroduce the music site with new features and services. MP3.com said that after the site’s removal, all of the online content on its servers will be deleted and promised that previously submitted musical works in its possession will be destroyed.

CNET Networks believes MP3.com can attract an audience similar to visitors of its GameSpot Web site, which features video game reviews and downloads.

Dow Jones: It is unclear if there will be a place on the relaunched site for MP3.com artists. “We have reached out to the artist community through e-mail correspondence and we are looking forward to a dialogue with them about how their needs can be met,” said the CNET spokeswoman. “We will also look forward to a dialogue with the recording industry about how their needs can be met.”

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