Last summer’s landmark antipiracy agreement between record labels, ISPs and the UK government seemed to pave the way for a new generation of online subscription music store, operated by ISPs and bundled in with broadband costs…

SEE ALSO: BSkyB, Universal Form JV To Launch Subscription Music Service

Three big plans caught our eye in July and August - BSkyB formed a joint-venture company with Amy Winehouse label Universal to kickstart such a project, veteran legal P2P operator Playlouder said it would power similar for another ISP early this year and 7digital said several ISPs had approached it to provide an equivalent service.

But six months on, there’s no sign of anything coming to market. What’s the hold-up? I asked each of the companies…

—Sky: Spokesperson: “Although our launch schedule has slipped a little, discussions with a range of major and independent labels are progressing well.  We’re also hoping to conclude appropriate arrangements with music publishers in the very near future. “

—Playlouder: Strategy director Paul Sanders said he couldn’t make public comment at the moment.

—7digital: Again, the company has no update to make just yet (though it’s surely continuing to tout for the business).

While the wait for ISP-connected unlimited-music services continues, so does the illegal downloading. The industry’s “memorandum of understanding”, which sees ISPs warn freeloaders by letter, is the stick - but there’s no carrot. Operators like Omnifone’s MusicStation, Nokia’s Comes With Music, Danish ISP TDC and Orange’s French MusiqueMax already offer unlimited downloads from the “celestial jukebox” - but, with nothing plugged in to the broadband network from which most people pilfer, the risk of lost revenue goes on…