Major record labels have announced that they will release singles on USB instead of CD in an attempt to boost retail sales.

To combat the boom in buying music online, Universal has said it will target the 12-24 year old age group who think that CDs are a thing of the past.

The USB will hold the several songs, videos and multimedia content but will be more expensive than the singles on CD at roughly, €7 / £5 / $10.

Universal will release songs by Keane and the Pussycat Dolls on USB by the end of the month with other labels such as Warner and EMI promising to go USB as well. While Warner will release a sort of half-album containing new and old content by band Hadouken! next month, EMI has yet to set a date for their USBs.

Universal is promising full USB by the end of the year with Kanye West and Amy Winehouse already on board.

The UK Top Forty has already agreed to take USB sales into account.