ReverbNation the leading marketing platform for musicians, launches ‘Sponsored Songs,’ a new online music distribution program that will give music fans access to unlimited free song downloads from 1,000 artists.

Sponsored Songs will be available on www.MySpace.com/Windows for free until September 24, 2009, and will feature music from independent and mainstream Artists in the rock, alternative, hip hop, latin, and electronica genres.

The first brand to sponsor the new program is Microsoft. The program is mutually beneficial to both brands and artists: brands are able to position themselves as tastemakers, and artists are able to monetize from their music.

“By participating in Sponsored Songs we are supporting music artists and their fans,” said Marty Collins, group marketing manager of Windows Consumer Marketing at Microsoft Corp. “We’re excited to be a part of an effort that could transform online music distribution.”

Sponsored Songs is an opt-in program for select Artists that use ReverbNation.com as their online marketing platform. Artists are paid for each qualified download, and are shown the exact advertisement for their approval prior to the campaign launch.

“We treat Artists like we would want to be treated,” says Lou Plaia, vice president of artist relations at ReverbNation.com. “We give them the information to determine if Sponsored Songs is a good fit for them. If it is, we equip them with turnkey tools to promote the song to their fans.”