Mumbai: Universal Music Group, the world`s biggest record label, is looking to mobile hardware makers to foot the bill for a free music subscription service for buyers of a certain mobile phone or music player.Universal approached Microsoft - which makes the Zune digital music player - and some mobile carriers this week to discuss a deal in which the hardware makers would pay the subscription on behalf of their customers, says a report in The Telegraph.

Universal Music has been in talks with Sony BMG and Warner Music for launching a music subscription service, dubbed Total Music, that would be free on certain devices.