In a social network first for Apple, as of Wednesday, it should get easier for Bebo users in the UK and Ireland to buy music by any artist who has a profile on the social network and whose work is sold through iTunes. According to the FT, users will be able to buy songs on iTunes directly from the Bebo profile. bebo says it has 500,000 musicians registered on the site with 4,00 bands signing up a day and 8.2 million users overall.

The FT: “It is understood that Apple sees the deal, which will initially cover only the UK and Ireland, as experimental, but could later extend it to the rest of Bebo’s 33m users worldwide. Bebo will also become a platform for iTunes to promote lesser-known artists. Bebo will offer users a free music download each week, designed to introduce new artists and releases.” The free downloads start with Youth of Today by Amy Macdonald from Mercury Music Group.