Bach Technology on Monday introduced MusicDNA, a new digital music file format intended to supplant MP3 by adding updateable lyrics, artwork, tour dates, videos and other content to the file.

Investors in the company include MP3 format inventor Karlheinz Brandenburg and 247 Inc., a company run by former Sony Music CEO Shigeo Maruyama.

The MusicDNA format is backwards compatible with MP3, meaning songs in the MusicDNA format will play on all MP3 players — including the iPod.

The additional content appears while the music file is playing on a free software player, and may be updated with new content from labels and artists whenever the player is connected to the Internet.

Bach said it is in talks with all the major labels, but so far has garnered support from independent labels including Beggars Group, Tommy Boy, Delta Records and Amiata Records.

Other partners include a number of digital music retailers and distributors, such as R2G (China), InProdicon (Sweden), Rebeat Digital (Germany), PeoplesMusicStore (U.K.) and CatchMedia (U.S.).

Bach plans to beta test the MusicDNA format with partners this spring before a full commercial rollout in the summer.

Apple recently introduced its own music-plus-data file format, iTunes LP, which bundles music videos, liner notes and artwork with album purchases.