EMI and Sony strike deal for digital music formats

EMI and Sony BMG have signed a deal to distribute EMI’s extensive catalogue of music on a wide range of new digital formats in the US and Canada.

Among the new offerings incorporated under the arrangement, are DualDisc, ring tones and ring backs, video downloads including video-on-demand (VOD) services. The deal also covers ‘locked’ audio content for hard drives that can be unlocked for a fee.

The Sony DualDisc is a double sided disc product introduced by the music industry which combines DVD on one side with digital audio material on the other side. The audio side though is not fully CD ‘Red Book’ compatible and so may not play on many CD players or CD enabled computers. The idea behind is that you get the music on one side and the usual collection of videos, interviews, ‘exclusive’ behind-the-scene footage, etc, etc.

‘This agreement builds on EMI Music Publishing’s mission to make its music available to consumers whenever, however and wherever they want it,’ said Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of EMI Music Publishing. ‘An agreement that facilitates more consumer friendly and piracy-deterrent formats is a big step for our industry and a huge win for artists and music fans’

‘This agreement builds on EMI Music Publishing’s mission to make its music available to consumers whenever, however and wherever they want it,’ said Mr. Bandier. ‘An agreement that facilitates more consumer friendly and piracy-deterrent formats is a big step for our industry and a huge win for artists and music fans,’ added Mr. Bandier. ‘I want to thank Andy Lack and his team for working with us to make this deal happen.’

‘This agreement will enable us to rapidly expand into new markets as we distribute music and entertainment content over a broad variety of platforms, including innovative products for the traditional retail market, music services in the mobile space, and video on demand,’ commented Andrew Lack. ‘It’s been a pleasure to work with Martin Bandier and the entire EMI Publishing team to hammer out this deal – their willingness to go the distance enabled us to break the impasse, and reach a set of real solutions that will benefit both companies for years to come.’