Digital Album Cards Deliver High Quality Files That Are Compatible with All
MP3 Players
Roll Out Begins on January 15th with 37 Titles at Launch, Including Current
Releases from Superstar Artists
Retailers Participating in Launch to Include Best Buy, Target, Trans World
Stores (Coconuts, FYE, Wherehouse, & Spec's), Fred's and Winn-Dixie in the
U.S.
MusicPass to Debut at Five Retailers Across Canada in Late January
NEW YORK, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT today
announced the launch of Platinum MusicPass, a series of digital album cards
that enable consumers to download full-length albums, and in many cases
special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files. The first 37
titles in the series, which represent musical genres ranging from Rock and
Pop to R&B and Country, will debut on January 15th, 2008 and by the end of
the month will be available at 4,500 retail outlets across the United
States. In Canada, MusicPass will debut in late January of 2008.
"The introduction of MusicPass is an important part of SONY BMG's
ongoing campaign to bring its artists' music to fans in new and innovative
ways, and to develop compelling new business models," commented Thomas
Hesse, President, Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC
ENTERTAINMENT. "The MP3 files delivered through MusicPass play on
computers, as well as on all MP3 players, including iPods. This makes them
a simple, easy to use solution that will appeal to fans who already access
their music on the Internet, as well as to consumers who are just getting
into the digital realm. The cards themselves are high-quality collectibles
featuring artist images and album information. They're a great choice
whether you're buying for yourself, or as a gift for occasions ranging from
a birthday to Valentine's Day."
According to the 2007 American Express Gift Card Survey, Americans plan
to spend 25% of their total gift spending on gift cards, up from 13% in
2005. 61% of shoppers said they were planning to purchase at least one gift
card, and on average intended to purchase a total of six cards.
In the United States, MusicPass cards will be available at Best Buy,
Target, and Fred's on January 15th, with Trans World stores (Coconuts, FYE,
Wherehouse, & Spec's) and Winn-Dixie rolling out the cards by the end of
January.
In Canada, participating retailers include Best Buy, CD Plus, Future
Shop, Shoppers Drug Mart and Wal-Mart. In addition, HMV will launch
MusicPass in Canada during the first calendar quarter of 2008.
"We see MusicPass as a great way to bring digital music to the physical
retail space," Mr. Hesse added. "We believe it will have strong appeal for
a broad range of consumers, and that it will ultimately expand both the
digital and physical markets for music. As we begin the roll out of this
impressive new product we are extremely encouraged by the high levels of
enthusiasm that MusicPass has generated among our artists and launch
partners, and we look forward to making music fans across the U.S. and
Canada a part of the MusicPass experience."
"We're happy to be participating in the launch of a new physical format
of digital music for retail," commented Jennifer Johnston Schaidler, Vice
President, Music, Best Buy. "Physical products like this will be another
way for Best Buy to deliver music and entertainment to our customers in a
manner that suits their needs whether it is an impulse purchase, gift, or
great collectible. Digital music doesn't need to be restricted to online
environments. We look forward to learning how physical products can help
grow the digital marketplace."
Rich Romano, Prepaid Card Sales Manager, Winn-Dixie, commented, "We are
excited to have the opportunity to partner with SONY BMG to launch this
initiative. An extensive list of titles and bonus material from superstar
artists makes this offering unlike any other in the marketplace; it gives
our customers the opportunity to purchase new release albums while they do
their grocery shopping."
SONY BMG is offering Platinum MusicPass cards at leading national
retailers through a technology and distribution relationship with InComm,
the nation's largest marketing and technology provider for gift and music
cards and other prepaid products.
"We are excited to be working with SONY BMG on Platinum MusicPass,"
commented Brooks Smith, InComm President and CEO, "We believe people want a
physical product as part of their music purchase, and these cards speak
directly to that desire -- they have great graphics and a quality look and
feel that will make them highly collectible. We look forward to working
with SONY BMG as we roll out this exciting new product line."
The cards will be priced at a suggested list retail price (slrp) of
$12.99 which will include the complete digital album plus bonus material
or, in the case of compilations, extensive track listings. In order get the
content from their MusicPass cards consumers scratch the back of their card
to unveil their pin number. They then visit MusicPass.com to download their
music files and bonus material.
Two of the albums included in the initial offering -- Celine Dion's
Taking Chances and Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates -- will
be made available both as regularly priced Platinum MusicPass Cards, and in
special slrp $19.99 versions through which consumers will receive the
complete album and bonus material, plus the choice of one additional album
from that same artist's rich catalog of recordings.
The initial slate of Platinum MusicPass titles is as follows:
Platinum MusicPass Albums with Bonus Material (slrp $12.99):
Alejandro Fernandez, Viento A Favor
Alicia Keys, As I Am
Avril Lavigne, The Best Damn Thing
Backstreet Boys, UnBreakable
Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies
Bob Dylan, Dylan
Boys Like Girls, Boys Like Girls
Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
Britney Spears, Blackout
Brooks & Dunn, Cowboy Town
Bruce Springsteen, Magic
Calle 13, Residente o Visitante
Camila, Todo Cambio
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride
Casting Crowns, The Altar and The Door
Celine Dion, Taking Chances
Chris Brown, Exclusive
Daughtry, Daughtry
Elvis Presley, Elvis 30 #1 Hits
Jennifer Lopez, Brave
John Mayer, Continuum
Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Martina McBride, Waking Up Laughing
P!nk, I'm Not Dead
Santana, Ultimate Santana
Sara Bareilles, Little Voice
Sean Kingston, Sean Kingston
The Fray, How To Save A Life
Three Days Grace, One-X
Tony Bennett, Duets
Platinum MusicPass Compilations (slrp $12.99)
Various, 70's POP HITS
Various, ROCK OF THE 70's
Various, SENSATIONAL 60's
Various, COUNTRY GOLD: THE 90's
Various, 80's POP HITS
Various, CLASSIC ROCK
Various, Everlasting Love
Expanded MusicPass Titles (slrp $19.99 versions which include the
complete album, bonus material, plus choice of one additional album from
that same artist's rich catalog of recordings.)
Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Celine Dion, Taking Chances
SOURCE SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
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