Deliver Your News to the World

Ericsson signs music content agreement with independent music distributor The Orchard


WEBWIRE

January 22, 2007, Today at the MIDEM global music conference, Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERICY) and The Orchard announce a global agreement to distribute full track downloads and master tones from The Orchard’s independent labels across Ericsson’s global network. The agreement covers all major territories outside the U.S.

The Orchard is the world’s leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This contract enables Ericsson to offer an expanded music offering to operators and their subscribers, including tracks from established artists such as Green Day, Coldplay, and Ray Charles, as well as emerging acts like The Hold Steady.

The Orchard’s catalog will be included in the content offerings connected to Ericsson’s hosted white-label music service. This service makes it possible for operators and content providers to focus on their core business while Ericsson manages the end-to-end platform, complete with the latest and most compelling content. Consumers can choose from an entire catalog of tracks and downloads available and pay for the chosen content via their mobile phone bill.

Claes Ödman, Vice President, Multimedia Solutions at Ericsson, says, “This partnership enables Ericsson to distribute music from thousands of independent labels. Ericsson strives to offer operators and their subscribers a great music experience and we are delighted to have signed this contract with The Orchard since it will both broaden and deepen our content catalog.”

Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard, says, “Increasingly, the leading technology companies and digital retailers worldwide appreciate the critical role independent music plays in the viability of their products, and more broadly, as the lifeblood that feeds the music industry. Our agreement with Ericsson ensures that our artists and labels can reach a global audience throughout Ericsson’s extensive mobile network. We look forward to working as a close marketing partner with Ericsson to sell great independent music, and increase the opportunities available to our respective customers worldwide.”

About The Orchard

The Orchard is the world’s leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This catalogue includes titles from multi-platinum acts such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, and Ice T, as well as from breaking bands like The Hold Steady, Bedouin Soundclash, and Immortal Technique. The Orchard supplies all the leading legal digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world and markets its labels’ catalogues for sync song placements in films, commercials, and television shows. The company is owned by Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. whose portfolio companies also include eMusic and Dimensional Music Publishing. The Orchard is headquartered in New York and London, with offices in 23 countries and six continents. For more information, please visit: www.theorchard.com.

About Ericsson’s Managed Services offering

Ericsson has the telecom industry’s most comprehensive managed services offerings, ranging from designing, building, operating and managing day-to-day operations of a customer’s network, to hosting service applications and enablers, as well as providing network coverage and capacity on demand. As the undisputed leader in managed services, Ericsson has officially announced more than 100 managed services contracts with operators worldwide since 2002. In all current managed services contracts, excluding hosting, Ericsson is managing networks that together serve 80 million subscribers worldwide.

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

Read more at: www.ericsson.com



WebWireID26541





This news content was configured by WebWire editorial staff. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.