wessman
August 18th, 2003, 12:28 AM
News from RealNetworks about Rolling Stones EMI/Virgin discography being digitally released exclusively by Best Buy's Rhapsody
Monday August 18, 12:01 am ET
The Rolling Stones' Music Available in Legitimate Digital Format for First Time Via RealNetworks' Rhapsody and Best Buy Exclusive
RealNetworks' RHAPSODY Service to Offer The Rolling Stones' EMI/Virgin Records Discography in Digital Format Through Exclusive Retail Agreement with Best Buy
SEATTLE, NEW YORK and MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Rolling Stones' catalog of historic recordings for EMI Music's Virgin Records will be available in legitimate digital format for the first time ever, marking a major step forward for the online music market. RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK - News), Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY - News), and EMI Music today announced that The Rolling Stones' works on EMI's Virgin Records -- such as Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, and Some Girls -- will be available to consumers through the award-winning RHAPSODY digital music service for an exclusive time this summer, offered through a free trial at all U.S. Best Buy stores. Today marks the first time that The Rolling Stones' albums have ever been available through a legal online music service.
Coinciding with today's news, Best Buy and RealNetworks announced that RHAPSODY subscriptions now are available at Best Buy store locations nationwide. Best Buy, North America's largest consumer electronics retailer, is the exclusive brick and mortar retailer offering subscriptions to RHAPSODY during The Rolling Stones exclusive period. Best Buy is bringing RHAPSODY to customers through interactive kiosks in more than 560 retail stores. Consumers now have the convenience of signing up for a 14-day free RHAPSODY trial within a Best Buy store, as well as through the Company's Web site, http://www.bestbuy.com/
The Rolling Stones' EMI Music/Virgin Records recordings are available for streaming and for purchase as individual tracks exclusively through RHAPSODY through the end of August, after which time they will remain a key element of the RHAPSODY permanent repertoire. Music being made available initially includes 18 classic albums -- ranging from Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street to Bridges to Babylon and Steel Wheels -- and hundreds of individual tracks released by the band since 1971, including 200 timeless Rolling Stones songs from the EMI/Virgin catalog, including "Start Me Up," "Beast of Burden," "Angie" and "Brown Sugar," with the flexibility to stream or to burn copies for personal use.
After the exclusive period ends in early September, The Rolling Stones' EMI/Virgin catalog will be made available to other legal online music sites through EMI's Digital Distribution programs.
"We're thrilled that RHAPSODY is the first stop for these timeless rock recordings. Now, Rolling Stones fans can finally get what they want -- and today they can get it only through RHAPSODY," said Rob Glaser, chief executive officer, RealNetworks, Inc. "We're also excited about today's announcement of RealNetworks' relationship with Best Buy, which will place RHAPSODY with the country's #1 consumer electronics retailer as a perfect back-to-school gift for students, and well in time for the holiday shopping season."
"This is a tremendous step forward in EMI's very aggressive push to expand and improve legitimate digital music services," said David Munns, chairman and CEO of EMI Music North America. "We're pleased that music fans will be able to listen to and buy The Rolling Stones' EMI catalog through RHAPSODY, and also delighted in Best Buy's participation nationwide, as it reinforces the growing popularity of digital as a format consumers want to buy."
"Best Buy has always been a leader in finding innovative ways to meet customers' entertainment needs, and RHAPSODY is an exciting example of how we do it," said Gary Arnold, senior vice president of entertainment for Best Buy. "Being able to offer RHAPSODY and digital access to The Rolling Stones catalog in all of our U.S. stores and on our Web site is an incredible way for us to demonstrate to our customers all the great possibilities that digital music holds."
The Rolling Stones catalog on EMI/Virgin Records is available to consumers at retail store locations exclusively through Best Buy, and online through RealNetworks (available at: http://www.realone.com), and RHAPSODY's network of more than 15 online distributors, including Audiogalaxy, Cablevision Systems Corporation's Optimum Online®, Charter Communications, Down Beat, Gateway, JamBase.com, Lycos, RCN Corporation, Sony's Musiclub, Speakeasy, Sprint, and Verizon Online.
As part of this launch, Best Buy is also promoting The Rolling Stones' CDs by offering a 10 percent discount on The Rolling Stones' entire EMI catalog of titles. This promotion will run from August 24 through August 31 for in-store purchases only.
About EMI Music
EMI Music is the world's largest independent record company, operating in nearly 50 countries around the world. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, EMI, EMI Classics, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. is North America's leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company's subsidiaries operate retail stores and/or Web sites under the names: Best Buy (http://www.BestBuy.com), Future Shop (http://www.FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (http://www.GeekSquad.com), and Magnolia Hi-Fi (http://www.MagnoliaHiFi.com). The Company's subsidiaries reach consumers through nearly 700 retail stores in the United States and Canada.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading global provider of network-delivered digital audio and video services and the creator of the technology that enables digital media creation, distribution and consumption. Consumers use RealNetworks' RealOne Player and our content subscription services to create and play free and premium digital content. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com/ . RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealOne, and RHAPSODY are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. Best Buy is a registered trademark of Best Buy Co., Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: RealNetworks, Inc.
Monday August 18, 12:01 am ET
The Rolling Stones' Music Available in Legitimate Digital Format for First Time Via RealNetworks' Rhapsody and Best Buy Exclusive
RealNetworks' RHAPSODY Service to Offer The Rolling Stones' EMI/Virgin Records Discography in Digital Format Through Exclusive Retail Agreement with Best Buy
SEATTLE, NEW YORK and MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Rolling Stones' catalog of historic recordings for EMI Music's Virgin Records will be available in legitimate digital format for the first time ever, marking a major step forward for the online music market. RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK - News), Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: BBY - News), and EMI Music today announced that The Rolling Stones' works on EMI's Virgin Records -- such as Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street, and Some Girls -- will be available to consumers through the award-winning RHAPSODY digital music service for an exclusive time this summer, offered through a free trial at all U.S. Best Buy stores. Today marks the first time that The Rolling Stones' albums have ever been available through a legal online music service.
Coinciding with today's news, Best Buy and RealNetworks announced that RHAPSODY subscriptions now are available at Best Buy store locations nationwide. Best Buy, North America's largest consumer electronics retailer, is the exclusive brick and mortar retailer offering subscriptions to RHAPSODY during The Rolling Stones exclusive period. Best Buy is bringing RHAPSODY to customers through interactive kiosks in more than 560 retail stores. Consumers now have the convenience of signing up for a 14-day free RHAPSODY trial within a Best Buy store, as well as through the Company's Web site, http://www.bestbuy.com/
The Rolling Stones' EMI Music/Virgin Records recordings are available for streaming and for purchase as individual tracks exclusively through RHAPSODY through the end of August, after which time they will remain a key element of the RHAPSODY permanent repertoire. Music being made available initially includes 18 classic albums -- ranging from Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street to Bridges to Babylon and Steel Wheels -- and hundreds of individual tracks released by the band since 1971, including 200 timeless Rolling Stones songs from the EMI/Virgin catalog, including "Start Me Up," "Beast of Burden," "Angie" and "Brown Sugar," with the flexibility to stream or to burn copies for personal use.
After the exclusive period ends in early September, The Rolling Stones' EMI/Virgin catalog will be made available to other legal online music sites through EMI's Digital Distribution programs.
"We're thrilled that RHAPSODY is the first stop for these timeless rock recordings. Now, Rolling Stones fans can finally get what they want -- and today they can get it only through RHAPSODY," said Rob Glaser, chief executive officer, RealNetworks, Inc. "We're also excited about today's announcement of RealNetworks' relationship with Best Buy, which will place RHAPSODY with the country's #1 consumer electronics retailer as a perfect back-to-school gift for students, and well in time for the holiday shopping season."
"This is a tremendous step forward in EMI's very aggressive push to expand and improve legitimate digital music services," said David Munns, chairman and CEO of EMI Music North America. "We're pleased that music fans will be able to listen to and buy The Rolling Stones' EMI catalog through RHAPSODY, and also delighted in Best Buy's participation nationwide, as it reinforces the growing popularity of digital as a format consumers want to buy."
"Best Buy has always been a leader in finding innovative ways to meet customers' entertainment needs, and RHAPSODY is an exciting example of how we do it," said Gary Arnold, senior vice president of entertainment for Best Buy. "Being able to offer RHAPSODY and digital access to The Rolling Stones catalog in all of our U.S. stores and on our Web site is an incredible way for us to demonstrate to our customers all the great possibilities that digital music holds."
The Rolling Stones catalog on EMI/Virgin Records is available to consumers at retail store locations exclusively through Best Buy, and online through RealNetworks (available at: http://www.realone.com), and RHAPSODY's network of more than 15 online distributors, including Audiogalaxy, Cablevision Systems Corporation's Optimum Online®, Charter Communications, Down Beat, Gateway, JamBase.com, Lycos, RCN Corporation, Sony's Musiclub, Speakeasy, Sprint, and Verizon Online.
As part of this launch, Best Buy is also promoting The Rolling Stones' CDs by offering a 10 percent discount on The Rolling Stones' entire EMI catalog of titles. This promotion will run from August 24 through August 31 for in-store purchases only.
About EMI Music
EMI Music is the world's largest independent record company, operating in nearly 50 countries around the world. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, EMI, EMI Classics, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
Minneapolis-based Best Buy Co., Inc. is North America's leading specialty retailer of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances. The Company's subsidiaries operate retail stores and/or Web sites under the names: Best Buy (http://www.BestBuy.com), Future Shop (http://www.FutureShop.ca), Geek Squad (http://www.GeekSquad.com), and Magnolia Hi-Fi (http://www.MagnoliaHiFi.com). The Company's subsidiaries reach consumers through nearly 700 retail stores in the United States and Canada.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading global provider of network-delivered digital audio and video services and the creator of the technology that enables digital media creation, distribution and consumption. Consumers use RealNetworks' RealOne Player and our content subscription services to create and play free and premium digital content. Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and consumer electronics devices. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks' consumer software at http://www.real.com/ . RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located at http://www.realnetworks.com/
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealOne, and RHAPSODY are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. Best Buy is a registered trademark of Best Buy Co., Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: RealNetworks, Inc.