EMI Music UK launches UK’s first touch screen listening posts

Today, EMI Music UK launches the first network of broadband-connected, touch screen listening posts in independent record shops across the UK. Unlike previous listening posts, the new devices, called Soundscreens, can be updated remotely by EMI, meaning consumers will have access to new music on the day of release and often pre-release. EMI will also be able to personalise the posts region to region, loading material onto the post that can support artists’ touring schedules.

Developed by Inspired Broadcast Networks (Inspired) and EMI Digital Media, the posts offer a wider range of content and a higher degree of interactivity than their predecessors. While listening to new releases from EMI artists, consumers can watch artists’ recent videos, as well as view exclusive artist interviews.

Phil Armorgie, Head of Field Sales & Promotions at EMI Music UK, comments, "This new technology offers us greater scope in the range and immediacy of material we can now deliver to consumers with a high degree of personalisation. This means we can react quickly to regional tastes, as well as change material on the posts to support artists’ UK touring schedules in the local community. Increasing the interactivity and choice we can offer adds value to the relationship we have with consumers, ensuring our dialogue with music fans remains as current and fresh as possible."

Additional content, including album artwork, adds to consumers’ visual experience. The posts will also inform fans of relevant and soon-to-be released music DVDs.

Matt Porter, Business Development Director at Inspired, comments, "These new posts provide a huge leap forward in how consumers sample new releases. They open up music choice even further, ensuring consumers have access to the fullest selection as and when they want it."

This is not the first time Inspired has helped bring analogue products into the digital world. In January 2004, Inspired launched the UK’s first network of digital jukeboxes, allowing users to choose from any one of over 2 million tracks. This year has also seen the roll-out of Inspired’s first Urban Digital Vending (UDV) terminals in Ireland, allowing consumers to buy digital content from machines in public spaces.

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Editor’s notes

About EMI Music UK – Digital Media Division

EMI Music was the first major record company to establish a dedicated Digital Media division in 1998. The division, headed up by Danny Van Emden, the Digital Media Director, is responsible for the digital activity of EMI Music UK and Ireland and its individual music labels. In addition, each of EMI Music’s record labels - EMI Records, Innocent, Parlophone, Virgin and the catalogue division - has a Digital Media Manager responsible for developing artist specific new media opportunities, promotions and web presence.

The Digital Media division develops many of the company’s digital cross-marketing and artist promotions; providing exclusive content; managing data capture and eCRM systems; and monetising EMI Music’s assets across the digital media. The division is also responsible for the EMI Music aggregate site, www.the-raft.com, which has been running for 11 years and won multiple awards.

With in house skills in journalism, programming, photography, SEO and design, the team are able to generate the right mix of copywriting and creativity to exploit a range of commercial opportunities. Working with EMI’s Commercial Digital team, Digital Media has worked with retail, brand, online and mobile organisations. This year alone, the division has agreed a number of crucial deals with high profile partners including OD2, i-Tunes, mycokemusic, Napster, Orange and Vodafone Live.

Websites developed for well-known artists include Kylie.com, Kelis.co.uk, thethrills.com, nerduk.com, thedivinecomedy.com, doves.net and jamelia.com. The team is also responsible for creating artists’ web shops, selling physical products and exclusive merchandise, as well as developing mobile shops and download platforms.

EMI Music UK is part of The EMI Group, one of the largest music companies in the world and listed on the London Stock Exchange.

www.emimusic.co.uk

About Inspired Broadcast Networks – More Money, More Games, More Often

Inspired Broadcast Networks (Inspired) is the UK’s leading provider of digital entertainment and gaming content. Inspired is the market leader in technological innovation and was awarded "Best Use of Technology in Business" at the Growing Business Awards in December 2004. In January 2005, Inspired was the overall winner of the Media Momentum Top 50 Fastest Growing Companies Award.
Inspired provides content and software to over 15,000 pay to play terminals in pubs, clubs, shops, licensed betting offices, bingo halls, motorway service stations, universities and casinos. The value 'play per day' through these terminals is over £10 million. Inspired’s networked terminals provide consumers with the broadest range of up to date entertainment, betting, gaming and music.
Inspired is also the leading supplier of virtual events to the betting community. Our virtual products, including racing, football and other sports feature in over 10,000 licensed betting shops and all the leading bookmakers’ websites, generating in excess of £1 billion in annual turnover for the industry.

Inspired is the exclusive provider of all digital entertainment and gaming services to Leisure Link, the largest manager of coin operated entertainment and gaming machines in the UK.
www.inspiredbroadcast.net

Contact:
Charlotte Hanson
immediate future Ltd.
0845 408 2031
pressoffice@immediatefuture.co.uk