Sony BMG & Warner Music Invest in ACCESS

By Niladri Sekhar Nath

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group have invested in ACCESS China Media Solutions, a joint venture operating in the Chinese mobile music and content market. The exact amount of investment was not disclosed by the music companies.

 

ACCESS China Media Solutions is a joint venture between the Chinese form ACCESS Ltd. and Melodeo, a Seattle-based digital media company. Melodeo is leading provider of software applications which make it possible for mobile phone users to dial up digital content like ringtones, listen to podcasts and even download full songs. The joint venture allows the distribution of Melodeo’s technology to wireless carriers and mobile makers in China.

 

Following the investment the two record giants will have some control over the working of the joint venture. The music companies will possibly be able to leverage the Melodeo technology to control music piracy.

 

"It's a strategic investment," said Michael Nash, senior vice president of digital strategy and business development for Warner Music Group in a published report. "We're definitely going to advise the company with respect to both (digital rights management) and also the consumer experience on the platform," Nash said.

 

"Those are the platforms we're hoping to launch with some of the operator partners," the published report quoted Thomas Hesse, president of global digital business for Sony BMG as saying. "The fact that you've got the music companies supporting this, we believe, is going to strengthen the chance of those platforms being successful."

 

Sony BMG and Warner Music have already received the licenses to market digital music in China’s mobile space. "This is next generation. This is really very much about full-track (downloads) and mobile-casting," Nash added.

 

 

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