REDMOND, Wash., and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 1999 — EMI Recorded Music and Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement under which more than 5,000 EMI music videos will be made available in Windows Media TM format, making it the single largest conversion of music video content from a major label into any streamed digital media format. The videos will be available for streaming in both high-quality broadband as well as narrowband formats.
“This agreement will help in our continuing effort to make EMI artists’ content available in all formats, so that the consumer is better served,”
said Jay Samit, senior vice president of New Media, EMI.
“We are looking forward to being able to offer the consumer the depth of our video catalog online.”
More than 200 EMI music videos are available now in Windows Media format at EMI’s online music center, http://www.hollywoodandvine.com/ . Over the next year, the number of EMI music videos in Windows Media format is expected to grow to more than 5,000. Links to the content will be featured prominently on http://www.windowsmedia.com/ , the MSN TM network guide to online multimedia content.
“We’re thrilled to work with EMI to bring its incredible depth of talent to music fans using Windows Media,”
said Will Poole, general manager, Streaming Media Division, Microsoft.
“This agreement ensures that music fans can find the top-name artists they demand in the formats they prefer.”
About EMI Group
EMI Recorded Music is the third largest music company in the world with operations in over 50 countries. EMI Recorded Music’s repertoire includes important local and international artists and has a presence in every leading music genre including rock, pop, classical, jazz, urban, dance and country. Labels include Angel, Capitol, Blue Note, EMI, Priority and Virgin Records. Its current roster includes approximately 1,500 artists who typically release over 1,200 albums a year.
About WindowsMedia.com
WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN network of Internet services, is among the fastest-growing major audio and video guides on the Internet. WindowsMedia.com provides access to localized audio and video content worldwide, including major music and video events from more than 1,000 radio stations and more than 1,000 content providers.
About Windows Media Technologies
Windows Media Technologies is the leading digital media platform that provides consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations with unmatched audio and video quality. Windows Media Technologies 4, which includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools and the Windows Media SDK, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . More than 50 million copies of the free* Windows Media Player have been downloaded to date — growing by more than one every second.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
* Connect-time charges may apply.
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