REDMOND, Wash. — March 21, 2007 — MSN® and Control Room will stream Elton John’s “Happy Birthday, Elton” concert live in its entirety as part of a multiyear, global, live content distribution agreement forged last fall. Fans who are unable to attend the sold-out concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden can watch Elton perform songs spanning his career live on MSN for free or watch it on-demand for the ultimate convenience.
This is a celebration on a grand scale for Elton John fans around the world as the entertainer celebrates 60 years, and 60 performances at the legendary Madison Square Garden. Currently fans can go to MSN at http://music.msn.com/eltonjohn to view 60 photos highlighting his career and ever-changing fashion statements. The Elton page includes music videos, photos, album covers and highlights spanning Elton John’s 40-year career.
“Happy Birthday, Elton” can be viewed on MSN, beginning March 25 at 8:30 p.m. EDT. Visitors can listen to samples from Elton John’s entire back catalog of nearly 500 tracks, which includes 90 singles and 32 albums.
“We are thrilled to add Elton John’s Madison Square Garden show to the list of exclusive concert offers on MSN,” said Rob Bennett, general manager of Entertainment and Video Services for MSN. “Our collaboration with Control Room enables musicians such as Elton John to easily connect with fans across the globe, while providing people with the best way to experience high-quality content featuring their favorite artists.”
Ford Motor Co. is the exclusive U.S. sponsor of MSN Music in Concert, the worldwide online destination for Control Room’s slate of live and on-demand music programming, which offers the Elton John concert and 35 other shows.
“Control Room is excited to work with MSN to give fans around the world a virtual front-row ticket to see Elton John in this unforgettable event,” Aaron Grosky, executive vice president, Music Programming and Production for Control Room. “We continue to provide fans otherwise unattainable access to the best shows from the most prominent, chart-topping acts in the music industry.”
To further enhance the celebration, fans can answer questions related to Elton John videos they view on MSN and enter a contest available at http://msnconcertcontest.com. The winner will receive a trip to see the top-selling solo artist at his May 12 Las Vegas show.
About Control Room
Control Room (formerly Network LIVE) is the No. 1 provider of live digital entertainment, offering fans unparalleled access to the artists they want — when and how they want it — via broadband, TV, radio, wireless, theatrical and retail. Control Room has produced and distributed more than 59 concerts with artists like Beyoncé, Madonna, Green Day and Dave Matthews Band, as well as global events like Live 8 and the Rolling Stones from Copacabana Beach. Its best-in-class, multipartner network provides unprecedented reach for live offerings through broadband, television, digital movie theatres and mobile phones throughout the U.S. and the world.
About MSN Video
MSN Video is one of the largest free programmed video services on the Web, watched by more than 11 million unique users per month. In addition to streaming news, entertainment and sports video clips from more than 45 content partners including “The Today Show,” FOX Sports, MSNBC, Reveille, Control Room, JibJab Media Inc. and Fox Entertainment Group, MSN Video presents a broad array of live events to online audiences worldwide. More than 50 top advertisers support MSN Video, which is available to consumers at no charge. MSN Video is available on the Web at http://msnvideo.com to consumers in the U.S. MSN Video is also live in Australia, Canada, France, Japan and the U.K., and in Spanish in the U.S.
Overall, MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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