EMI Music Publishing and Nokia, the world's leading mobile telephone manufacturer, have signed an agreement for EMI Music Publishing's catalogue to be used for custom downloadable ring tones. Nokia will provide a service to owners of mobile phones, whereby they can download additional ring tones for their mobile phones. EMI Music Publishing will license the use of ring tones to Nokia on a non-exclusive worldwide basis.
The initial service will contain well-known songs, television and film themes and will be added to with additional famous titles, on a regular basis. The ring tones will be available from the Internet via Club Nokia. The ring tone can be downloaded either by sending a short message to a specific telephone number or by using the Club Nokia Credits system in the Internet. It is anticipated that ring tones can also be provided for promotional purposes and hence be sponsored.
This groundbreaking deal brings together two major players, endorsing the legitimate use of music on mobile phone applications, whilst adding service value to the mobile customer who will be able to enjoy music in a new way. The rollout of the service will start during autumn 2000.
Jonathan Channon, Director Film, TV & Media, EMI Music Publishing notes: "This deal marks a further development in our new media activities and is the first global initiative of its kind. The Nokia connection shows the potential to bring great songs, and themes, to a new generation of portable devices and continues EMI'S strategy of working with technology innovators to help provide a soundtrack to peoples' lives. This new venture with Nokia, the leading innovator in its field, continues our strategy to expand our business by embracing new technology through business relationships in the new media arena".
Ilkka Raiskinen, Vice President, Mobile Applications & Services, Nokia comments: "The soundtrack to people's lives is about to change, ring tones are here to stay. The large selection of tunes will allow people to stand out with their own set of personalised songs, which will be unique and tailor-made for every occasion, mood and lifestyle. Nokia invented the concept of downloadable ring tones and we have seen how enormously popular these have become around the world. With EMI Music Publishing, we are now taking the next step to develop ring tones into an effective global media for promoting music".
About Nokia
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. The company is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks, related services, as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, Nokia's net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York [NOK], Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 60 000 people.
About EMI Music Publishing
EMI Music Publishing is one of the world's leading music publishers. EMI Music Publishing are involved in the successful careers of many top artists including; Robbie Williams, The Spice Girls, Matchbox 20, Sting, Puff Daddy, Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz, Enrique Iglesias, Janet Jackson, TLC and Phil Collins. As part of The EMI Group, EMI Music Publishing is firmly committed to its artists and to the future of the music industry
Further information:
Nokia Mobile Phones, Communications
Tel. +358 10 5051
www.nokia.com
Caryn Tomlinson, EMI Music Publishing
United Kingdom
Tel. +44 20 7412 9130