Habco Media News

Simfy Music Service and TuneCore Reach Landmark Artist and Songwriter Royalty Agreement

2012-02-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

Simfy Music Service and TuneCore Reach Landmark Artist and Songwriter Royalty Agreement

Brooklyn, NY (Feb. 2, 2012) – TuneCore , the world’s largest distributor of music, today announces a groundbreaking agreement with simfy, one of the top music services in Europe, that ensures TuneCore artists and songwriters will be paid for the use of their music.

The deal is groundbreaking as under the agreement, simfy will obtain the rights to both the recordings and songs (aka the underlying composition) represented by TuneCore and pay both sets of royalties directly to TuneCore, as opposed to paying third party collection agencies that take significant percentages of the money and in some cases years to pay it out. The deal allows TuneCore to pay its artists and songwriters/publishers more money more quickly with unprecedented transparency than via any other entity in the world.

Says TuneCore CEO and Founder Jeff Price:

“Simfy is a visionary music service for fans. It is also a music industry leader that pays all royalties for the music in its service. Music fans can now choose to use simfy not only for its great experience with access to over 16 million songs but also because simfy will pay artists and songwriters all their royalties.”

The deal with simfy is one of many direct partnerships that TuneCore’s Global Songwriter Publishing Administration has forged with the leading digital music services. With the click of a button, any songwriter can have songwriter music publishing administration via TuneCore’s Songwriter Service that collects money, registers copyrights, polices rights globally and issues licenses.

About Simfy

Simfy gives music fans access to over 16 million songs in the cloud. Users can listen to music, create playlists, and share them via social networks. A number of service options are available including free advertising-financed and subscription based premium services. Launched in 2010, simfy has rapidly grown to become one of the leading music streaming providers in Europe.

About TuneCore

TuneCore (www.tunecore.com) is the largest distributor and has one of the highest revenue-generating music catalogs in the world. In the past two years TuneCore Artists have sold over 500 million units and generated over $250 million dollars in gross music sales and songwriter revenue. In fall 2011, TuneCore launched its separate groundbreaking Global Songwriter Publishing Administration Service, providing any songwriter global songwriter publishing administration which registers their copyrights, collects money that is rightfully theirs, protects and polices their copyrights and songs, and issue licenses.

TuneCore is a low, flat fee service that distributes music to iTunes, Spotify, eMusic, AmazonMP3, Nokia and many other major download and streaming sites while taking no rights and no revenue from the sale of the music. Artists are building careers, selling significant volumes of music and generating revenue through TuneCore. Since its launch in 2006, TuneCore has more than 700,000 account holders, including Grammy winners and unsigned artists alike. TuneCore artists include Drake, Beck, Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, Public Enemy, Nine Inch Nails, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Westerberg, The Civil Wars, Willie Nelson, They Might Be Giants, Donna Summer, MGM Studios, Warren G, Bjork, Moby, High School Musical cast members, Girl Talk, Brian Eno, Starbucks and hundreds of thousands more.

http://blog.tunecore.com/2012/02/simfy-music-service-and-tunecore-reach-landmark-artist-and-songwriter-royalty-agreement.html

Onkyo with simfy Integration

2012-01-26T06:07:00.000-08:00

simfy brings 16 million songs to the new network-capable home entertainment systems

Cologne, Germany; January 26, 2012. It's now possible for customers in Germany, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland to access simfy directly from Onkyo's compatible AV receiver and home theater systems. The only thing needed to enjoy simfy on an Onkyo system is an internet connection and a simfy Premium account.

simfy can be easily and intuitively used via an Onkyo receiver hooked up to the TV screen. The remote control can be used to access playlists or simfy artist-radios. Everything offered can be comfortably browsed by artist, album or individual songs. And of course album covers are also displayed. In addition, an Onkyo remote app for Android is available free of charge, enabling convenient remote control of simfy features from an Android smart phone via Wi-Fi.

"Our new receiver models allow us to offer simfy users first-class home entertainment systems providing convenient access to simfy's virtually inexhaustible repertoire," said Ken Araki, Director of Product Planning and Marketing.

"In Onkyo we have found a partner known for its top-class products with outstanding sound quality. We are happy to be the first streaming service in Germany available on the new systems. With this simfy is finally conquering the living-rooms of music fans," added Tobias Schiwek, simfy's VP Business Development.

simfy can be used with all Onkyo network capable AV receivers (some models will require an update in Q2).

About Onkyo
Since 1946 Onkyo has been passionately committed to developing audio products that deliver uncommon performance, quality and value. Bundling proprietary technologies and innovations with other sound-enhancing exclusives, Onkyo continues to created award winning products that are lauded by many of the industry leading audio publications. The company's philosophy is to deliver products that are superbly designed and built to a consistently outstanding standard of excellence. The results can be seen in the obviously high quality of any Onkyo-manufactured product, even before it is turned on.

About simfy
simfy gives music fans access to over 16 million songs in the cloud. Users can listen to music, create playlists, and share them via social networks. A number of service options are available including free advertising-financed and subscription based premium services. Launched in 2010, simfy has rapidly grown to become one of the leading music streaming providers in Europe.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.com

Grooveshark and simfy Strike Commercial Agreement

2012-01-26T06:05:00.000-08:00

Cologne, Germany; January 18, 2012. simfy AG today announced a transatlantic collaboration with US-based Escape Media Group and its music streaming service Grooveshark. In response to Germany's music streaming regulatory environment, Grooveshark.com has begun referring visits from German IP addresses to simfy.de. The goal of the agreement is to provide German music fans with continued streaming access to the songs and artists they love.

"We are excited to share our service with Grooveshark users in Germany and provide an uninterrupted stream of great music," said simfy CEO Gerrit Schumann. "That opportunity comes with great responsibility to delight users and we're committed to do just that".

About simfy
By visiting simfy.com or using the simfy Dektop Player, music fans can access over 16 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.com

With iTunes Import simfy becomes a universal music media player, providing an outlook of product strategy

2011-12-09T17:33:00.001-08:00

Friday, 09. December 2011

Version 1.6 of the simfy Desktop Player now enables songs and playlists to be imported from iTunes. The new feature is an important step in the product strategy for 2012.

Cologne, 9th December 2011. With the latest version 1.6 of the simfy Desktop Player you can now access locally stored music from your iTunes library. One click is all it takes: In the next moment songs and playlists are imported from iTunes and can be played right away with the new simfy Desktop Player. Once imported into simfy, your personal music collection encounters other 13 million songs - and is filled every day with the latest hits without you having to do a thing. This makes choosing simfy as your main music player easier than ever.

Users who have performed the update will now see a "Local Music" item in the sidebar. A single click on it is all it takes to quickly and easily import an iTunes library (including any existing playlists) present on the computer into the simfy Desktop Player.

The new simfy Desktop Player is free and available for download by visiting simfy.com.

The new feature was something that simfy users very much required for and is another important step in simfy's product strategy. "The ability to play music stored locally on hard disks on the simfy Desktop Player was on the top of our users' wish list in our feedback forum. At the same time we are taking a big step forward as part of our product strategy for 2012, which will give us the advantage to position ourselves clearly ahead of our competitors," said Gerrit Schumann, simfy's CEO.

"Our vision is to give simfy users the freedom to easily access the entire world of music from any place at any time. That's why in future, the further development of simfy we will be focusing on three crucial aspects:

1. Cloud: Every song is available in the simfy Cloud
2. Convergence: Any IP-based device can access simfy, including car radios and television sets
3. Discovery: Every user gets personalized and relevant music recommendations

The latest version has taken us a big step closer to our first milestone. Because, based on the new version of the simfy Desktop Player, it will soon also be possible to synchronize locally imported music with the simfy Cloud.

And our focus on discovery puts us on a path that is significantly different from that of the competition. We believe that with an increasing number of songs it is becoming ever more crucial to find interesting songs as quickly as possible from the sheer amount of music available. To satisfy this demand the discovery of music must be an integral product component. No external app, no social network and no well-known technology does this well enough for all users. That's why we are relying on our own completely new recommendation technology, which has been in development for over a year now and will be closely and fully integrated into our products. We will be presenting the first innovations from this development in the first half of 2012."

About simfy
By visiting simfy.com or using the simfy Dektop Player, music fans can access over 13 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

Original Story: http://corporate.simfy.com/news/single-view/with-itunes-import-simfy-becomes-a-universal-music-media-player-providing-an-outlook-of-product-strategy/9faf9f04a46d5d1addde7ed69b0aa961/

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.com

simfy in the Intel AppUp Center for new Ultrabooks

2011-12-05T10:59:00.001-08:00

Chip maker and music streaming service announce partnership

Cologne, Germany; December 6, 2011. In future the app for simfy will also be available in the AppUp Center for Intel's new Ultrabook product line. This will give Ultrabooks owners convenient and easy access to the more than 13 million songs from simfy's repertoire. The first Ultrabooks will be shown at the LeWeb internet conference which will take place in Paris from 7-9th December and also simfy can be used on the machines being displayed there. Tobias Schiwek, simfy's Vice President of Business Development will be attending Intel's press conference in Paris and will present the music streaming service's application.

The extremely light-weight Ultrabook line from Intel is defined through long battery life and very good hardware performance. They also have features known previously only on tablets such as fast booting of the operating system and waking from standby mode. "The innovations behind the excellently designed Ultrabooks with their fantastic performance fits very good to our approach of making an enormous music archive very comfortable and easily accessible to music lovers. We are pleased about the partnership with Intel", says Tobias Schiwek.

Original Post: http://corporate.simfy.com/news/single-view/simfy-in-the-intel-appup-center-for-new-ultrabooks/a34522619adc4693fa5685e3879c8c99/

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.com

simfy Wins...Startup of the Year! t3n Web Awards 2011

2011-11-22T06:34:00.001-08:00

t3n Web Award for simfy as "Startup of the Year"

On November 8 at ConventionCamp 2011 in Hanover, Germany, t3n magazine, the leading print publication for the German-speaking Web and tech scene, presented its Web Awards to winners in 21 categories for the first time. More than 300 guests from the political, media and business worlds watched the awards ceremony during the official evening event.

Over 20,000 t3n readers and members of the t3n online community participated in nomination and voting phases to select the most exciting social media, e-business, Web development and online marketing projects, services and products. With upwards of 60,000 votes, 100,000 visits to the t3n-award.de microsite set up specifically for the Awards, and 5,000 "likes" on Facebook, interest in the first t3n Web Awards was impressive. And that makes us even more pleased to be named Startup of the Year!

officialCOMMUNITY Gives Music Fans First Access To The Best Concert Tickets With Innovative Artist-Branded E-commerce Tools

2011-11-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

officialCOMMUNITY Gives Music Fans First Access To The Best Concert Tickets With Innovative Artist-Branded E-commerce Tools

Unique invitation ticketing system allows artists, managers, agents and promoters to gauge demand in advance of on sales while mitigating fraud and broker activity.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8938368.htm

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) November 07, 2011

officialCOMMUNITY, the leader in creating commercialized online communities for global touring artists, has deployed its “invitation ticketing” e-commerce solution across the roster of artist websites the company manages. For the first time, artists and their business teams can leverage the technology to gauge online ticket demand on a per-city basis in advance of ticket sales. Fans have access to a fair process designed to mitigate fraud and ticket broker activities.

officialCOMMUNITY’s invitation ticketing system allows fans to choose the city or cities they would be interested in seeing an artist perform in. This registration can take place at any time, even well before a tour is routed, offering agents and promoters more insight into actual consumer demand. This registration functions as a measure of interest, not an obligation on the part of the participating fans nor as a guarantee of where a tour will stop.

By understanding exactly how much inventory is needed to satisfy artist website ticketing needs across a show or tour, better decisions can be made as to what inventory can subsequently be made available to the general public, corporate and media partners, VIPs and other outlets. This data-driven approach gives artists better decision-making abilities with which they can service their audience.

Once tour routing is confirmed and dates are announced, the Invitation Ticketing system is used for managed ticket presales. Fans who have expressed an interest in a particular city can then have first access to the best seats available, receiving a secure invite email that will grant the user access to the hidden presale area on the artist’s site.

This process controls the volume of ticket-buying activity on an artist website, eliminating the server overloads prevalent with even the most robust, corporate ticketing systems. In addition, invitation ticketing also allows for a variety of automated and manual fraud and broker-prevention measures to be put in place, further ensuring real fans get the best seats.

“officialCOMMUNITY’s goal is to keep an artitst’s fans needs at the forefront using technology-based solutions,” said Kevin Leflar, CEO of officialCOMMUNITY. “By ensuring the integrity of the ticket-buying process on our artist websites, fans come to trust these sites as the credible source for all news and other commercial opportunities, resulting in bigger businesses and happier fans. We are fortunate to work with artists and managers who share these values."

About officialCOMMUNITY
officialCOMMUNITY empowers established recording artists such as Roger Water, James Taylor, Santana, Mark Knopfler, George Michael, Keith Richards and Il Divo to acquire, serve and connect their fans as lifelong, direct customers and community members. officialCOMMUNITY leverages the artist’s brand online by building and managing successful online businesses for their artist partners. In 2011, officialCOMMUNITY found a place on PROFIT Magazine’s PROFIT 200 ranking of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies for the second time. For more information on officialCOMMUNITY visit officialCOMMUNITY.com, “like” the company atFacebook.com/officialCOMMUNITY or follow them on Twitter @offCOMM.

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http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8938368.htm

simfy Expands Further and Launches in Belgium

2011-11-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

simfy Expands Further and Launches in Belgium

The music streaming portal continues pursuing its growth strategy and is now online in Belgium with a dual-language site.

Cologne, Germany; November 7, 2011. Music streaming service simfy, which has operated in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to date, today launched a separate portal for users in Belgium. simfy entered into agreements with all major labels, the key aggregators for independent labels and SABAM, the Belgian society of authors, composers, and music publishers, to provide an extensive variety of music.

Music fans can listen to 13 million songs at www.simfy.be on the website or using the simfy desktop player for free with the advertising financed simfy Free service. With the monthly subscription options starting at EUR4.99 users get access to the premium services that are free of advertising, include the offline mode allowing users to download music to their devices and computers, and access to the iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry apps. simfy offers the first free on-demand streaming service in Belgium. The Web site, simfy Player and mobile apps are all available in French as well as Flemish.

"We are excited to bring simfy to Belgium and offer a true legal and free on-demand music streaming service and premium services for music fans. Belgium is among one of many new territories we will be expanding to throughout the next months as we are looking to expand very fast internationally," says Gerrit Schumann, simfy CEO.

About simfy
By visiting simfy.com, music fans can access over 13 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

As reported by: http://corporate.simfy.com/news/news-press-releases/

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.com

Bucky Covington signs with eOne

2011-10-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Bucky Covington has signed with independent label eOne Music Nashville and plans to release a new single and album in 2012. The next single, Wanna Be That Feeling, should go for adds after Christmas, but it's already part of Bucky's live set.

CAPTION

By Mark Tucker

Bucky says he playedWanna Be That Feelingone time several months ago but wasn't happy with the arrangement so he pulled it. "I had a fan come up who was almost mad at me: 'What happened to that Feeling song?'" he says. "I put it back into the set with a new guitar player, and it seems like folks are just loving it."

Bucky released his debut album on the Disney-owned Lyric Street Records in 2007 and had top-20 country hits with A Different World, I'll Walk and It's Good to Be Us. Lyric Street released three singles from a second album, but the label closed before releasing it. "We got the album back from Disney," Bucky says, adding that "there was a handful of the album that I was not real happy with. … I was not feeling comfortable putting 'Bucky Covington' on the album, because they weren't necessarily my picks. They were good songs, no doubt about it, but I had other songs for me." So Bucky returned to the studio with producers Mark Miller and Dale Oliver to record new material to replace the songs he didn't like. "I am absolutely thrilled with the album that is now coming out, head over heels," he says "It's Bucky Covington through and through."

The new album, which should come out three to four months after Wanna Be That Feeling goes for adds, will include a cover of the Commodores' 1979 pop hit Sail On. "Coming offAmerican Idol, I love remakes," he says. "We had Mac McAnally come in on acoustic and do the fingerpicking. It came out absolutely beautiful." Bucky says he's already performing about half the material from the new album in his concerts, but he's holding some back. "When it comes out, I want to have something new I can play."

By Brian Mansfield, USA TODAY

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2011/10/bucky-covington-signs-with-eone/1

simfy is coming to the BlackBerry

2011-08-29T06:27:00.000-07:00

App now available:

simfy is coming to the BlackBerry

A simfy app for BlackBerry smartphones is now available. With this application, the gap in the music portal is closing: in the future, BlackBerry users will also always have access to 11 million songs.

As reported on: http://corporate.simfy.com/news/single-view/app-now-available-simfy-is-coming-to-the-blackberry/2f5eb0b1819d03e34840da9821f8eeb8/

Cologne, Germany; August 29, 2011. simfy is now available for BlackBerry smartphones. The application, which has been recently created by simfy, is already available at simfy.de. Once the application has been downloaded, the user has access to 11 million music tracks legally and conveniently, even whilst on the go.

simfy’s user interface has been specially adapted for the BlackBerry. The well-known functions of other smartphone applications remain: mobile access to simfy’s entire music catalogue, the opportunity to create playlists and to listen to the best possible quality of music, also in offline mode.

The offline function operates like it does for the apps for iPhone and Android smartphones: by using the BlackBerry app, simfy users have the opportunity to save their favourite songs onto their mobile and to listen to these songs without internet connection – as long as they are premium customers with simfy.

“Until now, BlackBerry has been the epitome of mobiles for business usage. However, entertainment applications are becoming ever more popular, as users are demanding more functions. simfy brings 11 million songs to the BlackBerry and in doing so, it ensures the music is of the best possible sound quality,” says Gerrit Schumann, simfy’s CEO.

About simfy

Started in May 2010, simfy is market leader for online music solutions. At simfy.de, music fans can access, stream, listen to and create playlists from more than 8 million songs and actively connect them with social networking features. The mobile apps also allow music to be accessed from smartphones. The offering is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: presse@simfy.de

www.simfy.de

simfy goes classic and adds Deutsche Grammophon and Decca into its portfolio

2011-08-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

The music portal significantly enhances its classic music range by cooperating with the two well-established labels

Cologne, Germany; August 18, 2011. simfy fundamentally upgrades its music catalog in the field of classical music: through agreements with the well-established labels Deutsche Grammophon and Decca, the music portal considerably expands its repertoire in the classical segment by adding high-quality recordings as well as outstanding artists.

"We are delighted to be able offer the musical treasures of Deutsche Grammophon and Decca to music friends on simfy", Gerrit Schumann, CEO of simfy, explains. "Therewith, we critically widen our present music catalog."

"We truly appreciate the cooperation with simfy", Christian Kellersmann, Managing Director of Universal Music Classics & Jazz, says. "The music portal offers an innovative streaming concept and qualitatively suitable environment to adequately present the repertoire of Deutsche Grammophon and Decca. Of course, we further hope to interest new target groups in classical music."

Founded in the end of the 19th century, Deutsche Grammophon is considered to be the mother of all record labels. The logo, the famous yellow cartridge, globally represents highest classical music quality.
Decca Records has established itself with countless legendary recordings as a leading label in classical production culture.

On simfy, music listeners are now able to choose their favourite songs from the comprehensive repertoire of Deutsche Grammophon and Decca, create their own playlists and enjoy artist radios.

About simfy
Launched in May 2010, simfy is Germany's market leader for online music solutions. By visiting simfy.de, music fans can access over 11 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

About Universal Music
Universal Music Group is the worldwide leading music company with own recording companies and licensees in 77 countries. The company further owns Universal Music Publishing Group, the world's leading music publisher.

Universal Music Group owns, among others, the labels A&M/Octone, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog - Universal Music, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino and Verve Music Group as well as a multiplicity of record labels belonging to or being distributed by subsidiaries all over the world. Universal Music Group owns the most extensive music catalog of the industry, includ-ing the most popular artists of the past 100 years as well as their audio recordings. The UMG catalog is marketed by two independent divisions: Universal Music Enterprises (inside the USA) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside of the USA).
Universal Music Group further owns the new media and technology division eLabs; the merchandise company Bravado; and the full service management division Twenty-First Artists.
Universal Music Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vivendi, a global media and communications corporation.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.de

Originally post: http://corporate.simfy.com/news/single-view/simfy-goes-classic-and-adds-deutsche-grammophon-and-decca-into-its-portfolio/0fd5bd2c84ed2705fda989c4f7ea4c19/

Partner Showcase: McGhee Entertainment

2011-08-18T06:25:00.000-07:00

McGhee Entertainment was formed in 1983 with offices originating in New York City. The current artist roster includes KISS, Ted Nugent, Night Ranger, Chris Cagle, Hootie & The Blowfish, Darius Rucker, Drew Davis, Rodney Atkins, Adam Brand, Heidi Newfield, Jeremy Lister, Sacha Edwards, Down, Cheyenne Kimball, Vintage Trouble, Dirty Guv’nahs, and The Willis Clan. McGhee Entertainment currently has offices located in Nashville at 21 Music Sq. West and in Los Angeles at 8730 West Sunset Boulevard, Ste 200.

http://www.mcgheela.com/mcghee/McGheeLA.html

https://www.facebook.com/McGheeEntertainment

http://www.youtube.com/user/McGheeEntertainment

Partner Showcase: ekg Music

2011-08-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

independence – integrity - innovation

Founded in the heart of L.A.'s legendary Sunset Strip, ekg music is a full service, worldwide music and licensing entity providing independent physical and digital distribution options (via e1 Entertainment); while still providing artists and management the ability to maintain ownership rights and control.

ekg music was created by entertainment industry veterans Ken Gullic (Fontana, VH1 Classic Records, Rocket Science) and Hab Haddad (KISS, McGhee Entertainment, Simfy, Habco Media).

Our mission is to empower independent artists and managers with the tools, knowledge and services needed to take control of their music in this rapidly changing industry. From concept to consumer, we will reliably support, manage and coordinate all aspects of an artists music.

With a network of business alliances, internal staff and worldwide distribution options, ekg music is positioned to provide a turn key solution for independent artists to take their music to market.

More about eOne

eOne Distribution is the largest independent music and video distributor in North America and holds the highest market share of any independent. The company boasts an unparalleled roster ranging from leading record labels to independent film and television studios covering a wide spectrum of genres in both music and video. Through its state-of-the-art facilities in New York and Toronto, eOne Distribution manages physical distribution of CD, Blu-ray and DVD inventories and is a leading Internet fulfillment wholesaler of entertainment products through partnerships with the world's largest on-line retailers. eOne is a leader in digital distribution, aggregating content for multiple partners including iTunes, Netflix, Amazon.com, Sony Playstation, Xbox, eMusic, Rhapsody and many others.

http://www.e1distribution.com/

Entertainment One was admitted to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange on 29 March 2007. After its initial listing , the company made a series of acquisitions in Canada, the UK and Europe that transformed the business into a significant multi-territory entertainment business.

On 15 July 2010, based on its ongoing growth and rapid evolution, Entertainment One received a standard listing on the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities.

http://www.entertainmentonegroup.com/

Partner Showcase: Official Community - e-Business for Artists

2011-08-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Strategy

officialCOMMUNITY builds and manages successful stand alone e-businesses for established recording artists. We extend the value of the artist's brand online through community development. We are a technically sophisticated company that is able to use our expertise to deliver the highest quality artist-branded service to the most loyal fans in the most cost-effective manner.

We provide opportunities to our community members to be active participants on the website of their favourite artist

We believe that the key to a strong discussion board environment is lively conversation, active moderation and a logical structure

At officialCOMMUNITY we believe that the internet is the future of the music industry. As the online world evolves, most recording artists are finding that it is finally possible to engage directly with their audience. There is no better place to do that than on the artist's official website.

An officialCOMMUNITY-powered website is able to take advantage of all the online world has to offer while still remaining true to an artist's existing brand and being as member-friendly as possible. We do this by creating websites as online communities, where fans are transformed into members and become active participants on the website. We believe that "community" and "members" are more than just fuzzy, feel-good words; they are the foundations of a strong and profitable website. And so we aim to create an online space where our members can gather and feel truly connected with the artist, with one another and with the site.

We further enhance this experience with an easy-to-use store, ticket presales that offer best seats and fast, friendly customer service. Creativity is a highly valued virtue here at officialCOMMUNITY and we believe it can be applied to every aspect of our business, including our online retail operations. As a result, we're constantly evolving our online stores so that our customers have the best purchasing experience possible. We also apply this creative outlook to the products we sell. From exclusive merchandise to live concert recordings to concert experience packages, we've sold it all before and we're always developing new ideas.

officialCOMMUNITY puts artists in business for themselves by supporting their offline business, enabling access to their audience, and conducting all service at lower than industry rates, while providing high-touch artist-branded customer service. Visit us now: http://www.officialcommunity.com/

Partial Client List:

Billy Talent Blue Rodeo David Gray Genesis George Michael Godsmack Great Big Sea Il Divo James Taylor Keith Richards Mark Knopfler Roger Waters Rufus Wainwright Santana Fan Club Styx Ted Nugent

Partner Showcase: Swagbucks.com

2011-08-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

About Swagbucks.com

Swagbucks.com is the web's premier rewards site. Powered by Prodege LLC, Swagbucks.com allows web users to earn virtual currency by doing the things they do every day - search the web, shopping at their favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities such as phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. Swagbucks.com is the only place on the web to get what you want without ever having to spend a dime.

About Prodege

Prodege LLC is the web's leading provider of branded and incentivized reward portals.

Every day, hundreds of the biggest names in music, media, and sports rely on one of Prodege LLC's branded reward portals to engage and reward their community. Since 2005 we've been helping organizations leverage the relevance and power of online search & shopping through an affinity based rewards platform. Prodege LLC's 'Search&Win' partners include World Wresting Entertainment, The New York Giants, WGN America, Element, Maroon 5, KISS, Hilary Duff and many more. Click the link below to view a complete list of our partners: www.swagsites.com

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Partner Showcase: Kelli Richards - Taking the Crowd to the Cloud

2011-08-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

Taking the Crowd to the Cloud

“Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry”

“Why Spend Years Learning This Stuff Yourself…
When I’ve Done All The Leg Work For You?”

Source: http://www.allaccessgroup.com/products/taking-the-crowd-to-the-cloud/

The landscape of how audiences are built has changed completely over the last decade. Musicians, celebrities, artists and authors must recognize that, in order to succeed in today’s mega-connected world, we must think and act like chief marketing officers.

Knowing how to navigate and succeed at social media can be a full-time, mind-numbing and overly complicated job if you’re not careful.

This eBook raises the bar and demystifies the social media process . It will help you THRIVE in this tough economy and transform your online presence and your marketing mindset.

It provides an overview of the top 10 online spaces and gives a brief look at how to maximize your social media presence to build and keep your audience – and turn them into your own personal sales force.

How do you do that?

By consistently sharing content and baring your soul – no kidding. In today’s world of uber-connectivity, audiences want more than they ever did. They’re not satisfied with a great product any longer, whether that be a song, a show, a book, merchandise. Now they want to be connected to you as an individual, and whether they’re right about this or not, they believe they’re entitled to it. So while it’s okay to choose not to go that route, just know that your competition is happyto step in, open their kimono, and eat up your market share.

Social media is literally your bridge from one reality to another – creating fast and easy digital distribution and building the transformation from musician to BRAND that every artist MUST have in today’s online world.

What to expect:

MORE FANS! The ultimate end-game!
BRAND TRANSFORMATION! (Yes, trust me, you are a brand!)
MORE MONEY! That’s an easy one, more fans + more content = more sales.
SIMPLE! Written in easy-to-follow language with easy-to-implement instructions.
FAST! You’ll learn about 8 FREE Resources to build your brand and your fan base!
STOP WORRYING! No more worrying about missing the opp for social media success.
FREE Online Business Tools! FREE List Building Tools worth 10X’s the cost of the book… FREE Content that Sizzles… FREE Traffic Tips to instantly drive visitors to your site… Even a FREE list of top music-industry leaders for Twitter to get you started!
BE YOUR OWN BOSS! Run your content, your revenue, your merch and your fan base ANY WAY YOU WANT TO.
FREEDOM! How about turning your work into a business that does not depend on a label, a manager or ANYONE. Do what you WHAT you want, WHEN you want, and WHERE you want… You can set your own hours… You can live anywhere… All you need is an internet connection… The sky is the limit.
MORE MONEY! Yes, I know I said it twice, but don’t you want to hearit twice?!!

Heard enough? Click “Buy Now” to get your copy now.

Comprehensive Update: simfy App for iPhone Radically Renewed

2011-08-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Comprehensive remake of the simfy iPhone app: with its new version, simfy responds to user requests and presents new functions as well as a revised user interface.

As reported on http://corporate.simfy.com/news

Cologne, Germany; August 11, 2011. The music portal simfy has radically renewed its iPhone app. In addition to a revised user interface, the app has been significantly improved in terms of stability and speed.

"The iPhone app has become much more intuitive. We have renewed the entire user interface: the app is not only faster and more stable, it is also much easier to use", Gerrit Schumann, CEO of simfy, explains.

What is especially remarkable: for the first time, entire albums, all marked favorites and created playlists can immediately be downloaded for the offline mode. Another novelty is the integrated "Discover" area, enabling users to browse for new releases and genre classics on their cell phones.

Additionally, there is a new feature for the playful kind among music lovers: users can now shuffle their current playlist by shaking the cell phone. The fundamentally revised user navigation also includes swiping - moving the finger across the display - in a more intuitive manner. This especially facilitates the selection of and change between context menus while the music keeps on playing.

With the new edition of the iPhone app, simfy significantly improves its current software range which has additionally been extended by a native app for the iPad recently.

The improvements of the simfy iPhone app 2.1 at a glance:

- Entirely revised user interface
- Immediate reaction to entries
- Improved stability and speed
- Easy access to all artists, albums, tracks and playlists available for offline consumption
- Faster display of search results
- Direct marking of artists, albums, tracks and playlists as favorites
- Immediate download of entire albums and/or all favorite tracks for the offline consumption
- "Discover" area with new releases, artists and charts
- Immediate adding of discovered tracks to current playback
- Sequence of current playback can be altered
- Context menus and search results can be moved by "swiping"
- Shuffle function by shaking the phone
- Several bug fixes

simfy at a glance
Launched in May 2010, simfy is Germany's market leader for online music solutions. By visiting simfy.de, music fans can access over 11 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.de

Multi-platinum rock band BUSH has announced a September 13th release for new album THE SEA OF MEMORIES

2011-08-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Multi-platinum rock band BUSH has announced a September 13th release for highly anticipated new album THE SEA OF MEMORIES. Recorded with producer Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Metallica), THE SEA OF MEMORIES is the seminal band’s first studio release in 10 years and the first to be released via their own imprint, Zuma Rock Records, through an exclusive partnership with eOne Music.

On July 21st, the band (vocalist/guitarist Gavin Rossdale, guitarist Chris Traynor, drummer Robin Goodridge, and bassist Corey Britz) will perform lead single “The Sound of Winter” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Last week, Bush announced that they’ll be playing the Bowery Ballroom in New York City on July 28th and the show literally sold out in under a minute. On Saturday, August 20th, Bush will also be among the headliners performing with the Sunset Strip Music Festival in LA.

THE SEA OF MEMORIES captures the electricity and trademark intensity of classic Bush delivered in a setting that’s fresh and alive. Songs like “The Sound of Winter,” “Heart of the Matter” and “All Night Doctors” are propelled by heavy guitar and hypnotic beats, simple song structures and sublime textures.

About the album, Rossdale says, “When making music, you have a choice to repeat what you’ve done or move on. It would’ve been safe to just rework (1994’s debut album) ‘Sixteen Stone’ over and over, but what kind of life would that be? When you’re driving down the road, you’re focused on what’s in front of you; you don’t really think to keep checking in your rear view mirror. I like the idea of art changing, developing and morphing.”

Over the course of their remarkable career, Bush has sold more than 16 million albums in the U.S. and Canada alone. They’ve also compiled an amazing string of 14 consecutive Top 40 hit singles on the Billboard Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, including ten that hit the Top 5. Four of these became No. 1 hits: “Comedown,” “Glycerine,” “Swallowed” and “The Chemicals Between Us.”

The band is currently finalizing plans for a fall tour.

Other links and resources
http://www.BushOfficial.com

http://www.eonemetal.com/artists/bush

KISS Hits The Road - Win Tickets with Swagbucks.com

2011-06-21T07:33:00.000-07:00

KISS Hits The Road

Calling all members of the KISS Army – your favorite band is heading out on the road once again, andSwagbucks is giving away two tickets to seelct dates of the tour through Limited Time Swagstakes! Starting withthe June 23rd show in Everett, Washington, you can snag Swagstakes entries for as little as a single, solitary Swag Buck – a small price to pay to Rock n’ Roll all night. And party every day.

Check out the KISS area of the Swagstakes section to see all dates and enter now – remember that the more entries you grab at once, the more you save and the better your chances of winning!

KISS, I hear you callin’…

by TSG on Tue, June 14th, 2011 at 3:00 pm

Online Player for Coca-Cola: Coke Arranges the Artists, simfy Provides the Sound

2011-06-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

Online Player for Coca-Cola: Coke Arranges the Artists, simfy Provides the Sound

Monday, 30. May 2011

simfy is supporting the online presence of the Coca-Cola concert series "Coke Sound Up 2011" with an integrated Web player. The player offers genre radios as well as a user participation function.

Cologne, Germany; May 30, 2011. simfy is providing the sound for the current "Coke Sound Up 2011" campaign by Coca-Cola. Germany's largest music portal has placed an integrated Web player on the campaign Web site www.cokesoundup.de; Visitors to the Web site can use the player to access various genre radio stations and also participate in choosing their favorite songs. After Coca-Cola has announced which concert from the "Coke Sound Up" series will be next, users can vote on their favorite songs by the respective artist directly via the player integrated into the Web site.

After the act is announced, simfy makes available a voting playlist with 30-50 titles by the artist. Users then have a week to vote for their three favorites. simfy takes the suggestions entered and creates a "best of" playlist consisting of the 10 to 15 songs receiving the most votes. This process results in a user-defined playlist for each "Coke Event Band" which will be available until the end of the campaign.

To date, Coca-Cola has presented Maroon 5, Pharrell Williams' group N*E*R*D and the Swedish rock combo Mando Diao to fans. Next act will be Finnish rock quintet Sunrise Avenue. The remaining three acts are still being kept secret. Concert tickets for these shows are not available for sale, but can be won at www.cokesoundup.de.

The music available via the integrated Web player stems entirely from simfy's music catalog. Music fans can visit www.simfy.de or use the freely accessible simfy Player to stream and listen to over 8 million songs legally and free of charge.

"We are pleased that Coca-Cola has extended our initial cooperation on the 2010 Coke Happiness Player into 2011 with the Coke Sound Up promotion. The Coke Sound Up Player and voting function within the player
are a campaign by Coca-Cola that fully meets the current needs of the Web 2.0 community: entertainment, content and interaction. In addition, the online music selection complements the Coca-Cola events optimally and sets new standards," according to Tim Klama, Manager New Business at simfy.

simfy at a glance
Launched in May 2010, simfy is Germany's largest music platform and the market leader for online music solutions. By visiting simfy.de, music fans can access over 8 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

Coca-Cola at a glance
Coca-Cola is one of the world's most famous and valuable brands. The company is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, The Coca-Cola Company manages a portfolio of more than 500 brands and over 3,500 products as the largest supplier of non-alcoholic beverages globally. Its product range includes waters, juices, juice drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, teas and hot beverages. Nearly 1.7 billion of the company's products are consumed daily in more than 200 countries. This is possible thanks to the Coca-Cola distribution network - the largest in the world.
With the "Live Positively" campaign, Coca-Cola is pursuing an integrated sustainability strategy. The company has set ambitious goals and reports regularly on its progress in seven areas of activity - Beverage Benefits, Water Stewardship, Energy and Climate, Sustainable Packaging, Workplace, Active Healthy Living and Community.

Additional information is available at www.thecoca-colacompany.com and www.coca-cola-gmbh.de.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

www.simfy.de

simfy Submits Complaint against Apple to European Antitrust Authorities

2011-06-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

simfy Submits Complaint against Apple to European Antitrust Authorities

The music portal simfy alleges that Apple is exploiting its dominant market position and blocking applications from its App Store marketplace to the benefit of its own strategy.

Cologne, Germany; June 6, 2011. On June 3, 2011, simfy AG officially submitted a complaint to the Bundeskartellamt, Germany's antitrust authority, against technology company Apple with EU antitrust authorities to follow. The grounds are the delayed approval of the simfy iPad app. Without any stated reason, the approval process for the app's admission to the App Store has been underway for more than three months. simfy considers this improper use of Apple's market position.

According to Gerrit Schumann, CEO of simfy AG, "We have always considered Apple an important partner, but it is unacceptable for Apple to be able to control the market in this way. The App Store is a key marketplace we use to reach our customers. In the meanwhile, simfy users are rightfully complaining about the lack of this app for the iPad. Of course, we ourselves are true fans of Apple and its products. That is why it was so disappointing and incomprehensible to us that we have apparently been blocked intentionally for months now."

simfy encourages customers and other app providers with similar problems to publicly support the complaint to create transparency and fair market conditions for all suppliers.

"Naturally, we are irritated that simfy fans have to wait so long for the iPad app. At the same time, we recognize this as confirmation of our strategy and product development. The simfy app for iPad appears to have made quite an impression on Apple. The aim of our complaint to the anti-trust authorities is to ensure release of our app very soon so that everyone can see its quality for themselves," says Gerrit Schumann.

simfy at a glance

Launched in May 2010, simfy is Germany's largest music platform and the market leader for online music solutions. By visiting simfy.de, music fans can access over 8 million streamed songs, listen to music, create playlists, and actively network with other fans via social networking sites. Mobile applications also allow users to comfortably listen to music on their smartphones. The site is financed through advertising and a flat rate for music.

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Phone: +49-(0)-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-(0)-221-788787-79

E-mail: presse@simfy.de

www.simfy.de

Official Community Makes The Profit 200: Canada's Fastest Growing Companies 2011

2011-06-02T06:10:00.000-07:00

Official Community Corp featured at number 15.

Canada’s economy managed to avoid the worst of the global economic crisis, but for companies seeking rapid growth the current situation can hardly be considered ideal. However, the firms on the PROFIT 200 haven't noticed. Many of them are growing at astounding rates, soft economy or not.

How are they doing it? Some have ventured afield in search of new markets — and new sources of capital. Exports have risen to the U.S., Western Europe and South America (to name a few regions), and entrepreneurs are tapping both conventional sources of financing and previously underused government programs.

Excellent growth would not be possible without excellent employees, the market for which is tightening as the talent crunch returns. In response, employers are brandishing a wide arsenal of retention strategies, including benefits plans, training programs and bonuses — along with the prestige of working for a leading-edge company.

The lessons on offer from the PROFIT 200 can be applied to any business, be it a fledgling startup or established player. Keep reading for insight and inspiration on how to take your company to the next level.

Source: http://www.profitguide.com/awards/profit200_2011

About OCC

German ‘Spotify clone’ Simfy gets Facebook integration… before Spotify

2011-06-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Germany’s Simfy, a music streaming service which we’ve noted previously as bearing a striking resemblance to Spotify, has launched a Facebook music player.

The new app allows the startup’s users to play Simfy’s catalogue of over eight million songs directly on Facebook via a player which can be posted directly onto their own Wall, or that of a friend.

What’s interesting here is that Simfy has got this service out the door ahead of Spotify. Last week, a report suggested that Spotify was set to announce a service in partnership with Facebook that would allow users to play music from their accounts. The irony that the ‘clone’ got such a service out first isn’t lost on Simfy, which notes in its press release: “Speculation in the sector about such a service had been rife. Simfy with its experience and technical know-how is now the first to deliver that kind of social music experience.”

Launched in May last year, Simfy is currently only available in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, although it plans to expand further in the third quarter of this year. Although Spotify is generally seen as ‘big in Europe’, it’s currently only available in Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. That leaves plenty of space around the continent for Simfy to expand into, capitalising on pent-up demand for a Spotify-like service – if it can get there first.

As reported by: The Next Web - http://thenextweb.com/eu/2011/06/01/german-spotify-clone-simfy-gets-facebook-integration-before-spotify/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Martin Bryant is The Next Web's European Editor and is based in Manchester, UK. Twitter, Personal site

simfy and Deodorant Brand 8x4 Join Forces: Follow Your Nose to Your Favorite Music

2011-05-19T06:36:00.000-07:00

Thursday, 19. May 2011

simfy is working with Beiersdorf's 8x4 brand on a contest until the end of October 2011. The lifestyle deodorant brand has set up its own music channel at Germany's largest music portal for the promotion.

Cologne, Germany; May 19, 2011. Effective immediately, simfy is working on a contest with Beiersdorf's 8x4 brand. The deodorant brand has set up its own music channel at Germany's largest music portal. Buyers are directed to simfy's site using codes on a total of two million 8x4 products. Once at the site, they can access special 8x4 playlists free of charge until October 31, 2011. It goes without saying that users can also register normally with simfy to obtain free, legal access to over 8 million songs either directly at www.simfy.de or via the freely accessible simfy Player for desktop computers. The partnership was brokered by Christian Nawrocki, owner of Nawrocki PR Hamburg.

The contest in conjunction with simfy is being run based loosely on the expression "just follow your nose": Two million 8x4-brand deodorant packages feature a foldout label with information about the promotion. Buyers can enter the code on the foldout in a form online at www.8x4.de. They then receive free access to three special playlists with 50 songs each on the 8x4 Style Channel on simfy's site until October 31, 2011. The contest itself ends on August 31, 2011. Participants can win one of 15 LG Optimus Black smartphones including a three-month simfy Premium membership.

Premium members of simfy can password-protect and save their playlists on their smartphones or on their PCs using the simfy Player. This allows fans to listen to their favorite music anywhere, anytime - even without an Internet connection.

"simfy is playing a key role in Beiersdorf's large-scale contest promotion. Lifestyle products such as 8x4 subsist on the emotional impact of their brands. And for the first time, brand managers can now create tailored soundtracks, in addition to visuals, that tap into this important sense to reach their customers. With our expertise and our contacts, we are the ideal partner for this type of promotion," says Tim Klama, Manager New Business at simfy.

"As a lifestyle deodorant brand, we do not just speak to a consumer's sense of smell through the individual scents we create, but also consider the design of our products to be very important. Thanks to simfy, our consumers can now experience the lifestyle of our new scents - Urban Spirit, Wild Flower and Lemon Rush - through music," states Maira Gerland, Product Manager of 8x4.

As reported on http://corporate.simfy.com/news/news-press-releases/

simfy press contact:

Marcus von Husen

Tel.: +49-221-788787-0

Fax: +49-221-788787-79

E-Mail: press(at)simfy.com

Win free WWE merchandise with MyWWESearch.com

2011-05-05T19:41:00.000-07:00

May 4, 2011 Via WWE.com

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