Platinum MusicPass - Are They Joking?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Dear Sony,

 

Just to clarify. You want us to go to a brick & mortar store, spend $13 or $20 for a "high-quality collectible" card that allows us to go back home and download your mp3 music?

 

You have got to be kidding!

 

Chris

 

 

 

 

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT Launches Platinum MusicPass

Mon Jan 7, 2008 9:01am EST

 

Digital Album Cards Deliver High Quality Files That Are Compatible with All

MP3 Players

 

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT today

announced the launch of Platinum MusicPass, a series of digital album cards

that enable consumers to download full-length albums, and in many cases

special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files. The first 37

titles in the series, which represent musical genres ranging from Rock and Pop

to R&B and Country, will debut on January 15th, 2008 and by the end of the

month will be available at 4,500 retail outlets across the United States. In

Canada, MusicPass will debut in late January of 2008.

"The introduction of MusicPass is an important part of SONY BMG's ongoing

campaign to bring its artists' music to fans in new and innovative ways, and

to develop compelling new business models," commented Thomas Hesse, President,

Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. "The MP3

files delivered through MusicPass play on computers, as well as on all MP3

players, including iPods. This makes them a simple, easy to use solution that

will appeal to fans who already access their music on the Internet, as well as

to consumers who are just getting into the digital realm. The cards themselves

are high-quality collectibles featuring artist images and album information.

They're a great choice whether you're buying for yourself, or as a gift for

occasions ranging from a birthday to Valentine's Day."

According to the 2007 American Express Gift Card Survey, Americans plan to

spend 25% of their total gift spending on gift cards, up from 13% in 2005. 61%

of shoppers said they were planning to purchase at least one gift card, and on

average intended to purchase a total of six cards.

In the United States, MusicPass cards will be available at Best Buy,

Target, and Fred's on January 15th, with Trans World stores (Coconuts, FYE,

Wherehouse, & Spec's) and Winn-Dixie rolling out the cards by the end of

January.

In Canada, participating retailers include Best Buy, CD Plus, Future Shop,

Shoppers Drug Mart and Wal-Mart. In addition, HMV will launch MusicPass in

Canada during the first calendar quarter of 2008.

"We see MusicPass as a great way to bring digital music to the physical

retail space," Mr. Hesse added. "We believe it will have strong appeal for a

broad range of consumers, and that it will ultimately expand both the digital

and physical markets for music. As we begin the roll out of this impressive

new product we are extremely encouraged by the high levels of enthusiasm that

MusicPass has generated among our artists and launch partners, and we look

forward to making music fans across the U.S. and Canada a part of the

MusicPass experience."

"We're happy to be participating in the launch of a new physical format of

digital music for retail," commented Jennifer Johnston Schaidler, Vice

President, Music, Best Buy. "Physical products like this will be another way

for Best Buy to deliver music and entertainment to our customers in a manner

that suits their needs whether it is an impulse purchase, gift, or great

collectible. Digital music doesn't need to be restricted to online

environments. We look forward to learning how physical products can help grow

the digital marketplace."

Rich Romano, Prepaid Card Sales Manager, Winn-Dixie, commented, "We are

excited to have the opportunity to partner with SONY BMG to launch this

initiative. An extensive list of titles and bonus material from superstar

artists makes this offering unlike any other in the marketplace; it gives our

customers the opportunity to purchase new release albums while they do their

grocery shopping."

SONY BMG is offering Platinum MusicPass cards at leading national

retailers through a technology and distribution relationship with InComm, the

nation's largest marketing and technology provider for gift and music cards

and other prepaid products.

"We are excited to be working with SONY BMG on Platinum MusicPass,"

commented Brooks Smith, InComm President and CEO, "We believe people want a

physical product as part of their music purchase, and these cards speak

directly to that desire -- they have great graphics and a quality look and

feel that will make them highly collectible. We look forward to working with

SONY BMG as we roll out this exciting new product line."

The cards will be priced at a suggested list retail price (slrp) of $12.99

which will include the complete digital album plus bonus material or, in the

case of compilations, extensive track listings. In order get the content from

their MusicPass cards consumers scratch the back of their card to unveil their

pin number. They then visit MusicPass.com to download their music files and

bonus material.

Two of the albums included in the initial offering -- Celine Dion's Taking

Chances and Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates -- will be made

available both as regularly priced Platinum MusicPass Cards, and in special

slrp $19.99 versions through which consumers will receive the complete album

and bonus material, plus the choice of one additional album from that same

artist's rich catalog of recordings.

The initial slate of Platinum MusicPass titles is as follows:

 

Platinum MusicPass Albums with Bonus Material (slrp $12.99):

 

Alejandro Fernandez, Viento A Favor

Alicia Keys, As I Am

Avril Lavigne, The Best Damn Thing

Backstreet Boys, UnBreakable

Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies

Bob Dylan, Dylan

Boys Like Girls, Boys Like Girls

Brad Paisley, 5th Gear

Britney Spears, Blackout

Brooks & Dunn, Cowboy Town

Bruce Springsteen, Magic

Calle 13, Residente o Visitante

Camila, Todo Cambio

Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride

Casting Crowns, The Altar and The Door

Celine Dion, Taking Chances

Chris Brown, Exclusive

Daughtry, Daughtry

Elvis Presley, Elvis 30 #1 Hits

Jennifer Lopez, Brave

John Mayer, Continuum

Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates

Martina McBride, Waking Up Laughing

P!nk, I'm Not Dead

Santana, Ultimate Santana

Sara Bareilles, Little Voice

Sean Kingston, Sean Kingston

The Fray, How To Save A Life

Three Days Grace, One-X

Tony Bennett, Duets

 

Platinum MusicPass Compilations (slrp $12.99)

 

Various, 70's POP HITS

Various, ROCK OF THE 70's

Various, SENSATIONAL 60's

Various, COUNTRY GOLD: THE 90's

Various, 80's POP HITS

Various, CLASSIC ROCK

Various, Everlasting Love

 

Expanded MusicPass Titles (slrp $19.99 versions which include the complete

album, bonus material, plus choice of one additional album from that same

artist's rich catalog of recordings.)

Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates

Celine Dion, Taking Chances

SOURCE SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

 

John McKay, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, +1-212-833-5520