Deal Makes Ringtones, Music Videos and More from Major Record Label Available on More Than 2,000 Wireless Handsets and Devices
Thumbplay, the largest and fastest growing mobile entertainment content destination in the U.S. (Nielsen Mobile, Q3 and Q4 2007), today announced it has signed a new digital distribution agreement with SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, one of the world’s leading global music companies, to add more than 7,000 pieces of content from SONY BMG’s artists to Thumbplay’s already diverse mobile entertainment content catalog.
Through this relationship, Thumbplay’s more than 4 million unique consumers will be able to access ringtones, music videos, wallpaper, voice clips and mobile games from SONY BMG’s extensive artist rosters, which include some of the greatest superstars of today, as well as some of the most important and influential recordings in history.
“The popular artists signed with SONY BMG’s labels are a compelling addition to the Thumbplay catalog,” said Are Traasdahl, Thumbplay’s CEO and founder. “This deal reinforces Thumbplay’s position as the leading U.S. provider of mobile content to consumers who are looking to discover and manage their personalized mobile entertainment experience.”
With more than 80,000 pieces of mobile entertainment content under license, including ringtones, wallpapers, games, videos, voice tones and text-based services, Thumbplay has built a strong consumer following and gained broad recognition as a leader in the direct-to-consumer mobile content space. During the last quarter of 2007, Thumbplay announced deals to integrate its mobile entertainment content catalog into the Web and mobile portals of AOL and MSN Mobile, as well as iLike and Qloud, two of the Web’s leading social music discovery services.
About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.
About Thumbplay
Thumbplay, Inc. is defining the mobile entertainment experience for U.S. consumers. As the largest and fastest growing mobile entertainment content destination, Thumbplay gives consumers access to the broadest and deepest catalog in the industry, spanning audio, video and gaming content from the leading music labels and artists, game publishers and media companies. Its innovative delivery and marketing platform makes it easy for users to discover, manage, store and share mobile content online and on their wireless devices.
Headquartered in New York City, Thumbplay was founded in September 2004 by Are Traasdahl and Evan Schwartz. It is backed by Bain Capital Ventures, SoftBank Capital, i-Hatch Ventures, Redwood Partners, New Enterprise Associates and Meritech. More information can be found at http://www.thumbplay.com.
