Sony establishes online music retailing venture

From...

April 7, 2000
Web posted at: 9:07 a.m. EDT (1307 GMT)

by Martyn Williams

(IDG) -- Sony Communications Network (So-net), the Internet service provider (ISP) unit of Sony, is furthering the company's push into network-based retailing with the establishment of a joint venture to sell music online, the company announced this week.

So-net, which is best known as a major Internet access provider in Japan, will establish Label Gate soon, it said in a statement. Initially wholly owned by So-net, the venture will take on board several major record labels as partners, the company said.

These will include Avex, King Records, Johnny's Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment (Japan), Pony Canyon, Tokuma Japan Communications, BMG Funhouse, Zetima, For Life, and Pryaid Records. Two additional companies, Vap and Warner Music Japan, will work with Label Gate in an unspecified way.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE

IDG.net home page

Make your PC work harder with these tips

Download free PC software fast

TechInformer: The Thinking Internaut's Guide to the Tech Industry

IDG.net's products pages

Reviews & in-depth info at IDG.net

E-BusinessWorld

IDG.net's Windows software page

Questions about computers? Let IDG.net's editors help you

Subscribe to IDG.net's free daily newsletters

Search IDG.net in 12 languages

News Radio

Fusion audio primers

Computerworld Minute

Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) is already offering music online. In late December 1999 it launched its BitMusic Web site that allows Japanese consumers to download selected hits by the company's domestic artists at 350 yen (US$3.30) per song using a payment system developed by So-net.

The system offers music in both Windows Media and EMMS (Electronic Music Management System) formats compressed with the Sony-developed ATRAC3 compression system, and the music downloaded can be played with any SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative) compliant player, according to Sony Music.

In addition to being a large provider of music content through its Sony Music unit, Sony has more than a passing interest in online music sales. The company developed its own copyright management technologies, MagicGate and Open MG, which it has already proposed to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the industry standard content management system for digital audio.

This week's announcement is the latest move into online retailing by Sony. Earlier this year it launched ventures to sell consumer electronics goods and computer software for its PlayStation 2 console online.

MP3.com lets users store their music online
January 12, 2000
Where to buy music on the Web
May 26, 1999
Lucent's digital music player to challenge MP3
April 22, 1999
Market trials can't stop MP3 blitz
February 10, 1999
Sony technology protects music copyrights
February 26, 1999

Sony Online Entertainment's president quits
(The Industry Standard)
Sony outlines plans for coming year
(IDG.net)
First Look: Sony's PlayStation 2
(PC World Online)
Synergy at Sony? Don't count on it
(The Industry Standard)
Sony to launch satellite music service in Japan
(The Industry Standard)
Sony, Microsoft partner against MP3
(PC World Online)
Sony to sell singles on the Internet
(Computerworld)

Sony
So-net (Japanese-language site)

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.