Sony Entertainment Network's "Music Unlimited" Service Launches in Japan

Informations

• Publié par: sony-computer-entertainment-america
• Nombre de lectures: 12
• Langue: English

Extrait

Sony Entertainment Network's "Music

Unlimited" Service Launches in Japan

PR Newswire

TOKYO, July 3, 2012

- Music Subscription Service with All-You-Can-Listen Access to Over 10 Million(i)

Songs

TOKYO

,

July 3, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Sony Corporation ("Sony") today

announced the launch of the "Music Unlimited" cloud-based music subscription

service in

Japan

. Through "Music Unlimited," music lovers can listen to over 10

million songs managed in the cloud, across a variety of compatible Sony

devices and more, at home or on the go.

Initially, the "Music Unlimited" catalogue in

Japan

will offer over 10 million songs

from major labels including, EMI Music Japan Inc., Sony Music Entertainment

(

Japan

) Inc., Universal Music LLC, Warner Music Japan, as well as leading

independent labels. Furthermore, the catalogue will continue to expand over

time.

Service Name

Launch Date

Price

"Music Unlimited"

July 3, 2012

1,480 yen/30 days (tax included)

30 day free trial for new users(ii)

The "Music Unlimited" cloud-based music subscription service matches users'

lifestyles to offer them access to music wherever and whenever(iii) across a

bevy of devices. The service launched in the UK and

Ireland

in

December 2010

,

and expanded to countries across

North America

and

Europe

. With the debut in

Japan

, "Music Unlimited" is now available in 17 countries(iv) around the globe.

Accessible across numerous Sony connected devices and more, "Music

Unlimited" adapts to users' music preferences as they continue to use the

service, so users can discover new music and artists. Furthermore, the service

is cloud-based allowing users to enjoy music from their playlists and My Library

across all of their compatible devices without the need to transfer music files.

Through "Music Unlimited" users can easily enjoy the music they want to listen

to from a plethora of preset music channels categorized by genre, era, and

more, as well as "My Channels," customized by their favorite artists.

Furthermore, users can easily find select songs, albums, artists and related

songs from the enormous catalogue in the cloud.

By studying users' 'like/dislike' song ratings, "Music Unlimited" adapts to users'

music preferences to offer the most compatible and enjoyable songs from the

cloud. Therefore, the more users use the service, the more opportunities they

have to discover new songs and artists.

Furthermore, by scanning and matching their existing music files on their

personal computers with the "Music Unlimited" catalog through MusicSync™,

users' music and playlists from other media players automatically appear in

their "Music Unlimited" My Library for them to enjoy at any time across all

compatible devices.

Users can currently enjoy the service across Android™ smartphones(v)

including Xperia™, Android™ tablets(vi) including "Sony Tablet" devices,

Android™ Walkman, PlayStation®3, PlayStation®Vita, VAIO and other Windows

personal computers(vii), and Mac(viii). Furthermore, the service is scheduled to

become compatible on 2010 and later models of network-enabled Bravia®

HDTVs(ix), Sony's Blu-ray Disc® players (BDP-S380/S480) and multichannel

integrated amplifier (TA-DA5700ES) after mid-July.

"Bringing the cloud music subscription service to

Japan

, which is one of the

largest music markets in the world, is a key step in the expansion of 'Music

Unlimited,'" said Tim Schaaff, President of Sony Network Entertainment

International.

"EMI Music would like to have its music available to as many music fans as

possible in a great number of formats, and is very happy to provide its music

content to 'Music Unlimited,' the multi-device subscription/streaming service by

which consumers can enjoy listening to music while benefiting from a diverse

array of cool functions," said Hitoshi Namekata, Executive Chairman &

Representative Director, EMI Music Japan Inc. "We expect the service will bring

discoveries of new music as well as encounters with nostalgic tracks, and hope

that it will fulfill a valuable service for the music market."

"We are excited to be able to deliver our music through this new 'Music

Unlimited' service," said Naoki Kitagawa, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment

(

Japan

) Inc. "Innovative technologies have changed and diversified people's

lifestyles as well as the way they enjoy music. We hope that even more people

can enjoy our music in novel ways through new offerings like 'Music Unlimited.'"

"'Music Unlimited' heralds a new era for the music industry in

Japan

," said

Kazuhiko Koike, President and CEO, Universal Music LLC. "This service creates

opportunities for customers to discover new music wherever they are in the

world, and we are delighted to offer listeners access to our great music library."

"I am thrilled about the launch of 'Music Unlimited' here in

Japan

and also very

excited that now we can deliver more of Warner Music's Beautiful and POP

repertoires to music fans through a variety of devices," said Kei Ishizaka,

Representative Director, Chairman & CEO, Warner Music Japan Inc. "I strongly

believe that music subscription service which is rapidly growing in overseas, will

bring us another opportunity to expand digital business even more here in

Japan

."

Key Features of "Music Unlimited"

1. A variety of preset music channels

Users can enjoy 57 music channels categorized by genre, era, Premium

channels with various Top 100 channels, as well as mood ("Relax," "Morning,"

and more) based on SensMe™, Sony's proprietary 12 Tone Analysis

technology(x) to evaluate music tracks. Furthermore, users can use My Channel

to create artist-inspired channels to enjoy music from that artist and other

similar artists.

2. Personalization

By studying users' 'like/dislike' song ratings, "Music Unlimited" adapts to users'

music preferences to offer the most compatible and enjoyable songs from the

cloud. Therefore, the more users use the service, the more opportunities they

have to discover new songs and artists.

3. Synchronized music experience across all devices

Users can easily build their My Library and create playlists with their favorite

music which can be enjoyed across all compatible devices without the need to

transfer music files.

4. Offline playback

In addition to online streaming, users can also listen to their playlists and music

channels(xi) in subways or airplanes where they cannot access the network,

through offline playback(xii) on their PlayStation®Vita, Android™ smartphones

including Xperia™, and Android™ Walkman.

5. Music Sync

Furthermore, by scanning and matching their existing music files on their

personal computers with the "Music Unlimited" catalog through MusicSync™,

users' music and playlists from other media players including iTunes®

automatically appear in their "Music Unlimited" My Library for them to enjoy at

any time across all compatible devices.

About Sony Entertainment Network

"Sony Entertainment Network" is the ultimate destination for digital music,

movies, games, personal content and more. All through the convenience of a

single account, Sony Entertainment Network is a global comprehensive network

platform that allows users to enjoy Sony's first-party services including "Music

Unlimited," "Video Unlimited," "PlayMemories Online," and

PlayStation®Network services across a growing ecosystem of Sony and non-

Sony devices.

Omnifone, which provides its award-winning platform services to develop and

deliver the "Music Unlimited" service across a range of device platforms,

worked with Sony to license the service with music rights holders in

Japan

and

around the world.

Bravia®, Walkman®, VAIO®, "Sony Tablet," "Sony Entertainment

Network,""PlayMemories Online," the "Music Unlimited" logo are trademarks or

registered trademarks of Sony Corporation

PlayStation® is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

"Xperia" and "SenseMe™are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Mobile

Communications AB

Android™is a trademark of Google Inc.

Mac is a registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries

Blu-ray® is a registered trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association

Official "Sony Entertainment Network":

https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/

"Music Unlimited" service site: sony.jp/music-unlimited/

(i) As of July 2012. Catalog initially contains mainly international and some Japanese music

(ii) Details of 30 day free trial: https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/

Users must have a Sony Entertainment Network account and register a credit card to start their free 30 day trial.

(iii) Users must be in a network environment to stream music

(iv) 17 serviced markets in order of launch: UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, US, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark,

Finland, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan

(v) Android smartphones equipped with Android 2.1 and above

(vi) Android tablets equipped with Android 3.0 and above

(vii) Any web-connected PC equipped with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 running the latest Internet Explorer,

Firefox, Safari or Chrome browser; No software installation required

(viii) Mac equipped with OS 10.5 and above

(ix) Excluding HX80R and EX30R series models

(x) http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/technology/technology/theme/12tonealalysis_01.html

(xi) Music channels are available for offline playback only on PlayStation®Vita

(xii) Users are first required to cache playlist and channels in a network environment