Electronic Arts Creates New Digitally-Distributed Music Label

Officials from Electronic Arts have announced that the company has teamed with Canadian record label Nettwerk Music Group to launch a new digital music distribution label named EA Recordings. The label will be used to deliver music clips from the publisher's various games as ringtones, mastertones or .MP3 format downloads. Despite not being renowned for its all-original in-game soundtracks, but with a reliance on the song-based EA Trax program of licensed music which may make compilation albums a natural step, Electronic Arts is the first publisher to sell its catalogue of music in digital download format, with the .MP3 versions being made available via iTunes, MSN, Yahoo Music, AOL Music, Rhapsody and other online download destinations. EA Recordings is intended to complement Next Level Music, the company’s joint venture with Cherry Lane Music Publishing which is used to sign artists and license EA music to TV, movies and commercials – with the agreement with Nettwerk focusing on direct-to-consumer online music sales. Electronic Arts now has over 3,000 minutes of wholly-owned musical compositions, include tracks from composers such as Sean Callery and Michael Giacchino, artists including Da Riffs and Just Blaze and remixes by Paul Oakenfold. By the end of the year the company expects to have tracks available from franchise including Medal of Honor, The Sims, NBA Live, NASCAR Racing and Command & Conquer. "Audiences today are media masters – they listen, play, download, watch and basically devour their entertainment in revolutionary new ways. They demand that the technology keep pace. This deal is a triumphant new commitment to making classic EA music and themes available to millions worldwide," said Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music and music marketing at EA. "We are proud to be on the cutting-edge of this trend with Nettwerk - an innovative and proven partner that is a world leader in digital music distribution."