Press Releases

03.04.05  Sony*BMG Music Entertainment Accelerates Release Of Content Enhanced And Protected CDs

Sony*BMG Music Entertainment has announced that it will employ content enhanced protection on an increasing number of its U.S. releases during 2005, beginning with upcoming titles such as The Chieftains, “Live From Dublin” (February 22); “Kasabian,” (March 8); and “Susie Suh,’ (March 29); with others to follow.  By year’s end, the company expects that a substantial number of its releases within the United States will feature content enhancement and protection.

Sony*BMG's forthcoming slate of enhanced and protected CDs builds on the company’s U.S. and international successes in this area, including the June 2004 release of Velvet Revolver’s Contraband, which debuted at number one and went on to achieve Platinum status. In all, the company has shipped more than 5.5 million content-enhanced and protected discs, with extremely positive consumer reactions.

“The consumer experience is a top priority for Sony*BMG, and we are deeply committed to providing music fans maximum levels of flexibility in terms of how they listen to their music,” commented Jordan Katz, Co-President, Sony*BMG Sales Enterprise. “As a result, Sony*BMG content enhanced and protected CDs play on the full range of devices including CD players, DVD players, car stereos, boom boxes, PCs, Macs, Walkman’s and game consoles. Consumers can also move files from the computer to a secure portable device, and make a limited number of back up copies of the disc for their own use. In short, these releases will provide consumers with a full slate of attractive options, while at the same time protecting the rights of artists and copyright holders.”

“There is no question that digital piracy caused by the unauthorized copying and redistribution of music continues to have a negative impact on the music industry,” commented Thomas Hesse, President, Global Digital Business, Sony*BMG Music Entertainment. “However, we’re convinced that the best way to fight piracy is to offer consumers highly attractive alternatives that meet the demand for portability, versatility and greater value. We’re happy to be moving forward with an ambitious schedule of enhanced and content protected releases that do exactly that.”
 
Sony*BMG content-enhanced and protected discs will employ two technologies that specifically address piracy concerns while at the same time enabling consumers to enjoy music in the many new ways they have come to expect — Sunncomm’s newly enhanced MediaMax, and First4Internet's XCP.
 
Both the Sunncomm and First4Internet technologies are consumer friendly, and feature the latest innovations in content enhancement and protection. In both cases, all discs are standard CDs, meaning that they are fully compliant with the Sony/Philips CD specifications, and are playable on nearly all audio devices. In addition, both technologies incorporate an enhanced “second session” which facilitates the playback of music through computers.
 
The enhanced discs also feature a user friendly interface that offers the consumer the ability to easily transfer the music to their PC and burn personal copies of the CD, browse images, link to artist sites, and, in many cases, access bonus content. Sony*BMG has conducted extensive research indicating that consumers’ experiences with the company’s copy-protected releases have been overwhelmingly positive. Sony*BMG content-enhanced and protected recordings will be clearly labeled on the front, and include information on the reverse side listing the features of the discs, as well as information on compatible portable devices, system requirements for each, and where to go for help.