EMI and Samsung agree exclusive content deal for Samsung UK Fun Club website

EMI Music UK and Samsung today continue their strategic alliance with a promotion that will see exclusive editorial and download content supplied direct to a newly created urban music channel within the Samsung UK Fun Club (SFC) website, www.samsungmobile.co.uk

The ‘Urban Music Zone' microsite will include an exclusive selection of content from superstar artists such as Joss Stone, Jamelia, Kelis and N*E*R*D, plus behind the scenes movie of BritAsian star Jay Sean and performance footage of Kevin Mark Trail at the legendary Abbey Road studios. EMI Music UK's digital content team will also provide the latest artist news and updates on the UK Hip Hop and RnB music scene and regular opportunities to win merchandise.

"The ‘Urban Music Zone' delivers an influx of official music, premium video, news and features direct from artist to consumer,' explains Danny Van Emden, Digital Media Director at EMI Music UK. "Not only will this help Samsung to reinvent its SFC site as a true community, in doing so, it provides Samsung's customers with a great reason to visit the site again.'



The provision of official content on the SFC website is an effective way of adding value to Samsung's customers and increasing interactivity, as Imogen O'Rorke, Content Manager at Samsung, explains, "The Music Zone content offers a level of specialism and exclusivity which our users, who are huge urban music fans, are looking for. As the content is endorsed by artists, it also offers consumers a direct online source of up to the minute information on what is hot in the urban music scene.'

Launching simultaneously on the SFC site is the ‘Artist Exclusive' section within the premium content channel that will offer an array of downloadable realtones from a wide range of artists, from current chart stars such as Jamelia to all-time greats such as the Beach Boys and Duran Duran, plus a classical selection.

Samsung mobile phone owners who are members of the Samsung Fun Club will have access to the new download content, while the editorial content is accessible to all who visit the Samsung mobile website. Alternatively, Samsung mobile phone owners can directly access the ‘Urban Music Zone' by pressing the blue ‘i' button on their phones, which will take them to the Samsung WAP site where they can log in.

The Urban Music Zone will be promoted with a consumer PR campaign, marketing to the urban database of EMI Music UK's aggregate site, www.the-raft.com, Samsung's own database and FHM.com subscribers.
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Editor's notes
About EMI Music – Digital Media Division
EMI Music was the first major record company to establish a dedicated Digital Media division in 1998. The division, headed up by Danny Van Emden, the Digital Media Director, is responsible for the digital activity of EMI Music UK and Ireland and its individual music labels. In addition, each of EMI Music's record labels - EMI Records, Innocent, Parlophone, Virgin and the catalogue division - has a Digital Media Manager responsible for developing artist specific new media opportunities, promotions and web presence.

The Digital Media division develops many of the company's digital cross-marketing and artist promotions; providing exclusive content; managing data capture and eCRM systems; and monetising EMI Music's assets across the digital media. The division is also responsible for the EMI Music aggregate site, www.the-raft.com, which has been running for 11 years and won multiple awards.

With in house skills in journalism, programming, photography, SEO and design, the team are able to generate the right mix of copywriting and creativity to exploit a range of commercial opportunities. Working with EMI's Commercial Digital team, Digital Media has worked with retail, brand, online and mobile organisations. This year alone, the division has agreed a number of crucial deals with high profile partners including The Carphone Warehouse, OD2, i-Tunes, mycokemusic, Napster, Orange and Vodafone Live.

Websites developed for well-known artists include Kylie.com, Kelis.co.uk, thethrills.com, nerduk.com, thedivinecomedy.com, doves.net and jamelia.com. The team is also responsible for creating artists' web shops, selling physical products and exclusive merchandise, as well as developing mobile shops and download platforms.

EMI Music UK is part of The EMI Group, one of the largest music companies in the world and listed on the London Stock Exchange.
www.emimusic.co.uk

Contact:
Anna Vickerstaff
immediate future Ltd.
0845 408 2031
pressoffice@immediatefuture.co.uk


For more information about Samsung Fun Club, please contact:

Ronke Ige
Account Manager
Shine Communications
101 Goswell Road, London EC1V 7ER
Tel: 0207 553 3333 Fax: 0207 553 3330
Website: www.shinecom.com