RioPort.com and the MTVi Group have announced that they will offer paid music downloads from all five major music labels on Radio MTV.com and VH1atWork Radio beginning this month. Leveraging RioPort’s PulseOne Media Service, Radio MTV.com, (which officially launches today) and VH1atWork Radio will be the first online destinations to link Internet radio with commercial downloads for consumer use. Through its partnership with RioPort, Radio MTV and VH1atWork Radio, both of which are DMCA-compliant, will be the first Internet radio destinations to offer listeners a blend of streaming and downloadable music in addition to providing features that allow consumers to legally purchase those works.
RioPort, which serves as content aggregator, software application, and technology provider for major online and consumer sites, is the first to form agreements with all five major labels for commercial digital distribution of their catalogs. RioPort will start offering consumer downloads from BMG Entertainment, EMI, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group to its online retail network, starting with Radio MTV.com and VH1atWork Radio. In coming months the offering is expected to be added to other sites, such as Country.com.
Jim Long, president and CEO of RioPort said in a company announcement, “The two most critical factors in developing the digital music market are the availability of significant amounts of top tier content and creating a simple, secure consumer experience. Today, we are thrilled to announce both the availability through RioPort of downloads from all five major record labels and the integration of these popular tracks with a ground-breaking consumer service, Radio MTV and VH1atWork Radio. This exciting development shows that the music industry is moving forward to support compelling Internet music offerings.”
In addition to providing downloadable music, RioPort’s PulseOne Media Service will power Radio MTV and VH1atWork Radio’s digital rights management and ecommerce systems, as well as all of the related functions and services necessary to create a simple, secure experience for consumers in finding, purchasing, and managing digital music.
