Loudeye powers its first Music Download Store in South Africa

SEATTLE, WA. (Loudeye Corp./ www.loudeye.com) - Loudeye Corp, a worldwide leader in business-to-business digital media solutions, today announced the expansion of its OD2 services into South Africa through the launch of a music store for leading retailer Musica. The music store, which will be available at https://www.musica.co.za, marks the first digital music download store powered by Loudeye's OD2 services in South Africa, and the 20th country where Loudeye provides digital music services.

The deal allows Musica to enhance its online presence through the addition of a custom-branded digital music store to its existing online retail Website. The site will be updated with new releases, allowing consumers to access the most contemporary music available. Musica is also planning to focus on local talent by working with local record companies to educate them about the benefits of legal digitized music as a means to generate extra revenue and promote their brand to a wider audience.
"The international download market is growing apace and as South Africa's largest retailer, Musica had to be the first to offer a download service here," said Colin Robb, Musica MD. "Our customers would expect us to offer the service and, as they already know and trust our brand, we're confident that they'll feel safe and comfortable buying music online through the Musica website."

"This is an exciting new territory for OD2 to be moving into, especially as there is no current digital music supplier in the country," said Philip Shepherd, OD2's business development manager.
"It was an obvious choice to collaborate with Musica as they are the largest music retailer in South Africa and the ideal partner for educating the market about the benefits of digital music."