SHANGHAI, China (Shanda
Interactive Entertainment Limited/ www.snda.com) - Shanda
Interactive Entertainment Limited, the largest operator of online games in China, today announced a strategic partnership with Universal Music, the world's leading music company. Pursuant to a memorandum of understanding, Shanda will have access to Universal Music's online music repertoire, which will be offered to Shanda's millions of users through streaming and, in the future, on a downloadable basis over Shanda's interactive entertainment portal at https://www.poptang.com , as well as within the game operation platform.
Additionally, Universal
Music will provide music, artist-related information and news materials to be offered on Shanda's platform.
The strategic partnership between Shanda and Universal Music signifies pioneering steps for the two entertainment leaders, as Shanda will extend its interactive entertainment content offerings into the music arena for the first time. It also will mark Universal Music's first online music offering in the China market.
The alliance service is expected to be launched in June 2005 and users will be able to easily and legitimately access the best of Chinese-language songs by Universal Music's artists via an interactive song-streaming channel operated by Shanda. The services may be combined with Shanda's other offerings, including online games, as users may select song streaming as background music for game playing. Users may also select and dedicate songs to one another through the online game community. The music will be offered through a variety of alternatives, including a la carte selection, monthly subscription or bundled purchases. Users will be able to pay for this additional service conveniently by using Shanda's established payment and distribution system that covers over 300,000 retail points throughout China.
Harry Hui, President of Universal Music South East Asia, said, ''What's hot in China right now is online games, the Internet and mobile technology. With the consumption of music heading towards the digital, mobile and personal, we're making sure that music plays an active part of all the exciting experiences for Chinese youths today. Shanda, as the most successful interactive entertainment platform in China, makes an ideal partner for us.''
'This Digital music offering is another important addition to Shanda as we envision building a broad portfolio of interactive entertainment content offerings delivered through our operational platform to millions of users, including an increasing number of home users,' said Tianqiao Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Shanda.
'We are excited about launching our music services with Universal Music, the leading music company, through this partnership.'
