MUMBAI: Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), the sales and marketing division of Universal Music Group, has entered into a strategic alliance with TuneCore, a leading digital music distribution company. The announcement was recently made by UMGD President and CEO Jim Urie and TuneCore Founder & CEO Jeff Price.
TuneCore is a low, flat fee service that distributes music to iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody and many other major download and streaming sites while taking no rights and no revenue from the sale of the music. Artists are building careers, selling significant volumes of music and generating revenue through TuneCore. Since its launch in 2006, TuneCore has distributed tens of thousands of albums and millions of songs to iTunes and other digital stores by Grammy winners and unsigned artists alike.
Our agreement with TuneCore highlights UMGD’s commitment to a strong sales philosophy and long-term artist development,… stated Urie. UMGD is uniquely positioned to provide the most flexible and comprehensive digital and physical distribution, sales and marketing services in the industry, all of which results in more profitable opportunities for both our labels and our artists….
As part of this agreement, TuneCore will provide and host distribution portals for UMG’s labels as well as partner labels and artists. Further, as an artist’s career grows, they may benefit from having a number of artist-discovery, marketing and upstreaming opportunities within the UMGD system.
TuneCore artists include Drake, Beck, Jay-Z, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards, Public Enemy, Nine Inch Nails, Ricky Skaggs, Paul Westerberg, MGM Studios, Warren G, Bjork, Moby, High School Musical cast members, Ali Lohan, Cirque Du Soleil and Starbucks
This partnership further expands UMG’s growing portfolio of strategic media alliances, while enhancing the services and opportunities that UMGD provides partner labels and artists. UMGD will also provide TuneCore’s customers with a comprehensive menu of artist services, including licensing opportunities and professional audio mastering. Additionally, Guitar Center, also a TuneCore investor and strategic partner, will provide to UMGD access to its entire chain of over 200 stores nationwide as a non-traditional retail channel for the sale of physical product which includes select TuneCore artist titles.
Honestly, Universal is one of the most forward thinking record labels on the planet,… said Price. With this deal UMGD has truly changed the rules and the major label model by providing true choice for a musician. If an artist is doing well, there is a direct line through which UMGD can extend its hand or, via the existing TuneCore model, the artist can choose to continue to succeed on their own. It is the continuation of the shift to serve the musician….
TuneCore currently distributes between 150 – 250 release a day (more music is released in one day via TuneCore than any major record label over a year) and recently expanded its offering to distribute full-length films, TV shows, live concerts, documentaries to iTunes and more.