RNWK--RealNetworks Joins With Virgin Records to Release Enhanced Multimedia Version of New Spice Girls Album
CD of 'Forever' Features two Streaming Videos Available Only Through RealPlayer, Gives Spice Girls Fans in North and South America Broadband Video Experience - With no Internet Connection Required
SEATTLE, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK - news), the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet, today announced that it has joined with Virgin Records America to include RealPlayer® in the release of the enhanced CD of the much-anticipated new Spice Girls album ``Forever.'' The enhanced CD will feature streaming videos, viewable exclusively through the RealPlayer, of the new hits ``Holler'' and ``Let Love Lead The Way.'' ``Forever'' will be released globally on November 7, and the enhanced CD will be available for sale that same day in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico and Venezuela.
The video for ``Holler'' is already one of the top requested videos the Box Video Network in the United States for the last month, prior to its release stateside. Both Spice Girls videos were encoded in RealVideo® 8, the breakthrough streaming media technology that shatters the Internet video barrier, allowing fans to experience broadband video off of the enhanced CD without requiring a broadband connection.
``We at Virgin Records are always experimenting with new ways for fans to experience the music they love, and that's why we teamed up with RealNetworks to create this exciting new CD,'' said Ty Braswell, vice president of new media, Virgin Records. ``By incorporating RealVideo 8 onto a traditional audio CD, we can whet the appetite of our fans for even more broadband content.''
``The Spice Girls, with their great sound, good looks and worldwide reach, are a natural fit for the global consumers of RealPlayer, and we knew that our technology could help the Spice Girls give a special gift to their fans,'' said Mark Hall, vice president of media publishing, RealNetworks, Inc. ``This is a win-win for both of our companies, and for anyone who loves the Spice Girls.''
To access the enhanced portion of the specially-marked Spice Girls CD, users place the music CD into the CD-ROM drive of their computer. If the user does not already have the RealPlayer, the enhanced CD will install it for them. The user will be then able to enjoy the two exclusive videos at broadband quality, without even having to connect to the Internet. In addition, the enhanced CD features links to the official Spice Girls website virginrecords.com, the Real.com(TM) Guide to Music realguide.real.com, and the Virgin Records website virginrecords.com.
About Virgin Records America
Virgin began in the early 1970s as a small, independent label based in London. By 1986 Virgin had grown dramatically, and brought its innovative approach to U.S. soil. Today, Virgin Records America and its London-based parent company Virgin Music Group Worldwide are part of the EMI, the world's third largest music company. In America, Virgin is distributed by EMI Music Distribution (EMD), and the label's offerings span virtually all contemporary musical genres -- including modern rock, R&B, pop, hip hop, rap, blues, country, film soundtracks, compilations and contemporary instrumentals. The array of artists on Virgin's roster includes: The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ben Harper, Massive Attack, A Perfect Circle, John Lee Hooker, Placebo, Lenny Kravitz, Cracker, Gang Starr, Chemical Brothers, Spice Girls, Tina Turner, Yanni, D'Angelo, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk, Van Morrison and Beenie Man. The company also boasts strategic alliances with an eclectic array of labels, including Blackground, Luaka Bop, Immortal and I AM Recordings, among others. 25 years after its humble beginnings, Virgin remains devoted to seeking and embracing artists who possess the talent, vision and passion to create something new and different.
About RealNetworks
RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software on the Internet at real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate information is located on the Internet at realnetworks.com.
NOTE: RealNetworks, RealPlayer, RealVideo and Real.com are trademarks or registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
