DREAM MUSICIAN AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC SPECIAL MARKETS TO LET MUSICIANS JOIN THE BAND BY OFFERING DIGITAL DOWNLOADS OF INDIVIDUAL ORIGINAL MASTER TRACKS OF HIT SONGS
SANTA MONICA, CA, May 30, 2006–Thanks to a new download service called Dream Musician, musicians will soon be able to play along with the instrumental tracks of classic hit songs. Universal Music Special Markets, a unit of Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company, has teamed up with Dream Musician to make available for the first time for digital downloading the individual instrumental tracks from the original masters of approximately 50 songs from artists such as Marvin Gaye, Rick James, Tears for Fears, Jackson 5, and Elton John.
Musicians will be able to download from www.dreammusician.com the entire song missing one particular instrument (e.g., drums, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar or keyboards). For instance, a guitarist might download the song without the guitar track. In a sense, the musician can then join the band by adding their own style to their favorite song, fulfilling their dream of playing with the stars as well as being able to hone their own skills. Consumers will also be able to download particular instrumental tracks from an original recording.
Said Kathy Hale, Sr. VP, Universal Music Special Markets: "Dream Musician has developed a unique, creative and commercial use for downloads. Exploring such avenues is vital for us to sustain the popularity and sales of previously released songs and their artists. Through this new opportunity we can reach new generations by involving them in the experience of making music and hopefully we can inspire them in their music education and enjoyment."
PuretracksTM will deliver all content in DRM protected WMA (Windows Media Format) files. A portion of the proceeds generated by Dream Musician will directly fund organizations that promote and lobby for increased music education throughout the country.
Universal Music Special Markets Universal Music Special Markets, a division of Universal Music Enterprises, is responsible for maximizing catalog repertoire opportunities through non-traditional, alternative and ancillary channels as well as audio licensing, premium/custom sales and budget releases.
UMe represents the largest catalog in the U.S. of recorded music with recordings from the world's greatest artists. Among the legendary artists are ABBA, Aerosmith, Louis Armstrong, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Carpenters, Eric Clapton, Patsy Cline, John Coltrane, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Four Tops, Judy Garland, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, Buddy Holly, Jackson 5, The Mamas & The Papas, Bob Marley, Bill Monroe, Van Morrison, Nirvana, The Police, Smokey Robinson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, The Supremes, The Temptations, Conway Twitty, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, and The Who.
UMe is a division of Universal Music Group.
About Universal Music Group Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 75 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Universal Music Mobile.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.
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