18th Mar 2008 08:00
Vodafone Group Plc18 March 2008 18 March 2008 VODAFONE, WARNER MUSIC INTERNATIONAL AND MADONNA ANOUNCE GLOBAL MOBILE LAUNCH OF "HARD CANDY" IN NEW DEAL Mobile premiere of selected album tracks and exclusive, associated content for Vodafone customers Vodafone, the world's largest mobile operator by revenue, and Warner MusicInternational (WMI) have completed an agreement allowing new music and mobilecontent from Madonna's highly anticipated new "Hard Candy" album to bedistributed and promoted exclusively to Vodafone customers around the world,prior to the April 28th global release of Madonna's 11th studio album for WarnerBros. Records. Starting on April 21st, a total of seven tracks from "Hard Candy", with songs bythe multi-platinum, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and video visionary, willbe released at a rate of one a day counting down the week before the album isavailable. Each track will remain live for 24 hours for download before beingreplaced by the next one. In addition, Vodafone customers in selected markets including Spain, Portugal,Germany and Belgium will get exclusive mobile access to the newly releasedsingle "4 Minutes", effective immediately. As part of this unique music experience, Vodafone customers in all participatingterritories will have access to Madonna's mini site on Vodafone live! which willinclude one week of exclusive, associated mobile content, including ringtones,ringback tones and SMS tones. "As the number one digital music service provider in the mobiletelecommunications industry in Europe, Vodafone has revolutionised the waypeople experience music on their mobiles and the collaboration with Warner Musicbuilds on this heritage," said Frank Rovekamp, Global Chief Marketing Officer,Vodafone Group. "Through our unique insight into what our customers want and howthey prefer to listen to music this is yet another example of deliveringsuperior music experience to customers." John Reid, Vice Chairman WMI and President, Warner Music Europe, said, "We aredelighted to be able to debut such a rich menu of content from 'Hard Candy'through Vodafone live! This is an innovative way to reach millions of Madonnafans around the world, building anticipation and excitement around this landmarkrelease and helping to create a real event for Vodafone customers." Vodafone is the number one digital music service provider in the mobiletelecommunications industry in Europe and number two digital music serviceprovider overall in Europe. Leading the mobile music industry the company usesmusic to build the Vodafone brand and awareness of products and services acrossits 250 million+ customer base globally. Madonna, the multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, culturalicon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children's book author,director and documentary film maker has sold over 200 million albums in thecourse of her unprecedented two decade plus career and has just been inductedinto the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. - ends - For Further Information Vodafone Group Media Relations+44 1635 664444 About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group withover 252 million proportionate customers as at 31st December 2007. Vodafonecurrently has equity interests in 25 countries across five continents and afurther 40 partner networks worldwide. For more information, please visitwww.vodafone.com About Warner Music International: Warner Music International (WMI) is Warner Music Group's global (ex-U.S.)recorded music division that markets and distributes WMG's world-class roster ofU.S. and international recording artists through a network of affiliates andlicensees in more than 50 countries. With a commitment to developing localtalent as well as marketing international superstars, WMI leverages itsexpertise in each region around the world to attract and cultivate a diverseinternational artist roster. WMG is a pioneer in delivering music content in newand exciting ways, with a track record of 'firsts' in the digital space. Contact for Madonna: Liz Rosenberg, Warner Bros. Records, [email protected]; +1 212-707-3256. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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