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EMI teams with Microsoft as it 'goes digital'

20 January 2006

In an attempt to meet the demands of an ever more digital world, music giant EMI has opted to use Microsoft technology to develop a digital content plaform as part of its Digitising EMI programme.

Through this programme EMI expects to achieve greater efficiency; optimise its distribution in an increasingly digital world; maximise its marketing capabilities; and become more flexible, fast-moving and responsive to the needs of consumers, artists and business partners. Microsoft and EMI have been working together for two years under a global enterprise agreement.

According to a report published this week by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, global sales of music via the internet and mobile phones proliferated in 2005, generating sales of $1.1 billion ( US ) for record companies a threefold increase from 2004. With digital music now being such an important driver of growth, EMIs relationship with Microsoft will play a key role in allowing the company to address the new challenges and added complexity of the digital era.

EMI Musics technology change programme, which is being rolled out across all 50 countries in which the company operates, will help ensure that the company remains at the forefront of the digital music revolution. The programme will provide revenue benefits and cost savings for the company by Web-enabling key back-office, marketing and other processes and allowing EMI to take an industry-leading approach to the new digital music environment.

It is also designed to improve EMIs ability to respond more quickly to meeting consumer and customer demand for innovative music products and services anywhere in the world.

Microsoft technologies will also enable EMI to move music quickly and more securely, facilitate faster information flow, and aid in the development of artists across its global business borders.

EMI has further improved its ability to conduct real-time sales and profitability analysis, as well as its approach to procurement around marketing and promotions, thanks largely to Microsoft technologies. Providing immediate access to relevant, real-time information means EMI will be able to further improve its development and marketing of internationally renowned artists such as Coldplay, Faith Evans, Gorillaz, Norah Jones, KT Tunstall and Robbie Williams anywhere in the world.

EMI is focused on the long-term development and marketing of artists globally, capitalising on the emerging digital marketplace, adding value for consumers and our partners whilst also combating music piracy. This technology change programme will help us achieve these goals in a cost-effective and efficient manner, says James Anderson, chief information officer for EMI Music. We decided to partner with Microsoft because its technology offers flexibility and simplicity, while its vision of how the technology landscape will evolve will help us future-proof our business.