Shakira and Verizon Wireless Define Mobile Music by Getting New Single to Fans in Days
12 March 2006
Verizon Wireless and the company's V CAST Music service continue to make mobile music history with the simultaneous world premiere of the full-length song, music video, ring tone, ring back tone, wallpaper and behind-the-scenes footage of the video shoot for "Hips Don't Lie," the song that marks the unique collaboration of global artists Shakira and Wyclef Jean. Available today on V CAST Music-enabled phones, the "Hips Don't Lie" single and other content are available for purchase exclusively on V CAST -- two months prior to being sold at any Web retailer, music store or other music distribution channel. The single will be available on the upcoming re-release of Shakira's album Oral Fixation Vol. 2. Verizon Wireless will also feature the artists in footage from the "Hips Don't Lie" music video in a national television commercial that breaks this week.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060310/NYF056 )
Starting today, Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music customers can select a variety of ways to discover and enjoy the single and take an active role in determining the programming of "Hips Don't Lie" -- before the song debuts on television or cable. Fans can take on the role of radio DJ by playing the ring back tone, they can then "perform" the song as a ring tone for friends in a coffee shop and they can play the role of video DJ or television programmer by playing the music video on their phones wherever and whenever they choose. Shakira and Wyclef Jean selected Verizon Wireless as their distributor of choice to deliver their music first by recognizing the opportunity to capitalize on the immediacy of V CAST Music to reduce time to market by getting their song and video to their fans in record time through their fans' mobile phones.
"As an artist, I am always looking for new creative mediums," said Shakira. "The V CAST service gives me a unique platform to offer different musical expressions which fans can access instantaneously through their cell phone."
"Verizon Wireless through their V CAST service is really at the forefront of the music-mobile matrix. They have been a partner in effectively launching two new Shakira albums in two languages this year," said Ceci Kurzman, Shakira's manager. "Their mixed media offerings allow us to have a completely integrated business model that supports all the forms of music we can offer."
John Harrobin, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless, said, "We are proud that V CAST Music gives customers what they want -- a single place to enjoy one song in many ways. Enabling fans to enjoy and personalize their favorite song in a myriad of different ways provides a compelling value proposition not only for consumers, but for artists and the music industry in a significantly more powerful way than has ever been done with a single song download alone."
V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless gives customers access to songs from Shakira, the Fugees and many other top artists, and lets them play music on their wireless phones -- the same device they have come to rely upon for entertainment, information and mobile communication. V CAST Music lets customers browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music from their phones or online in the Verizon Wireless V CAST Music Store. V CAST Music songs cost $0.99 if purchased from the PC or $1.99 if purchased and downloaded over the air onto a V CAST Music-enabled phone. In addition to the immediacy of over-the-air or PC-based full-music downloads, music lovers have the ability to copy their digital music collection from a Windows XP PC to their V CAST Music phone. For more information, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/music.
V CAST Music runs on Verizon Wireless' broadband network, available to about 150 million people from coast to coast. V CAST Music is available through Verizon Wireless' 2,000 Communications Stores and Circuit City locations and online at http://www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
Source: prnewswire
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