Mashboxx announced today the finalization of its first licensing deal with a major recording company, Sony BMG Entertainment.
The first of its kind, the agreement allows for SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT music to
be legally traded and purchased via searches performed on major existing file sharing
networks. Mashboxx will be recognized as the first - and only - desktop file sharing
application in the world authorized by a major content owner.
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT music will be available on Mashboxx at the retail price
of $.99 per track. Users, for the first time, will have the opportunity to preview
the entire track, for a limited number of plays, before deciding to purchase. The
Mashboxx application is expected to begin testing shortly and potential beta testers
are currently being enlisted at the Mashboxx web site, www.mashboxx.com.
"We're pleased to be working with Wayne and the Mashboxx team as they introduce their
new service with the aim of meeting the needs of music fans, while at the same time
protecting artists and their work," commented Andrew Lack, Chief Executive Officer,
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
According to Mashboxx CEO Wayne Rosso, " SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT has done the
heretofore unthinkable: embrace file sharing. And in so doing has displayed great
courage and foresight. We at Mashboxx are clearly overjoyed because this is a
watershed moment in the evolution of the digital music marketplace. We hope it will
be the harbinger of a brighter future for content owners, p2p technology and, of
course, users."
Negotiations are currently underway with other major and independent record labels
and will be announced upon completion.