Electronic Arts has announced that it is collaborating with Nettwerk Music Group to launch "EA Recordings", a digital music distribution label, which will offer EA's catalogue of wholly-owned musical compositions and remixes to Digital Service Providers (DSPs) across the globe.
With this move, EA has become the first interactive entertainment company to sell its catalogue of music in digital download format, through exclusive partnership with a leading music group.
The initiative will deliver music clips from popular EA games as mastertones, ringtones or in .mp3 format, to download destinations including Rhapsody, AOL Music, Yahoo Music, MSN, Apple iTunes, etc.
The EA-Nettwerk deal follows in the footsteps of "Next Level Music", EA's joint venture with Cherry Lane Music Publishing. While "Next Level Music" focuses on signing artists and licensing EA music to movies, TV and commercials; the agreement with Nettwerk is all about direct-to-consumer online music sales.
In the last 20 years, EA has accumulated over 3,000 minutes of wholly-owned musical compositions, which have been featured in blockbuster game franchises such as "The Sims" and "Medal of Honor" plus sports games like "NASCAR racing" and "NBA LIVE basketball".
The new service will be regularly updated with new releases and back-catalogue favorites.