Sony today announced the launch of "Music Unlimited powered by
Qriocity," a new, cloud-based, digital music service, in a bid to
boost sales of its consumer electronics and break Apple's dominance
of the online music business.
The service gives music lovers access to songs from major labels
including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner
Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and
major publishers worldwide. The "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity"
catalogue will initially offer about six million songs and will
continue to expand over time, Sony said.
Through "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity," users can play music
any time on a wide variety of Internet-connected Sony devices
including Sony's 2010 models of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray
Disc player, Blu-ray Disc Home Theater system, PlayStation 3 computer
entertainment system as well as VAIO and other personal computers. It
will also become available on a wide range of Sony's portable
devices, as well as on Android-based mobile devices and other
portable devices.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is initially available in the
U.K. and Ireland with service availability in Australia, Canada,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and U.S. to be announced
in due course during 2011.
"Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" is the next extension of
services 'powered by Qriocity.' Sony debuted "Video On Demand powered
by Qriocity," a premium video streaming service, in the U.S. in April
2010 and expanded the service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and
the U.K. in November 2010. Through "Video on Demand powered by
Qriocity" users can instantly rent from a growing library of
thousands of Hollywood blockbuster movies across Sony's 2010 models
of network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray Disc player and Blu-ray Disc
Home Theater system.
"As we continue to expand Qriocity globally, these services 'powered
by Qriocity' offer a single ID log-in and wallet solution, and
empower users to easily consume content including music and video
across a growing number of integrated devices," said Kazuo Hirai,
President of Networked Products & Services Group, Sony Corporation.
"Seamless accessibility to content through these fresh user
experiences will enrich Sony's network service offerings and
continually add value to the unique aspects of Sony's network-enabled
products."
Sony has developed "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" in
partnership with Omnifone, a provider of cloud-based unlimited music
services, with Omnifone contracted by Sony to coordinate content
licensing as well as development and delivery of the service,
leveraging its existing expertise in the music industry.
With Basic (£s;3.99 in the U.K. and 3.99 Euros in Ireland) and
Premium (£s;9.99 in the U.K. and 9.99 Euros in Ireland) monthly
subscription plans, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" offers
breadth of content and easy music discovery, features cited as most
important by music enthusiasts.
Unlike many other popular music services, the basic plan permits
unlimited forward skipping of the songs to ensure users discover
music they want to hear. With access to an expanding catalogue of
about six million songs, the basic plan works as an infinite ad-free
radio station and subscribers can listen to dozens of personalized
channels - categorized by genre, era as well as mood through SensMe
- without the requirement to download or manage their music files.
Additionally, the premium subscription plan offers a one time 30 day
Premium free trial enabling users to listen in full to every song on
demand, create personal playlists of favorites, and gain access to
premium Top 100 channels which are regularly updated with the latest
hits.
By studying users' listening habits, incorporating their
'like/dislike' song ratings, analyzing their existing music
collections and more, "Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity" adapts to
users' music preferences and constantly tailors music channels to
offer the most compatible and enjoyable list of songs.
Furthermore, users can also synchronize their existing music files
and playlists from other media players including iTunes into "Music
Unlimited powered by Qriocity," and enjoy their existing music at any
time across all compatible devices.