It supports MusicMatch Jukebox and RealNetworks' Real Jukebox. Meanwhile, V2 Records, the spin-off label created by Richard Branson after the sale of the Virgin record label, is to supply Tornado Group with its roster of artists, including Moby, Tom Jones and The Stereophonics. At the same time, Swedish telecomms firm Ericsson has inked a deal with DX3, backed by venture capital firm New Media Spark and music publishing giant EMI, to hook up stereo systems to the internet. It allows users to plug an MP3 player with internet connectivity into their stereo. The listener can than play any of 50-100 MP3s featuring artists from record labels supporting the new system.
Trials begin next month in Sweden.
Joshua Duhl, an analyst with IDC, said IBM's technology was worth considering by record labels. There has been significant positioning in the record industry since the Napster MP3 file-sharing system exploded onto the scene last year. In the firm's first 18 months, a claimed 38 million users worldwide subscribed to Napster. BMG had previously said in May 2000 that it would use IBM's Electronic Media Management System, and yesterday said it would work with IBM to explore incorporating its superdistribution technology.