INTRODUCTION

After a brief hiatus, we are reinstating our client newsletter to keep you apprised of Orchard news. As this is the first newsletter in awhile we have many notable items to tell you about – too many for one newsletter - therefore, we will split this rather large update into three weeks. First, here is a bit of industry news:

Recently, the United States Copyright Royalty Board accepted the position of the RIAA-associated SoundExchange royalty organization to escalate substantially the amount due Sound Recording Copyright Owners (SRCO) for webcasting music (for example, playing your music on online radio stations, having people listen to it via services like Pandora, etc.) On the face of it, the higher rates seem better for content owners, but after examining the matter we are concerned that the result could be diminished webcasts and fewer opportunities for independents to expose their music. Some leading internet radio advocates, including the Digital Media Association, have formed the SaveNetRadio Coalition to protect internet radio. We think there is great validity in their position; if you’d like to support the coalition, please sign the online petition at http://www.savenetradio.org/.

We will continue to follow this issue, advise you of progress, and make sure your rights are protected. Your Orchard Label Representative and the rest of your Orchard team appreciates any input you may have on this matter.

NEW STORES AND MOBILE PARTNERS

With a catalogue of over one million tracks from 73 countries, The Orchard has become the go-to place for digital music stores and mobile carriers around the world. We offer the industry’s deepest selection of independent music for full-track downloads, ringtones, and mastertones. We continue to sign new retail and mobile partners on a weekly basis.

HIP DIGITAL // US
Hip Digital Media Inc. is a leading business-to-business service provider specializing in the licensing and distribution of digital music. Their platform gives The Orchard the ability to deliver MP3 files for promotional purposes via branded websites and micro-sites that support pin code entry, custom play-lists, and instant music redemption. Hip Digital Media's client list includes Pepsi, Nissan, VISA, Ernst & Young, HMV, CORUS Entertainment, The Government of Canada and more.

OD2 // Europe
On Demand Distribution limited (OD2) is the #1 supplier across Europe of white label music platforms and business-to-business digital media distribution services. Co-founded in 1999 by Peter Gabriel, the company became a European subsidiary of Loudeye Corp. in 2004. OD2 provides digital media solutions, both white-label and custom, for downloading and streaming music services to PCs, mobile phones and set top boxes. OD2 has over 60 live services in over 20 territories and multiple languages across Europe and the rest of the world. Retail partners include MSN, MTV, Packard Bell Music Station, Tiscali Music Downloads, SonicSelector, Wanadoo Jukebox, i-m and many more.

ACQUAMEDIA // Spain
Acquamedia is the leading mobile content provider in Spain. Their unique "audiofingerprinting" technology allows them to recommend real tone downloads to their customers based on their musical preferences. The Barcelona based company is a preferred partner of Telefonica's Movistar service, a major mobile phone operator in many Latin countries, where they account for 70% of the total sales. This partnership has been key to expanding Acquamedia's "Todo Lo Último" ["All The Latest"] portals to Latin America, Europe, North Africa and Asia.

LAST.FM // UK
Founded in 2002 in London, Last.fm is the online, social music revolution that connects people with music and artists with listeners. By joining the Last.fm community, music fans can choose to share their music preferences by linking their media player to the Last.fm database. This database is populated continually with over 500 million monthly track submissions from Last.fm music fans. As a result, Last.fm can intelligently recommend songs, artists, local concerts and even other members based on their musical tastes.

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES // China
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (“Huawei”) enables mobile operators to offer their users a powerful and customized private-label digital music service based on location, demographic and customer segmentation. Huawei's mobile partners will draw from The Orchard’s diverse, global catalogue and savvy marketing team to program music to satisfy the needs of each customer segment. Huawei’s products and solutions are deployed in over 100 countries and serve 28 of the world’s top 50 operators, as well as over one billion users worldwide.

MUZAK // US
As the world’s leading provider of business music, Muzak creates experiences that reach more than 100 million people daily. Some of the biggest brands in business, from Aveda to Sur La Table to Boeing, work with Muzak to enhance their brand image in 400,000 client locations. More than 80 core programs and an endless variety of custom programs are distributed around the world. Muzak issues $35 million in royalties annually, as it promotes artists from its library of more than 2 million tracks.

ERICSSON // Sweden
Ericsson is a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and related services to mobile and fixed network operators globally. Over 1,000 networks in 140 countries utilize Ericsson's network equipment and 40 percent of all mobile calls are made through their systems.The Orchard’s catalog will be included in content offerings connected to Ericsson’s hosted white-label music service. Consumers can choose from an entire catalog of tracks and downloads available and pay for the chosen content via their mobile phone bill.

7DIGITAL // UK
7digital is the UK’s leading digital media delivery company, catering to record companies, artists, film and TV companies and other digital media owners by creating download stores that allow music, video, audiobooks, games, documents, streaming video on demand and much more.


AND MORE

MUSICIP // US	SLACKER // US	ALLMUSIC // US	BEATPORT // US	RAWRIP // US
Creator of products and services that employ unique music matching technology that evaluates acoustic traits and characteristics.	The world's first personal radio company enabling consumers to play highly personalized music everywhere.	The most comprehensive online music reference source on the planet.	The leading US digital store dedicated to electronic music.	Store in which artists set the price for their music, and earn direct royalties on every sale.

BUYGOODTUNES // US	TOP100.CN // China	QTRAX // US	BITTORRENT // US	TOUCHTUNES // US
Artist-controlled store that focuses on world music.	Pioneering legitimate digital music store and mobile service with the largest content offerings in China.	The world’s first ad-supported peer-to-peer (P2P) music network and a division of Brilliant Technologies Inc.	The world’s leading peer-assisted content delivery platform.	Offers music-on-demand products to the worldwide jukebox industry.

MOD SYSTEMS // US	PANDORA // UK	FRANCE TELECOM // France
The leading provider of in-store digital media solutions.	Custom built Internet Radio Stations born out the Music Genome Project.	The main telecommunication company in France.

SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF ORCHARD SUPPLIED DIGITAL STORES AND MOBILE PARTNERS

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE BILLBOARD LATIN MUSIC CONFERENCE & AWARDS: April 23-26, Miami, FL
http://www.billboardevents.com/billboardevents/latin/index.jsp
Now in its 18th year, The Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards will be attended by over 1000 sponsors, press and powerful music industry executives, and will feature showcase performances by over 20 artists, panel discussions on important industry issues, and much more. Orchard Product Manager Federico Baptista will speak on a panel titled "Latin Music And Digital Sales."

MUSIC MATTERS: THE ASIA PACIFIC MUSIC FORUM May 29-31, Hong Kong
http://www.musicmattersasia.com/
Music Matters is the only music and entertainment forum that brings together the industry's most innovative leaders to discuss opportunities and developing trends in the vibrant Asian music market. This event will be attended by Orchard Co-Founder and VP International Scott Cohen, Director Of Retail Marketing and Solutions Prashant Bahadur and Asian Regional Manager Daniel Cheung.

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