Sonific has added 125,000 new songs to its library so that SongSpot widget users can choose from 200.000 licensed tracks to easily generate the code for a music player and paste it into their pages or blogs to stream the song free. Sonific's goal is to take music widgets to the next level by making songs available to all users on all platforms, anywhere.
The newly expanded catalog now includes the works of over 41.000 record labels and artists, and over 65.000 albums. The new additions come from a myriad of licensing deals including IRIS, IODA, DRA/DMGI, CDBaby, Big Fish, Cooking Vinyl, Uploader, Nettwerk, and V2 Records. (press release after the jump)
Music widget firm Sonific adds 125.000 songs; major name artists now available to use with free 'SongSpots' widget for blogs, social networks and Web2.0 applications
San Francisco, California, June 26, 2007
Sonific LLC, a leading provider of licensed music applications and widgets to social media platforms, blogs and online communities, today announced the addition of 125.000 new songs.
Sonific's users can select any song from its library of over 200.000 fully licensed tracks, generate the code for an embeddable music player – a widget called a 'SongSpot' - adapt it for the desired destination site, and then copy & paste the code into their pages to instantly create a music player that will stream the entire song, for free. Similar 'add music to your profile' functionalities have been offered by various social networks, now, Sonific is taking music widgets to the next level by making all songs available to all users on all platforms, anywhere, and not just for on-portal use.
The newly expanded catalog now includes the works of over 41.000 record labels and artists, and over 65.000 albums. The new additions are due to a myriad of licensing deals that Sonific has recently inked with partners such as IRIS, IODA, DRA / DMGI, CDBaby, Big Fish Media, Cooking Vinyl Records, Uploader, Nettwerk Music Group, and V2 Records.
From Nettwerk Music Group come The Submarines, The Barenaked Ladies, Leigh Nash and Josh Rouse. Via Independent Online Distribution Alliance (IODA), Sonific has sourced the works of artists such as Sean Hayes, American Music Club, David Byrne, Betty Davis, Sun Ra and Echo & The Bunnymen. Via the Digital Rights Agency (DRA) & DMGI, Sonific is now able to offer Krokus, Lee Scratch Perry, Billie Holliday, Bing Crosby, Django Reinhardt, Charles Mingus, Frank Sinatra, Larry Coryell, Gloria Gaynor, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Mikis Teodorakis, Dizzie Gillespie, Muddy Waters, Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Thelonius Monk, as well as Chamillionaire, The Fall, My Morning Jacket, Deerhoof, Elliott Smith and The Plain White T's. Via Independent Record Industry Solutions (IRIS), Sonific has added the likes of Roots Manuva, David Arkenstone, Ninja Tune's Coldcut, Kid Koala and Amon Tobin, and Palmetto Jazz's Fred Hersch Trio and Dr. Lonnie Smith. LA-based Big Fish Media provides Sonific with the sounds of Will Milar, Jai Uttal, Nawang Khechog, Cory Lee, Alessi Brothers and Calvin Owens. V2 Music's new additions such as Duke Special and Little Man Tate will be added shortly, as well.
In addition to adding the new repertoire Sonific has also launched the Sonific Music Network at www.Sonific.net, which enables any interested record label, producer or artist to instantly add their own music to Sonific's catalog.
Gerd Leonhard, Co-Founder and CEO, comments: "Music2.0 - a new music ecosystem based on ubiquity not scarcity – is quickly becoming a reality just like so-called Web2.0 applications are starting to change the way that everyone uses the web. Now, rapid music syndication via widgets is becoming a crucial marketing tool that promises great returns with almost zero investment. Sonific is gearing up to build a library of several Million licensed songs; based on our innovative 'Attention & Revenue Sharing' model this will include many 'Longtail' artists and music from the leading independent labels as well as repertoire provided by some major record labels."
The company will roll out a multitude of innovations in the next few months, including widget-based playlists and interactive playlist-sharing, podcast support and various mashup tools, as well as various ad-supported premium content services.
About Sonific
Sonific's SongSpots(TM) music widget provides free music for use in blogs, personal homepages, photo sites and social networks, currently supporting over 40 platforms including Typepad, Google, Blogger, Friendster, Wordpress, Slideroll, Xanga, Yahoo360, Piczo, Vox.com, Smugmug, and Squarespace. The company is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and was founded by Gerd Leonhard (Digital Music Entrepreneur, Media Futurist and Co-author of "The Future of Music") and Gunnar Ostergren (CTO), in 2005. Sonific LLC is funded by a group of well-known angel investors.
Contact:
Gerd Leonhard CEO
gerd@sonific.com
US: 415 691 6103
EU: +41 79 79 353 84
