Vivendi Universal today announced that its new subsidiary, MP3.com EUROPE, has launched fully localised European music websites as the first step in its plans to become the leading music portal in Europe. Local sites have been launched in the UK, France, Germany and Spain, with further European website launches planned in 2002. MP3.com EUROPE operates under its own newly-established management team based in London.
MP3.com EUROPE will offer the largest available collection of online music from unsigned artists, as well as content from major, and independent record labels, distributed by a wide selection of services.
Today MP3.com EUROPE already has 1 million songs from 170,000 International artists and offers 355 different music genres.
MP3.com EUROPE will ensure that its local sites are tailored to local audiences; showcasing local artists and grouping music in the preferred genres of individual countries, whilst also offering consumers access to MP3.com’s outstanding portfolio of international music.
The newly established MP3.com European division is headed by Chief Executive Officer, Yoel Kenan. Kenan joins MP3.com EUROPE with over 14 years experience in the music industry from a marketing, A&R and online background, both at the International Headquarters of Universal Music Group and in France.
Headquartered in London, MP3.com EUROPE boasts a dedicated, entrepreneurial management team working alongside local MP3.com employees in each country.
“MP3.com EUROPE aims to be the number one music portal in Europe by offering the best music user experience, and access to an unrivalled range of local and international music,” says Yoel Kenan. “We have the benefit of MP3.com’s proven robust and reliable technology and its vast experience in the US. In Europe there are already 6 million registered MP3.com users, with 1.5 million unique visitors a month and 9 million monthly page impressions. With the addition of high-quality, localised services, we are well positioned to become one of the dominant music platforms in Europe.”
Commenting on the announcement, Philippe Germond, Vivendi Universal Net CEO, added: “Launching a localised version of MP3.com in Europe allows us to leverage MP3.com’s proven technology and experience, while delivering content that is tailored to each country’s diverse musical tastes. Coming so shortly after MP3.com’s acquisition by Vivendi Universal, this is also a tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of our teams based in the US and Europe. It is a major step in Vivendi Universal’s goal to become the leading online music content and service provider in Europe.”
MP3.Com EUROPE’S Local Sites Can Be Found At The Following URLs:
- United Kingdom www.uk.MP3.com
- France www.fr.MP3.com
- Germany www.de.MP3.com
- Spain www.es.MP3.com
