Nokia has launched its free, PC-based DRM-free music download service Comes With Music, in China, through a partnership with Huadong Feitian. The service offers users content from major record labels, plus local artists, together with unique features developed for the Chinese market. It will be known locally as Yue Sui Xiang. Comes With Music is already available in many emerging markets, including Brazil, Russia and Indonesia, and is due to launch in India soon.
The service will be available to consumers across China via a broad range of devices and through an extensive nationwide retail network. At launch, consumers can get unlimited music downloads with the purchase of any one of eight devices, including the Nokia X6 32GB, X6 16GB, 5230, 5330, 5800w, 6700s, E52 and E72i. Entry level prices will start from 140 (122),excluding local taxes and subsidies.
Globally, we have expanded the reach of our music service to 30 markets in just 18 months. We are excited to see consumers building collections of the music they love through our service, and we are firmly on the path to delivering legal digital music to all parts of the world, says Liz Schimel, Global Head of Music at Nokia. Its fantastic to have so many local and global labels partner with us to deliver this service in China. The industry came together to support us in innovating the mobile music business model in this unique market.
The service will include catalogues from Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music, and a host of local independent labels, including Huayi Brothers Media Group and Taihe Rye.
China is a massive opportunity and a challenging market to address. Nokia is the undisputed dominant mobile player within China there is no better partner with whom to develop the market in new, imaginative ways and make the most of its potential, says Rob Wells, Senior Vice President, Digital, Universal Music Group International.