N2K Inc. signed an agreement with MSI of
Miami Corp. to create a European distribution hub for its Music Boulevard online music superstore.
Under the agreement, MSI will add up to 150,000 international titles to Music
Boulevard’s catalog of offerings, which will then exceed 550,000. The move
will make Music Boulevard’s online store the largest collection of recorded
music available anywhere on the Internet, the company said.
As part of the pact, MSI will create a fulfillment center in The
Netherlands to serve all of the European markets by mid-April, reducing
delivery time to European customers purchasing music titles originating in
Europe. Financial details were not disclosed.
“This agreement will create a truly global distribution system to better
serve our European and domestic customers,” said J.J. Rosen, senior vice
president and general manger, N2K Entertainment.
New York City-based N2K has already begun developing a global music
distribution system and signed an agreement in December with Shinseido Inc.,
the leading music retail store in Japan. N2K has expanded with N2K Japan as
well as MTV International, which links MTV Internet sites in Europe, Japan,
Asia, and Brazil to Music Boulevard.
The company has developed a French language version of Music Boulevard with
Grolier Interactive of France. In addition, N2K recently announced a
partnership with StarMedia to develop Spanish and Portuguese language
versions of Music Boulevard.