RealNetworks Inc. and Sumitomo Corp. Monday announced plans to establish an
affiliated company to manage a music destination Web site for Japanese
users.
This Web site will connect Japanese consumers to a large resource of
music and artist information such as fan clubs, lyrics, album art, rankings,
concert dates and other live appearances. The two firms plan to establish the
new company and open the music destination site in February 2000. A preview
of the new site can be seen at here.
This new Web site, which can be accessed directly through RealNetworks’ (RNWK)
RealPlayer and RealJukebox, will create an open community enabling consumers,
music artists and e-tailers to connect with each other and share information
as well as experience rich media programming.
For its contribution, Sumitomo Corp will bring its broadband infrastructure,
including @Home Japan and Cross Beam Networks Japan, as well as its Internet
portal, Lycos to this Web destination site. These properties will help to
both drive traffic to this site and provide consumers with a high quality
broadband Internet media experience.
This current business targets Japanese consumers, but there is the prospect
of further expansion into countries in Asia that are familiar with Japanese
culture, and there are future plans to expand beyond the music industry into
the wider entertainment business including movies.