BEIJING, Jan 16, 2007 /Xinhua-PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Baidu.com Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU), the
leading Chinese language Internet search provider and EMI Music, the world's
largest independent music company, today announced a pioneering strategic
partnership to launch an advertising-supported online music streaming service
in China, a landmark revenue-sharing arrangement between an internet search
engine and an international music company in the country. EMI and Baidu have
also agreed to explore developing advertising-supported music download
services.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041011/BAIDULOGO )
Today's agreement will see Chinese repertoire from EMI's Typhoon Music
being made available for streaming, at no charge, to all users of Baidu, the
leading search engine in China.
Baidu will set up a special 'EMI Music Zone' in its music search channel
which will legally stream all of EMI Music's Chinese repertoire, including
recordings from artists such as Jolin Tsai (Taiwan), Stephanie Sun
(Singapore), David Tao (Taiwan), Sandy Lam (Hong Kong) and Richie Ren
(Taiwan). While consumers listen to the music for free they will be exposed
to internet advertising, and EMI and Baidu will share the revenue generated by
the advertising, a pioneering approach to monetising and promoting digital
music in China.
Baidu is the largest internet portal in China and the fourth largest in
the world. According to the 2006 report from the official China Internet
Network Information Center, Baidu has a market share in overall search of
62.1%, while the latest report from iResearch, a leading market research
company for China's internet industry, calculates that the company has an 84%
share of music searches.
Mr Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu said: "We believe this partnership
with EMI will drive value for Baidu users, content providers and advertisers.
It also sets the stage for future co-operation between the internet and music
industries."
"With Baidu's close relationship with Chinese digital music lovers, EMI
and Baidu's co-operation is a major breakthrough in the history of online
music in China. It provides an efficient digital distribution platform to
reach Chinese consumers, allowing fans to listen to EMI's latest quality music
immediately on the internet," said Norman Cheng, Chairman of EMI Music Asia
and Director of Typhoon Music.
"The cooperation between Baidu and EMI also moves us towards jointly
controlling digital piracy, something that is important to EMI in the Chinese
digital music market. Our co-operation with the world's largest Chinese
search engine is also part of EMI's strategic roadmap to expanding digital
music development across the region," added Mr. Cheng.
About Baidu:
Baidu.com, Inc. is the leading Chinese language Internet search provider.
As a technology-based media company, Baidu aims to provide the best way for
people to find information. In addition to serving individual Internet search
users, Baidu provides an effective platform for businesses to reach potential
customers. Baidu's ADSs, each of which represents one Class A ordinary share,
are currently trading on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "BIDU".
About EMI:
EMI is the world's largest independent music company, operating in 50
countries. Its EMI music division represents around 1300 artists spanning all
musical tastes and genres. It's record labels include Angel, Astralwerks,
Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, Emi Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI
Televisa Music, Manhattan Mute, Parlophone and Virgin, for further information
on EMI, please visit http://www.emigroup.com .
About Typhoon Music:
Typhoon Music is a joint venture company through which EMI owns
controlling stakes in music companies operating in the People's Republic Of
China and Hong Kong. In the PRC, Typhoon/EMI opened for business in 2003 and
has the largest share of local repertoire amongst the world's major music
companies with artists including The Flowers, Anson Hu and Xu Wei signed to
Typhoon/EMI's PushTyphoon label. In Hong Kong, Typhoon's Gold Label company
is a full-service record label, artist management company and concert promoter
for artists such as Justin Lo, Leo Ku and Ronald Cheng.
For more information, contact:
Baidu:
China
Linda Sun, Baidu.com, Inc.
Tel: +86-10-8262-1188 *8246
Email: ir@baidu.com
Rory Macpherson, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (Beijing)
Tel: +86-10-8520-6553
Email: rory.macpherson@ogilvy.com
US
Thomas Smith, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (New York)
Tel: +1-212-880-5269
Email: thomas.smith@ogilvypr.com
EMI
In China:
Joanna Huang
EMI Music Marketing China
Tel: +86-10-65678156(168)
Email: Joanna.huang@emimusic.com
Caroline Chow
EMI Music New Media
Tel: +852-2506-5635
Email: Caroline.chow@emimusic.com
Rest of Asia:
Hans Ebert
EMI Music Southeast Asia
Tel: +852-2585-5658
Email: Hans.ebert@emimusic.com
UK/US:
Amanda Conroy
EMI, London
Tel: +44-20-7795-7529
Email: Amanda.conroy@emimusic.com
SOURCE Baidu.com Inc.
Linda Sun+86-10-8262-1188 *8246, or ir@baidu.com, for Baidu; Rory Macpherson,
+86-10-8520-6553, or rory.macpherson@ogilvy.com, or Thomas Smith, +1-212-880-5269, or
thomas.smith@ogilvypr.com, both of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide for Baidu;
Joanna Huang, +86-10-65678156(168), or Joanna.huang@emimusic.com, or Caroline Chow,
+852-2506-5635, or Caroline.chow@emimusic.com, or Hans Ebert, +852-2585-5658, or
Hans.ebert@emimusic.com, or Amanda Conroy, +44-20-7795-7529, or
Amanda.conroy@emimusic.com, all of EMI
http://www.baidu.com
