It's been a busy week for the young team at Singapore and now India-based digital music distributor Soundbuzz. On 19 May, the company announced a clutch of deals with Indian music companies Tips, BMG, BMG Crescendo, Virgin Records, Lahiri Music, Times Music and Archies Music, giving it access to a library of more than 50,000 songs ranging from Tamil, to Hindi film to Indipop for distribution in the digital domain.
Today, Soundbuzz - founded by ex-MTV professionals Sudanshu Sarronwala and Shabnam Melwani, and Simon Lower and Justin Reis in Singapore - announced a strategic partnership with B4U Television Networks India in which the two will be working together on three main areas: CD compilations and enhanced CDs, events & contests and a television programme.
Soundbuzz's investors include Creative Technology (makers of the Soundblaster card used in most multimedia PCs), the Singapore Government, the Chairman of Singapore Telecoms and EMI Recorded Music.
For the CD compilation, Soundbuzz, B4U and select labels will work together to produce a CD with a unique feature - hidden, encrypted songs in addition to the regular songs. These tracks can be purchased when consumers put these CD's into their computers. The compilation will be promoted on B4U.
For events and contests, Soundbuzz and B4U will collaborate to organize events and contests involving various international and local acts. B4U will be Soundbuzz's television, promotional and advertising partner for these events and contests."
Soundbuzz's and B4U's partnership around the last activity centres around the production of a TV programme with the former being the web-based interactive partner. The interactivity will allow for music downloads and contest participation.
Says Sudhanshu Sarronwala, co-founder/CEO, Soundbuzz: "Media is a critical element in music promotion and this strategic partnership with B4U will allow for the labels and B4U to entertain their audiences with an interactive edge."
Ravi Gupta, CEO B4U Television Networks, confirmed that the agreement with Soundbuzz allows for the promotion of music as well as providing an interactive element to its viewers.
