EMI Music, SONY BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group and have joined forces with SanDisk, supplier of flash storage cards.
click all images (1)
Together they present a new physical music format on microSD cards, dubbed SlotMusic.
A selection of SlotMusic cards will first be available at brick-and-mortar and online stores throughout the United States, including Best Buy and Wal-Mart, with Europe to follow.
SlotMusic cards enable consumers to instantly and easily enjoy music from their favorite artists without being dependent on a pc or internet connection. Users simply insert the SlotMusic card into their microSD-enabled mobile phone or mp3 player to hear the music – without passwords, downloading or digital-rightsmanagement interfering with their personal use.
SlotMusic cards will be packaged with a tiny USB sleeve ensuring seamless interoperability with all computers – Windows, Linux and Mac. Hundreds of millions of multimedia-phones, virtually any computer with a USB connector and a growing number of in-car sound systems will be able to play SlotMusic cards.
Musicians will find SlotMusic cards offer a compelling new way to express themselves to their fans. With 1GB1 (gigabyte) of capacity, SlotMusic cards can hold songs, as well as liner notes, album art, videos, and other creative content that an artist may choose. Consumers can also add their own content to a SlotMusic card, creating a personal plug-and-play media library.
Among the first acts to appear on SlotMusic are populair artists like Rihanna, New Kids on the Block, Weezer and Usher, but also classic artists such as Elvis Presley. Retail price for a full-length album is set around € 15.