Posted by chicagomedia.org on May 12, 2008 at 11:25:55:
Emmis Interactive Announces New Affiliate Deal with iTunes
Monday May 12, 9:30 am ET
- Custom Storefronts now available to local radio stations
CHICAGO, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmis Interactive, Inc., the U.S. radio industry's leader in generating interactive revenues, today announced a licensing agreement with the iTunes Store to market its custom Storefront technology to other radio stations and media companies.
The Emmis Storefront technology, used exclusively to date by Emmis Communications radio stations, allows a station to build a storefront with a look and feel that is consistent with its over-the-air product. This enables listeners to easily find and purchase songs they are hearing on-air using their own Apple iTunes account.
"Many stations' web sites direct you to another web site to purchase music and require a users' credit card information, making the buying experience very cumbersome," Emmis Interactive co-president Rey Mena explained. "Our custom Storefront technology empowers a radio station to configure a station-branded storefront utilizing iTunes' entire 6 million-song catalog. These storefronts allow listeners to shop from playlists of station artists as well as top picks recommended by on-air talent. It is a critical tool in building the relationship with listeners and offering them a richer user experience."
Since its launch on Emmis Radio web sites in June of 2006, the Emmis Interactive Storefront has been among the top five affiliates directing traffic to the iTunes Store.
Examples of the custom iTunes Storefront can be experienced at http://www.power106.fm/itms/ , http://www.wlup.com/ITMS/ , http://www.1057thepoint.com/itms/ .
On April 28, Emmis Interactive announced plans to begin marketing its services to radio broadcasters and other local media companies.
Emmis Interactive, Inc., an award-winning global software and consulting company, provides local broadcasters and publishers with profitable, sustainable interactive businesses. Combining years of broadcast and publishing experience with cutting-edge technology and unparalleled service, Emmis Interactive empowers local media companies with a comprehensive digital strategy to maximize the value of their media brands. Services include interactive strategy for executive management, interactive sales training, content management consulting, proprietary technology platform and hosting services, custom web-site design and interactive product development. Emmis Interactive Inc. is an Emmis Communications Company. For more information about Emmis Interactive, visit emmisinteractive.com.
Certain statements included in this report or in the financial statements contained herein which are not statements of historical fact, including but not limited to those identified with the words "expect," "will" or "look" are intended to be, and are, by this Note, identified as "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement. Emmis does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements because of new information, future events or otherwise.
Web site: http://www.emmisinteractive.com