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Universal announces tel co alliance in Cambodia

By | Published on Thursday 11 September 2014

Universal Music

Universal Music’s South East Asia division has announced a partnership with Cambodia’s second largest mobile firm to launch a music service, which will include audio and video streaming and downloads, and caller ring back tones, which are seemingly still a thing in that market.

The deal between the mega-major and Smart Axiata has exclusivity elements to it, which will see the tel co empowered to sub-license content to third parties. It’s the sixth deal Universal has done with a telecommunications firm in the South East Asia region, with the major seeing mobile alliances as a way of generating new revenues in emerging markets that have not traditionally generated much return for Western copyright owners.

Positioning the deal very much as an ongoing partnership, rather than a simple licensing deal, Universal South East Asia’s President and new business chief Sandy Monteiro told reporters: “We are happy to be in partnership with Smart, who have the vision to bring world class music offerings and experiences to mobile phone users in Cambodia. We also look forward to working with Smart to open a window to help identify the best music talent in Cambodia that we hope to introduce to the rest of the region”.

Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt added: “Universal Music is the global music leader. We are honoured to be appointed as the exclusive distributor of their digital content in Cambodia. This partnership will significantly enhance the scope of our mobile music offering to our subscribers who can now enjoy affordable, good quality music anywhere, anytime”.



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