Tom Morrow
07-19-2007, 07:31 AM
Disney Music Group to introduce CDVU+
Disney's Wish Upon a CD (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc20070718_901065.htm)
Its music label is offering a new gadget called CDVU+ with loads of interactive features. But can it draw buyers while CD sales continue to fall?
Business Week
Compact disc sales are plummeting, but Disney (DIS) is making what may be a last-ditch effort to buck the trend. Disney's Hollywood Records label introduced a version of CDs, dubbed CDVU+ (pronounced "CD view plus"), that include such interactive features as videos and high-resolution photos embedded in a digital magazine format. "We don't think the CD is dead," Hollywood Records General Manager Abbey Konowitch said at a press event July 18. "We decided to enhance the consumer experience rather than run from the format."
For executives at Hollywood Records, which represents artists as Hilary Duff and Jesse McCartney, the fact that about 90 % of albums are still sold as CDs is a good-enough reason to invest in the format. And though the technology behind CDVU+ is not new?artists frequently include special features on standard CDs?Hollywood Records will use CDVU to include a higher degree of content fans can't get elsewhere.
The first CDVU+ release will be the upcoming album by tweenie bopper band The Jonas Brothers, in stores on Aug. 7. The Jonas Brothers have a big following on the Internet and among younger audiences?so the band is considered a good test case for CDVU. "We're confident it's going to be a very robust seller for the holiday season," Hollywood Records Senior Vice President of Marketing Ken Bunt said. He declined to make a sales forecast.
complete article (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc20070718_901065.htm)
Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)
Disney's Wish Upon a CD (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc20070718_901065.htm)
Its music label is offering a new gadget called CDVU+ with loads of interactive features. But can it draw buyers while CD sales continue to fall?
Business Week
Compact disc sales are plummeting, but Disney (DIS) is making what may be a last-ditch effort to buck the trend. Disney's Hollywood Records label introduced a version of CDs, dubbed CDVU+ (pronounced "CD view plus"), that include such interactive features as videos and high-resolution photos embedded in a digital magazine format. "We don't think the CD is dead," Hollywood Records General Manager Abbey Konowitch said at a press event July 18. "We decided to enhance the consumer experience rather than run from the format."
For executives at Hollywood Records, which represents artists as Hilary Duff and Jesse McCartney, the fact that about 90 % of albums are still sold as CDs is a good-enough reason to invest in the format. And though the technology behind CDVU+ is not new?artists frequently include special features on standard CDs?Hollywood Records will use CDVU to include a higher degree of content fans can't get elsewhere.
The first CDVU+ release will be the upcoming album by tweenie bopper band The Jonas Brothers, in stores on Aug. 7. The Jonas Brothers have a big following on the Internet and among younger audiences?so the band is considered a good test case for CDVU. "We're confident it's going to be a very robust seller for the holiday season," Hollywood Records Senior Vice President of Marketing Ken Bunt said. He declined to make a sales forecast.
complete article (http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jul2007/tc20070718_901065.htm)
Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)