Apple(R) announced on January 6th several changes to the iTunes(R) Store (http://www.itunes.com). Beginning today, all four major music labels — Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI, along with thousands of independent labels, are now offering their music in iTunes Plus, Apple\’s DRM-free format with higher-quality 256 kbps AAC encoding for audio quality virtually indistinguishable from the original recordings. iTunes customers can also choose to download their favorite songs from the world\’s largest music catalog directly onto their iPhone(TM) 3G over their 3G network just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price as downloading to their computer. And beginning in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points: 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29, with most albums still priced at $9.99.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our iTunes customers DRM-free iTunes Plus songs in high quality audio and our iPhone 3G customers the ability to download music from iTunes anytime, anywhere over their 3G network at the same price as downloading to your computer or via Wi-Fi,” said Steve Jobs, Apple\’s CEO. “And in April, based on what the music labels charge Apple, songs on iTunes will be available at one of three price points — 69 cents, 99 cents and $1.29 — with many more songs priced at 69 cents than $1.29.”

iTunes offers customers a simple, one-click option to easily upgrade their entire library of previously purchased songs to the higher quality DRM-free iTunes Plus format for just 30 cents per song or 30 percent of the album price. The iTunes Store will begin offering eight million of its 10 million songs in Apple\’s DRM-free format, iTunes Plus, today with the remaining two million songs offered in iTunes Plus by the end of March.

iPhone 3G users can now preview and purchase the entire iTunes Store music catalog on their iPhone 3G over their 3G network, just as they do with Wi-Fi today, for the same price and in the same high quality format. Songs purchased on an iPhone will automatically sync to a user\’s computer the next time they sync their iPhone.

The iTunes Store is the world\’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 10 million songs, over 30,000 TV episodes and over 2,500 films including over 600 in stunning high definition video. With Apple\’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as iTunes Movie Rentals, integrated podcasting support, the ability to turn previously purchased tracks into complete albums at a reduced price, and seamless integration with iPod(R) and iPhone, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac(R) and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers of Music (SACEM), the French Collection Rights Society, announced on January 28th they have signed an agreement to set up a joint framework for the licensing and administration of their rights for multi-territorial online and mobile exploitation in Europe.

Through this agreement SACEM and SDRM (Society for the administration of mechanical right of Authors, Composers and Publishers) will license and administer the online rights owned and/or controlled by UMPG together with those works from SACEM’s repertoire published by UMPG for the above uses.

Upon making the announcement David Renzer, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group, commented: “After a very careful and diligent process, UMPG, in following the recommendations of the European Commission, is pleased to partner with SACEM in this new arrangement. We fully expect that this new venture will benefit content users in simplifying their licensing process, as well as provide a major benefit to our songwriters and composers, by allowing for greater digital exploitation of their works.” “I look forward to working closely with Bernard Miyet, Thierry Desurmont, Catherine Kerr Vignale, Claude Gaillard and the whole SACEM team,” added Andrew Jenkins, Executive Vice President, International, Universal Music Publishing Group. “I have no doubts that the SACEM/Universal Music Publishing Group alliance is best placed to meet all the many challenges of the digital future in Europe. I have great confidence that SACEM’s remarkable IDOLS system will facilitate the pan-European and multi-territory licensing and administration of our repertoire for the benefit of both users and the songwriters, authors, and composers we represent.”

SACEM and UMPG are committed to make this new framework operational during the second quarter of 2008. By this agreement, UMPG will benefit from the efficiency of the services rendered by SACEM and SACEM will take advantage of a close cooperation with a major stakeholder in the exploitation of musical works.

Thierry Desurmont, CEO of SDRM adds : “SDRM is very satisfied to participate in this framework facilitated by IDOLS, an extranet tool unique in Europe, created by SACEM for pan-European contracts. IDOLS enables real-time monitoring and exchange of data and documentation for sales declarations. Online content providers can use IDOLS to report and transmit information on the number of works downloaded.”

This agreement will make a significant contribution to establishing a coherent and efficient framework for the licensing and administration of online rights in Europe, as supported by the European Commission. It will allow rights holders to control the administration of their rights and receive appropriate remuneration for the exploitation of their works while giving users the simple and secure access to protected works they require.

To achieve this result, SACEM and UMPG are ready to cooperate with all the stakeholders, notably other collecting societies and publishers, who share this objective.

About Universal Music Publishing Group
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is the industry\’s leading global music publishing operation and is part of Universal Music Group. UMPG represents music in every genre from many of the world’s top songwriters and catalogs including U2, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, Coldplay, Nelly, Juan Gabriel, Ciara, Dave Grohl, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Beastie Boys, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paul Simon, Henry Mancini, Christina Aguilera and Linkin Park, among many others. UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian and Classical Music.

About SACEM
SACEM is a non-profit membership organization for managing rights and royalties of authors, composers and publishers of musical works. Its primary mission is to collect royalties and to redistribute these equitably to rights holders. Founded over 150 years ago, SACEM was the first society in the world to represent musical rights holders. It has established itself as a key international player and a driving force in rights management. SACEM counts today over 118,000 members worldwide. It manages 32 million works.
For more information, visit: www.sacem.fr