Mbop Direct Unveils Fab Four

Four New Signings To Mbop’s Direct-To-Retail Distribution Division

Takes Catalogue To Over 150,000 Tracks Inc. Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Billie Holliday.
12 Noon Monday 19th January ’09, Cannes:- London based digital music company Mbop today signed four new labels, Nayco Entertainment, Zone 5, Mendosa Avenue, and Sound and Vision to Mbop Direct, the company’s direct-to-retail digital distribution division.

Bringing in repertoire from such notable artists as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick and Billie Holliday, the fab four join new January signings Music Kitchen, Sleeping Giant, River Records, Black Cat and Plaza Records; taking Mbop Direct’s roster up to 15 labels, representing over 150,000 tracks.

With directly negotiated deals in place with all major digital music retailers and services including iTunes, eMusic, Amazon MP3, Napster, Fnac, Musicload, Tesco Digital and Nokia’s ‘Comes With Music’, as well as Mbop’s own Mbop Megastore, Mbop Direct offers a one stop shop for labels looking to reach a global audience.

Speaking at the launch of the new division, Mbop MD Paul Ballance said, “Mbop Direct distribution continues to reinforce the Mbop Digital system of marketing and retail sales, promotions and digital distribution, the new multi level doorway for the emerging new global internet music markets”

Commented Sound and Vision’s Managing Director Elliot Cohen, also known for the Hit Factory Red Bus studios: “Mbop will enable my multi-genre label Sound and Vision to cross over effortlessly into the emerging global digital market. We believe their strategies and services will empower Sound and Vision, opening up new areas of business, all of which is very exciting and bodes well for the future.”

Now with divisions covering everything from promotion and marketing advice, processing and distribution, right up to retail, Mbop are well placed to service clients ranging from independent artists right up to international record companies.

This announcement marks the start for an exciting year for Mbop with the company set to open new offices worldwide throughout 2009 as it continues to expand to meet the demands of the music business.

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About Mbop
Founded in 1999 by Warm Jets frontman Paul Ballance, Mbop is a world leader in digital music solutions. With divisions covering distribution, licensing, promotion, management and retail, Mbop provide tailored services for clients ranging from independent artists right up to international record labels.

Mbop Digital is the direct label services arm of Mbop, and comprises all the traditional functions of a record label, and tailors them to the digital and online environment. From artist development, marketing and promotion through to the manufacture and distribution of both digital and physical product, Mbop Digital offers a complete service for artists and labels that need to take their music to a wider audience.

Headed up by Nigel Wilton, whose previous clients have included Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and Bob Marley, Mbop Promotions exists for record labels and artists that require a bespoke offline promotions service. Able to work across a wide variety of genres Mbop Promotions offers a package that encompasses radio, television and press on a global scale.

Mbop Global and its sub-division Mbop Direct were set up to handle worldwide licensing and distribution of catalogue, overseeing 250,000 tracks from a variety of labels. With retail accounts in every major global territory and specialists in post production, sync licensing and marketing on hand, is well positioned to ensure that their client’s repertoire is made available to the widest possible audience.

Finally Mbop Megastore is the group’s new online music store. With over 4 million tracks, including masses of independent, as well as major label content, and over 800,000 registered users in its first year, Mbop Megastore has swiftly established itself as a leading online destination for the digital music consumer.