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Santana, Whitney, Lavigne Head To DataPlay
submitted by: Rashad, Lisa D.
source: Billboard, PR Newswire
Date: August 5, 2002
Arista announced today (Aug. 5) that it plans to release albums from Santana, Whitney Houston, and Avril Lavigne on pre-recorded DataPlay digital media. The label struck a deal with DataPlay -- a coin-sized digital format that can hold more than 11 hours of music - earlier this year.
"Shaman," Santana's follow-up to the multi-Grammy-winning "Supernatural," is due in October; it will have a simultaneous release in the CD and DataPlay formats. The Carlos Santana-led group has North American tour dates lined up well into the fall and will hit Mansfield, Mass., tomorrow (Aug. 6). As previously reported, the guitarist guests on Mexican rock outfit Mana's "Revolucion de Amor," due Aug. 20 from Warner Music International.
Whitney Houston's next album will be made available on DataPlay shortly after the CD hits stores in September. Details of the set remain sketchy, but first single "Whatchulookinat" (produced by her husband Bobby Brown and Muhammad 2G) has recently been serviced to U.S. radio outlets. Houston has not released a new studio set since 1998's "My Love Is Your Love."
Arista is also scheduling Lavigne's "Let Go" -- currently No. 7 on The Billboard 200 and featuring the No. 3 Hot 100 hit "Complicated" -- for a September DataPlay release. The artist is on tour in North America through Aug. 23.
-- Brian Garrity, N.Y.
Santana, Whitney Houston and Avril Lavigne to Release Albums on DataPlay
Arista Artists Gearing up for DataPlay Launch
BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Arista Records and DataPlay, Inc., developer of the new portable music format, announced today that multi- platinum selling artists Santana and Whitney Houston and hot newcomer Avril Lavigne are planning to make albums available on pre-recorded DataPlay digital media.
Santana's follow-up to the multi-Grammy award winning Supernatural, entitled Shaman, due out in October, will simultaneously be released in CD and DataPlay formats. Whitney Houston's much anticipated new album, scheduled for release in September, will be made available on DataPlay shortly after the CD hits stores. Arista is also scheduling this summer's smash album Let Go by Avril Lavigne for a September DataPlay release. This is the latest in the ongoing announcements surrounding BMG's Arista Records preparation for their launch of DataPlay pre-recorded albums early this fall.
DataPlay gives artists the opportunity to offer fans more than just an album. On DataPlay artists can offer things such as bonus tracks, additional albums, music videos, games, photos, and more, giving fans an entirely new interactive experience. DataPlay also gives fans the ability to add their own additional content to a pre-recorded digital media. A fan can download directly to a DataPlay digital media or transfer files from their PC.
"Retail is looking forward to the roll-out of strong titles for the DataPlay launch," said Jordan Katz, Senior Vice President Sales for Arista Records. "Arista superstars Whitney Houston and Santana, along with the best new artist of the year, Avril Lavigne, will supplement our already powerful list of artists that include Usher, Pink, Sarah McLachlan, Outkast and Adema." "DataPlay offers artists the chance to expand their albums and add things that they never thought were possible," said Mike Steingrebe, vice president of corporate development for DataPlay. "And fans will also have the ability to do things like adding additional content, viewing music videos and making copies of their favorite songs."
DataPlay music players are scheduled for retail introduction late this summer. Universal Music, EMI and Zomba Recording Corporation have also announced plans to make their best selling artists available on DataPlay.
In addition to its content agreements with leading music labels, DataPlay has deals in place with device manufacturers iRiver, EMI Global, Inc., Kouwell Electronics, Samsung, Toshiba, Hyun Won, Silitek, Tritronics, Kinpo Electronics and Digisette, in addition to others.
The DataPlay solution includes three primary offerings: DataPlay digital media, DataPlay micro-optical engine and ContentKey(TM), a content distribution, marketing and e-commerce tool.
About DataPlay, Inc.
DataPlay, Inc. was incorporated in November 1998 to develop a Web-enabled digital content recording and distribution media for portable Internet appliances and hand-held consumer entertainment devices. Visit DataPlay on the Internet at www.dataplay.com.
About BMG
BMG is the global music division of Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's leading media companies, with annual revenues of $17.86 billion. BMG owns more than 200 record labels in 42 countries including Arista Records, RCA Records, RCA Label Group - Nashville, and Ariola. In addition, BMG owns one of the world's largest music publishing companies.
/CONTACT: Suzanne Stephens of DataPlay, Inc., +1-720-562-2000, or sstephens@dataplay.com; or Nathaniel Brown of BMG, +1-212-930-6790, or nathaniel.brown@bmg.com/
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