Sony BMG, Dada team for multi-platform venture

Sony BMG Music Entertainment and mobile entertainment and community service provider Dada have agreed to a U.S. joint venture to create a direct-to-consumer entertainment service featuring integrated mobile and web offerings. Dada Entertainment LLC will market content and services via the web as well as off-deck and on-deck mobile distribution channels, combining ringtones, images, video ringers, mobile games and full-length audio and video downloads with Web 2.0 community and social networking features. Dada and Sony BMG will support the venture with a portfolio of web-based services including photo and video uploading and sharing, dating, blogs, social networking and user-generated content.

Sony BMG will support the venture across multiple distribution channels including the web, CDs, third-party media and retail relationships. Dada, meanwhile, will contribute access to its proprietary technology and billing platforms. Sony BMG will open up its full catalog of music and video content, while Dada will pursue content from additional sources. Both partners will fund the initiative, with revenues derived from subscriptions and pay-per-download services in addition to social advertising solutions based on Google's AdSense program. Current Dada USA CEO Massimiliano Pellegrini will assume the same position within the new company.

"This joint venture will provide us with an important platform to further expand Artists' presence in the mobile and web space, give consumers greater flexibility in how they consume music, and build the market for mobile and web entertainment in the U.S.," said Thomas Hesse, Sony BMG Music Entertainment president of global digital business and U.S. sales.

For more on Dada Entertainment:
- read this release

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