Timbaland to release V Cast-exclusive mobile album

Verizon Wireless announced the launch of its Mobile Producer in Residence program, naming as its first Mobile Producer hip-hop mastermind and five-time Grammy nominee Timbaland, who will launch an entire mobile-exclusive album via the operator's V Cast Music platform across the remainder of 2008. Timbaland--whose hit collaborations include Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'," Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On" and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack"--will begin work on the V Cast project at the end of March, teaming with a different guest artist each month to create a new track produced via the Verizon Mobile Recording Studio Bus. Verizon Wireless also plans to broadcast footage of the sessions on its V Cast Video and Verizon Surround platforms.

"Together we hope to redefine the album as we know it by creating and distributing music straight from the studio to fans," said Verizon's director of digital music Ed Ruth in a prepared statement. "As our Mobile Producer in Residence, Timbaland's music would be available to our customers as full-song downloads, ringtones and ringback tones, delivering exclusive music anyway they want it over-the-air. We aim to provide access in person, in the living room or through the phone into Timbaland's creative process as he produces an album, an artistic effort usually masterminded behind closed doors."

For more on the Verizon/Timbaland deal:
- read this release

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