NEW YORK, NY. (KOCH Records) - KOCH Records, one of the top US independent record labels, has signed an agreement with SpiralFrog to make its extensive catalog available for legal downloading worldwide via SpiralFrog's advertising-supported service.
With this agreement, SpiralFrog solidifies its commitment to independent as well as major-label music. It reinforces SpiralFrog's belief that offering the broadest possible choice to its target audience - people between the ages of 13 and 34 - will benefit everyone, including music lovers, participating labels, advertisers, and SpiralFrog.
KOCH Records is the market leader among independent labels in the United States and had the largest number of Billboard charting albums among independents from 2001-2005. The diverse KOCH roster includes artists such as Jim Jones, Xzibit, Earl Klugh, Bob James, The Wiggles and many others.
"Offering young consumers in every country an easy-to-use alternative to pirated music sites will be compelling," said Bob Frank, President of KOCH Records. "Our dynamic deal with SpiralFrog offers our artists the opportunity to connect with music fans around the world, and opens up new revenue streams."
"Our licensing agreement with KOCH reaffirms our belief that everybody benefits when listeners have the greatest possible choice," said Robin Kent, CEO of SpiralFrog. "We are firm believers in the 'long tail' and know that the independent labels and the major labels will reap tremendous value as consumers harvest the big hits as well as songs by lesser-known artists. In fact, equal access to artists signed to independent labels like KOCH will get greater exposure when SpiralFrog members can discover and download them without cost."
Additionally, Kent noted, the KOCH agreement includes a global license. "It is our intent to extend SpiralFrog throughout the world in due course," he said.
SpiralFrog has already announced its first major record label (Universal Music Group) and its first major music publisher (EMI Music Publishing).
Initially, SpiralFrog will be available in the United States and Canada, offering a comprehensive music entertainment destination anchored by the no-cost download service. By targeting music lovers ages 13 to 34, SpiralFrog taps into an advertiser's dream, Kent said. "Advertisers understand the value of paying for these people to download music in exchange for the opportunity to deliver their brand message."
SpiralFrog will launch in North America in December 2006.
