Legal Music Site First For New Zealand - DigiRAMA To Offer Tracks From Major Labels and Indies
DIGIRAMA HQ, ALBANY, NEW ZEALAND - October 28, 2004 - On November 1, 2004, the New Zealand music industry will be
changed forever. It’s the launch date of digiRAMA (www.digirama.co.nz) the New Zealand-made music site that finally
gives fans what the rest of the world has been enjoying since the launch of i-Tunes Music Store in the USA last year: a
legal online record store. For the first time, New Zealand music fans can legally download tracks from their favourite
artists from major as well as independent labels.
DigiRAMA already has an online catalogue of more than 30,000 songs, priced from $1.99 to $2.49 (inc GST). As well as the
music, the site offers online purchase of Sennheiser headphones and Creative’s range of sound cards, speakers and
digital players. The worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, the Creative range of players includes the
ultra-light Nomad MuVo and the award-winning Zen Touch player.
Founded by brothers Shaun and Garth Davis, both of whom work in the computer industry, DigiRAMA is a true example of
Kiwi ingenuity at work.
“We set up DigiRAMA out of pure frustration” says Shaun Davis. “I was looking to buy some music on i-Tunes, but
discovered New Zealand users are blocked from the service. So Garth and I started looking at what it would take to
create a music site specifically for New Zealanders. We talked with a lot of people in the music industry, and the
feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of the idea. So after nine months of development, DigiRAMA is here!”
The site uses the Windows Media Digital Rights Management Platform (DRM), which has been accepted by the music industry
worldwide as a secure system for online music sales. Microsoft New Zealand are so impressed they are working towards
making digiRAMA the default music site on Windows MediaPlayer and the newly released MediaCentre Operating system.
Music fans have been enjoying a pilot version of www.digirama.co.nz for the last month, selecting tracks on offer from
artists such as Shihad, REM, Anika Moa and The Darkness. The pilot offering has been a resounding success, providing the
digiRAMA team with an initial user database and valuable customer feedback which has been built into the launch site.
With Warner Music, FMR, Global Routes and WildSide Records already signed up, digiRAMA is set to become a key player in
the New Zealand music industry. DigiRAMA will be soon be announcing major additions to the catalogue, with licensing
agreements to be confirmed with more major labels and indies. Future plans include online release events, member-only
bonus tracks and exclusive digital promotions.
“The era of legal music downloads has finally arrived in New Zealand” says Shaun Davis. “While there are a number of MP3
sites that allow online purchase of indie artists, DigiRAMA gives Kiwi music fans the ability to buy individual tracks
and albums from across the spectrum, from Scribe to REM. DigiRAMA is the digital music store that the New Zealand music
industry and Kiwi music buyers have been waiting for.”
ENDS