Smart 5th Year & UM Launch at Sofitel

PHNOM PENH, 10 September 2014 – Universal Music Group (UMG) and the country’s second largest mobile operator, Smart Axiata, have partnered to deliver unparalleled content and entertainment innovation to Cambodia. This exclusive partnership represents the country’s most extensive offering of music for mobile, including Smart Tunes (Caller Ring Back Tones), full-track audio downloads, full-track video downloads as well as music and video streaming.

In an announcement today, the agreement will see the introduction of a broad range of products and services featuring the world’s best known international artists: http://www.universalmusic.com

The agreement also includes Digital Content Distribution Rights, allowing Smart to exclusively distribute and resell Universal Music content in Cambodia. As part of the agreement, Smart will offer sub-licensing arrangements to all interested parties to use, broadcast or resell the content in Cambodia.

Thomas Hundt, CEO of Smart Axiata, said “Universal Music is the global music leader. We are honored to be appointed as the exclusive distributor of their digital content in Cambodia. This partnership will significantly enhance the scope of our mobile music offering to our subscribers. We strongly believe with our great 3.75G coverage in all provinces and now 4G LTE – the fastest mobile internet, 12 times faster than 3G – subscribers can now enjoy affordable, good quality music video streaming anywhere, anytime.”

Sandy Monteiro, President of Universal Music Group South East Asia and Head of New Business Asia Pacific, said “We are happy to be in partnership with Smart, who have the vision to bring world class music offerings and experiences to mobile phone users in Cambodia. As the leading music company in the world representing the largest network of music artists, this collaboration creates new opportunities to link fans to music, and have Cambodia tuned in to the biggest and best hits globally. We also look forward to working with Smart to open a window to help identify the best music talent in Cambodia that we hope to introduce to the rest of the region.”

A new music, lifestyle and entertainment portal will be launched by Smart to be available on iOS, Android and Mobile Windows. Our partnership with Universal Music means subscribers to the new portal can also enjoy free tickets to both local and international concerts. Subscribers will have the opportunity to “Meet & Greet” international artists or win lucky draws for music, posters and other great prizes.

On September 15, Smart will also launch a new daily radio program dedicated to playing tracks from Universal Music’s repertoire of international artists. In partnership with NRG FM, Cambodia’s first 24-hour music station, the end of each program will feature requested songs from Smart subscribers.

Smart is now offering ten free Smart Tunes (Caller Ring Back Tones) to all our subscribers until the end of September, 2014. Should subscribers choose to continue the service, they just need to pay USD 0.30 cents per Smart Tune. This special offer is available to all Smart subscribers for all main tariff plans. Apart from CBRT, subscribers can dial 987 to stream music for only USD 0.03 cent per minute on our Smart Tunes Club IVR system.

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About Smart Axiata

Smart Axiata Co., Ltd. is Cambodia’s second largest mobile telecommunications company serving over 5.5 million subscribers under the ‘Smart’ brand. In January 2014, Smart launched its 4G LTE network and became the first mobile operator in Cambodia to provide true 4G services. Smart also provides 2G, 2.5G, 3G and 3.75G mobile services, supporting the very latest in multimedia and mobile Internet services as well as international roaming across more than 150 countries. Its extensive nationwide network coverage is available in all 25 provinces in Cambodia.

The company’s workforce consists of more than 800 people including local and foreign experts. Smart is committed to its customers, employees and the people of Cambodia in delivering its promise of improving their lives. “Live. Life. Be Smart.”

About UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

Universal Music Group is the global music leader, with wholly owned operations in 60 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry’s premier music publishing operations worldwide.

Universal Music Group’s labels include A&M Records, Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note Records, Capitol Christian Music Group, Capitol Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, EMI Records Nashville, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Harvest, Interscope Records, Island Records, Machete Music, Manhattan, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin Records, Virgin EMI Records, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world’s most popular artists and their recordings. UMG’s catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes Global Digital Business, its new media and technologies division and Bravado, its merchandising company.

Universal Music Group is a fully owned subsidiary of Vivendi.