EMI Christian Music Group (CMG), the world’s largest Christian music organization, and media distribution developer PassAlong Networks™ today announced the launch of ChristianDigitalStore.com, a white label digital music service provider and store powered by PassAlong Networks that features content from major and independent labels including EMI CMG, Warner Music Group’s Word Entertainment and independent labels. ChristianDigitalStore.com provides retailers, brands, radio stations and organizations a turnkey way to offer consumers an easy-to-use digital music discovery and buying experience without having to invest in creating their own infrastructure and fulfillment system.
The first retailer to sign on to ChristianDigitalStore is Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Family Christian Stores®, America's leading specialty retailer with over 300 locations and over 5,000 employees in 37 states dedicated solely to the $4.3 billion Christian retailing market. The retailer sells Christian products and church supplies through its chain of stores and via the Internet. Merchandising categories include Bibles, Books, Music, Children’s, Gifts, Apparel, Software, Cards, Church Supplies and DVD's.
“ChristianDigitalStore.com is a strategic partnership between EMI – a leader in Christian music – and PassAlong, with our proven digital music retail platform. Together, we are taking a significant step forward in providing digital music for the Christian market,” said PassAlong Networks’ co-founder and CEO Dave Jaworski. “EMI CMG is already well established in the Christian market and together we can offer retailers, radio stations and other associations a powerful, easy and effective way to offer a good value proposition for consumers.”
Under the arrangement, EMI CMG will serve to liaison between PassAlong and US-based retailers, radio stations, brands and other companies and organizations, and PassAlong will power the digital retail experience. The end result offers established Christian companies who are part of what the Christian Booksellers Association estimates is a $4.3 billion retail category an easy way to offer a digital music discovery and buying experience to fans of Christian music.
“EMI CMG is delighted to offer the Christian retail market PassAlong’s proven, scalable platform – one that is already working well for many retail powerhouses,” said EMI CMG President and CEO Bill Hearn. “We worked with PassAlong to create ChristianDigitalStore.com to offer the Christian market an easy way to give consumers a great digital music buying experience without having to invest in creating their own infrastructure and fulfillment system.”
"Family Christian Stores is excited about the opportunity to enter the digital download business through our partnership with EMI. We are pleased with EMI and PassAlong's efforts to launch this venture, “said Brenda Lugannani, Vice President Merchandising for Family Christian Stores.
EMI CMG will create custom versions of ChistianDigitalStore.com for each company’s unique Web environment, and will also offer promotions like physical music download cards that retailers, radio stations and other companies can give to consumers in physical stores or as part of marketing programs.
Participating retailers can sign up for ChristianDigitalStore.com in minutes. EMI CMG and PassAlong will work with retailer partners to integrate the digital music retail technology into their existing websites.
