EA AND NETTWERK ENTER JOINT VENTURE
TO FORM NEW FULL SERVICE MUSIC COMPANY ‘ARTWERK’
Artist Producer Junkie XL Announced as Label’s Inaugural Signing
Los Angeles, Calif., March 26, 2007 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced it has entered into a joint venture with Nettwerk One Music to form the new full-service music company, Artwerk . The groundbreaking initiative brings together Nettwerk’s management, publishing and digital delivery expertise with the global marketing power made of EA’s blockbuster games. The Artwerk label will sign and develop both new and established artists for publishing, master recording and sync deals, as well as digital and physical distribution. The Los Angeles-based label will be actively pursuing talent in all parts of the world.
Artwerk also announced it has signed producer artist – Junkie XL, whose tracks recently appeared in the top-selling games, Madden NFL 07 and Need for Speed™ Carbon. The label is currently in negotiations with several other cutting-edge acts that will benefit from the global impact of EA’s in-game exposure and Nettwerk’s unmatched Film & TV sync expertise.
“For the past five years, EA has been instrumental in breaking new artists, but we have been limited in our ability to grow them. With Artwerk, we can now directly sign, develop and launch artists for publishing, master recordings, sync deals and beyond,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and Marketing at EA. “With Nettwerk, we are once again partnered with the most visionary team in the industry. And with Junkie XL as our premiere signing, we are enormously excited about the future.”
Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk added, “EA has emerged as a powerful publishing vehicle for emerging artists with an A&R department that draws submissions from around the globe. It is time for the music industry to shake things up, break out new bands and find new ways to expose them on a global scale. Artwerk is music 2.0. It is where music, games and digital entertainment merge.”
Junkie XL commented on signing with Artwerk, "Both EA and Nettwerk are artist friendly, progressive thinking companies who embrace and don't fear the future. I feel understood as an artist and at ease with the people from both companies, which is most important to me. I can’t wait to release my new music through 'Artwerk’."
To submit music to Artwerk for consideration, please visit www.ea.com/eatrax/.
