Destra Signs Another Major Retailer – Harvey Norman Destra Continues ‘Click-n-Mortar’ Strategy
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Destra Corporation Limited (ASX:DES), Australia’s No 1 Digital Rights Management (DRM) provider, has signed an agreement with Harvey Norman (ASX:HVN) to provide online music through the specialised website, www.musicandgames.com.au.
Destra’s CEO, Mr. Domenic Carosa said, “With the addition of Harvey Norman’s 157 store retail chain across Australia, we are continuing to focus on our ‘click-n-mortar’ strategy maintaining Destra as Australia’s No 1 online music company.”
“www.musicandgames.com.au will provide our customers with a safe and reliable source for all their digital music needs. With Harvey Norman’s continued expansion into the rapidly expanding portable digital media market, we believe this partnership will provide an excellent opportunity, now and in the future, for promoting this category within our stores,” said Colin Wright, Product & Marketing Manager for Harvey Norman Communications.
Harvey Norman’s 157 retail stores across Australia are widely recognised for selling PCs, MP3 players and home entertainment equipment in addition to general household goods.
DestraMusic.com (100% owned by Destra) was the first company in Australia to launch a legal digital music service in December 2003, offering music through its network of online retail partners. Today, DestraMusic has access to 500,000 tracks from the major record companies including BMG Australia, EMI Music, FMR, Warner and Sony Music Entertainment.
“Consumers are more comfortable embracing new technology when it is provided by a brand they trust and recognise. Our partnerships with retailers such as Harvey Norman help achieve this objective,” Carosa added.
The music is in the Windows Media Architecture (WMA) format and will have built-in technology for customers to copy the songs onto a CD three times, as well as to a portable media player. The technology ensures that the tracks are not able to be transferred to pirate websites.
“We have built-in technology that gives the record companies protection from copyright violation, but will allow customers to make copies to CD for playing in their car or portable CD player,” said Carosa.
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