7digital

Infobox Company
name = 7digital
company_
type = Private
foundation = January 2004
location_city = London
location_country = United Kingdom
location =
locations =
key_people = Ben Drury, James Kane
area_served = United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain
industry =
products =
services = www.7digital.com, indiestore, Audio/Video download store creation
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees = 40cite web| title=7digital - Staff | url=http://www.7digital.com/business/contact-us/staff | accessdate=May 12 | accessyear=2008]
parent =
divisions =
subsid =
slogan =
homepage = [http://www.7digital.com/business/ Corporate Site]
dissolved =
footnotes =
intl = yes

7digital is a privately-held digital media delivery company based in the United Kingdom, offering downloadable music, video and movies to customers primarially within major European markets. They also provide branded digital solutions for their clients, including traditional media companies such as ITV and Channel Five, brands such as Pringles and Miller, and social networking sites Last.FM & Bebo. The company is also notable for its involvement with War Child, for whom they provide the technology behind Warchild Music.

Corporate history

The company was founded in January 2004 by Ben Drury and James Kane, who currently serve as Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer respectively. The company is financially backed by Balderton Capital, the European arm of venture capital firm Benchmark Capital who also provided initial financing for eBay.

On January 28, 2008 the company announced that it had agreed terms on a £4.25 million ($8.5 million) investment from various groups, including Sutton Place Managers and Balderton Capital. The investment will be used to launch www.7digital.com in more European countries and the United States,cite web| title=7digital Agrees Terms of $8.5 Million Investment to Capitalise on Rising Digital Media Demand | url=http://www.7digital.com/business/press2008.aspx?28_01_08 | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008] along with expanding the sites offerings to include downloadable video and computer games.cite web| title=UK iTunes rival 7digital to hit US and Europe | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jan/28/digitalmedia.mediabusiness?gusrc=rss&feed=media | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]

ervices

7digital.com

7digital.com is an online digital music store, one of the UK's first when launched in 2004. Consumers can purchase music, audiobooks, comedy shows and videos (including documentaries, independent films and music videos). As of|2008|1, more than 3.5 million tracks are available, the majority without DRM restrictions.cite web| title=7digital's DRM-free music store going to the US, worldwide | url=http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029432,49295267,00.htm | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]

The site has secured exclusive deals with major artists. Examples include:

* August 2007 - Became the first digital retailer to offer 24 albums by The Rolling Stones, spanning the period 1971-2005 without DRM restrictions.cite web| title=Stones roll out 'DRM-free' albums | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/music/news/e3iead8dbd535e3d3da00a892550c48c6e4 | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]
* September 2007 - Became the first digital retailer to offer Pink Floyd's entire back catalogue without DRM restrictions.cite web| title=7digital to offer all Pink Floyd albums DRM-free | url=http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/10047/11071/7digital-entire-Pink-Floyd-catalogue.phtml | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]
* September 2007 - Became the first digital retailer to offer Radiohead's entire back catalogue. The band only wanted to offer complete albums and therefore tracks cannot be downloaded individually.cite web| title=Radiohead Selling Full Albums Via 7digital Deal | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003642561 | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]
* March 2008 - Warner Music makes its complete music catalogue available in MP3 format. [ cite web | url=http://digital-lifestyles.info/2008/03/05/warner-drop-drm-on-7digital/ | title=Warner Drop DRM On 7Digital | author=Simon Perry | publisher=Digital-Lifestyles | date=2008-03-05 | accessdate=2008-03-05 ]
* September 2008 - SonyBMG is the fourth and final major label to allow 7digital to sell its catalogue in DRM-free MP3 formaton the UK store. [ cite web | url=http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/09/16/7digital-goes-completely-drm | title=7digital goes completely DRM free | author=Ian Williams | date=2008-09-16 | accessdate=2008-09-16 ] .

Regional versions

7digital has launched regional versions of 7digital.com in Germany, Ireland, France & Spain, and intends to continue expanding into other European countries and the United States.

Availability of DRM-free downloads from major labels

indiestore

Launched in early 2006, "indiestore" lets unsigned artists and independent labels create their own digital music download store for free. There is also an enhanced paid version, allowing for more tracks, greater revenue sharing and other features. indiestore reports sales through these sites to chart compiling organisations in over 20 countries. In the United Kingdom this led to the first single by an unsigned artist (KOOPA) appearing in the Top 40 through download sales alone. More than 95% percent of the singles chart eligible sales were made via indiestore or 7digital.com.cite web| title=A blag or a steal? New rules put unsigned punk band in top 40 | url=http://music.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1991362,00.html | accessdate=February 25 | accessyear=2008]

References