Reports: Sony & RED Tapping IODA’s Technology
Sony Music Entetrainment and its RED indie ARM are about to announce an alliance with digital distributor IODA, according to one report. There have been rumors and speculation swirling for several days about the tie-up, but I had been waiting for an official announcement to get the details right and comment.
If all that I'm hearing is true, the deal allows Sony and RED to tap into IODA's Rightsholder Dashboard which the major label views as a superior delivery and tracking system to its own. Hundreds of distributed labels and even managers are demanding up to the minute digital sales data that IODA already delivers.
Will IODA Remain Indie?
The deal mimics the Universal hookup with INgrooves for its digital music technology. But what's not clear is whether or not the relationship goes further.
Is IODA just acting as a services provider or licensing it's technology to Sony and RED? Or is Sony Entertainment buying a big stake in IODA as Universal did with INgrooves? If the later is true, it would leave The Orchard the last of the big three digital distributors not tied to a major label group.
What's probable is that the deal allows IODA to tap into the RED distribution system for physical releases. In an ironic twist, combingbrick and mortar distribution with digital distribution in a single deal has proven an attractive bargaining tool for the Orchard via its TVT arm and INgrooves thru Fontana/Universal.
Tapping
Thanks….corrected. Should have had my coffee first.
Don’t be fooled… The Orchard, a publicly traded company, is very much tied to and vested Warner. There are no more independently owned aggregators. Even Tunecore has allowed Universal to infect their independent mentality.
Might want to keep an eye out for http://www.101d.com. They’re already kicking ass and taking names and have an extreme disgust for the old-world major label system.
Who ISN’T selling out these days? Is there anything that sticks up for indie artists anymore? I find this to be so annoying. IODA is now owned by Sony and will try to stomp out indie artists!!!! What is 101d.com? Did they release last months kanye west project?
Don’t trust the supposed “indie” distributors and labels that have relations with the major labels – they’re only going to look out for their artists. It seems like 101 Distribution is one of the very few legit distributors who isn’t selling out to the man. FIGHT THE MAN! Stay Independent!!!
Yes they did. And they’re a full service INDEPENDENT distributor. Check it out at http://www.101d.com
A few things from an industry insider. Real time reporting for digital sales is an outright fabrication and is nothing but fluff for the uninformed.
IODA’s dashboard may be slick but in no way is it integrated into major digital stores reporting systems which makes up to the minute reporting a fabrication and an impossibility.