Nokia Taps Orchard As First Indie Provider

Nokia has chosen The Orchard as its premier independent provider for the launch of its new Comes with Music service announced today in London. As a part of the unique collaboration, Nokia will work with The Orchard’s regional marketing staff and data sales analytics to localize the offering. Through custom playlist creation and other discovery tools, Comes Woth Music will be tailored to serve diverse markets worldwide.

With the Nokia deal as well as a similar "first indie in" status on MySpace Music, The Orchard is showing a willingness to use its advantage as one of the world’s largest digital distributors to aggesively place their clients – many of whom contracturally accept distribution wherever The Orchard places them – on the widest possible selection of services.

UPDATE: Comes With Music will also launch with indie product from Beggars Group, IODA, the Ministry of Sound, PIAS and Pinnacle.

From the press release:

“With their vast catalogue, unmatched digital marketing and promotion
expertise, and commitment to innovation and experimentation, Nokia is
pleased to name The Orchard as our premier music independent supplier,”
said Tero Ojanperä, executive vice president and head of the Nokia
entertainment and communities business. “We expect that our close
collaboration with The Orchard team as we roll out the service across
the UK, and then many territories worldwide, will mean a better
offering to Nokia customers, and more exposure for the fantastic
independent artists and labels who have chosen The Orchard as their
digital partner.”

“Nokia has once again innovated ahead of the market in the mobile music
space, aggressively competing with an exciting new model,” said Greg
Scholl, president and chief executive officer for The Orchard. “Comes
with Music is inventive, and the ground under the music industry is
shifting at a speed that rewards innovators and risk-takers – both
companies and artists.  Nokia, The Orchard, and The Orchard’s tens of
thousands of worldwide label clients stand to benefit.  We have high
hopes that this represents yet another incremental source of revenue in
the rapid evolution of digital music.”