Ricall, the leading online music licensing marketplace which connects registered users to a library of more than 3-millions songs, has agreed to form a joint venture with Ocean Butterflies International, one of the largest music companies in Greater China (with its head office in Singapore). The venture completes Ricall’s international network, providing the London-based online music licensing company with a global footprint of representation on the ground in territories including North America, Europe, South East Asia and now China.
“We are delighted to be forming a joint venture with such a recognised leader in the music licensing industry,” said Li Peng, CEO of Ocean Butterflies International. “There is a rapidly growing demand for a quick and simple way to access music licenses in China, given the demand from advertisers and other media producers who need to use music to connect instantly with consumers in such a large and fast moving economy.”
Ocean Butterflies International’s sales team will promote and market a translated and localised version of Ricall’s online music licensing platform – www.ricall.com – initially in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia. Chinese ad agencies, film and TV producers, video game developers, corporate event organisers and new media producers will now be able to easily find and request licenses for the perfect track for their productions. Ocean Butterflies International will also provide local registered users with a ‘premium service’, where requested by registered commercial users. The premium service will enable local producers with limited time or with limited knowledge of music licensing to take advantage of Ocean Butterflies International’s significant experience in researching and licensing music for use in commercial productions.
“We see enormous opportunity for music licensing in a market as significant as China and South East Asia to western brands and we are very excited about the opportunities we can access on behalf of our copyright owner partners by working with such a highly respected and knowledgeable local company such as Ocean Butterflies International,” said Richard Corbett, Founder & CEO of Ricall. “Our global platform, which is being supported by the leading music licensing companies in each territory, enables us to customise the platform to suit the unique licensing requirements of each local market, and ensure professional music users around the world can find and license the perfect music for their productions.”
The Joint venture has been signed in the presence of the Deputy Director of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, Zhang Xin Jian at the 42nd MIDEM in Cannes, 28 Jan 2008.
About Ocean Butterflies International
First established in Singapore since 1986, Ocean Butterflies International (www.ob-i.com) is the leading independent Music Power in Asia, operates in 5 regions: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Ocean Butterflies International comprises 6 major enterprises:
1) Ocean Butterflies Music: record label, artiste management, music production, concert organizer, marketing & distribution network. Major artistes include JJ Lin (林俊杰), A-Do (阿杜), Li Bingbing (李冰冰), Fan Bingbing (范冰冰) etc.,
2) Touch Music Publishing: the all-time winner of the ‘Top Local Publisher Award’ by Composers’ & Authors’ Society of Singapore for the past 12 consecutive years. It represents a total catalogue of over 300,000 songs.
3) Ocean Butterflies Pictures: artiste management, motion pictures investment, production & distribution.
4) Ocean Butterflies Communications: The marketing expert to collaborate enterprise branding & entertainment.
5) Ocean Butterflies Technology: An interactive on-line and mobile digital music platform. Prior strategic partner with digital/mobile distribution & licensing network.
6) Ocean Butterflies Resources: Music Schools & music Theme Restaurant franchise. The pop-schools, having more than 600 students, now operate in Singapore, Malaysia & China. The Theme Restaurants operate in Malaysia & China with a total of 18 franchises.
