Absolute Radio has brokered a pioneering agreement with EMI Music Publishing, the world’s leading publisher of popular music, enabling a brand new revenue stream for the business as it celebrated its first birthday this weekend with a moment of music history which saw the station close Regent St for the first time ever to stage a concert with iconic British band Madness.
The deal is designed to provide Absolute Radio with the services of EMI Music Publishing’s renowned and extensive roster of writers and composers to clients who will be able to commission bespoke songs and audio accompaniments for marketing campaigns.
The deal will see the radio station giving advertisers a platform in which to promote their marketing messages with a stronger audio identity and will in turn mean that clients campaigns sound more effective and memorable.
The commissions will be created for campaigns on the radio station, and will also see Absolute Radio able to licence the music compositions for clients to use in their media campaigns across other all other media. This will include other radio stations, digital platforms, TV and movies for sync deals. The deal enables the radio station to generate a new revenue stream from having music publishing interests. The deal not only covers audio for creative campaigns but could also be extended to encompass the publishing of songs recorded for general release.
EMI Music Publishing UK [Head of Sales Melanie Johnson], said, “This deal poses a great opportunity for our songwriters and composers, who will be able to use their ability to connect with listeners in order to create significant income generating opportunities for themselves.”
Vince Lynch, Absolute Radio Creative Director, said of the deal, “It’s about creating a sonic identity with our clients that defines their uniqueness, which in turn helps our business sound better. We all know that listeners don’t hate adverts, they hate bad adverts. With the musical know-how of EMI Music Publishing and the creative minds at Absolute Radio, we can create ads and programming that people actually want to experience in order to make for a stronger listening experience”.
This deal has been secured at the end of an incredible first year for Absolute Radio which has seen the station develop significant credentials in live music and comedy.
As well as signing comedians Frank Skinner and Dave Gorman, the station sponsored the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Digital innovation has been core to the offering and the station developed the number one radio i-phone application, achieved over a million podcasts and is currently testing a new and pioneering radio station. The station has broadcast an unprecedented number of live music events including Blur Hyde Park, Kings of Leon live from the NEC, The Isle of Wight Festival, The Teenage Cancer Trust gigs and the V Festival.
The station is planning a series of events in a festival of activity around its First Birthday including which will see broadcasts of concerts from key Absolute Radio artists including Coldplay, Kings of Leon, Paul Weller and Lily Allen and the closing of London’s iconic Regent St for concert with Madness and an exclusive gig with Florence and the Machine at the top of Abbey Road.
