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At an impressive $7.99 a pop (as much as or more than many labels are charging for current albums on iTunes), the app includes lyrics and video and enables users to record their own versions of the songs. “We expect to sell hundreds of thousands,” Bunt reveals.

THE FROZEN STREAMS

Disney Music Head Ken Bunt Gives Us a Guided Tour to the Phenom's User-Driven and Other Revenue

The Frozen soundtrack has been in the Top 5 for 27 weeks; in that time, it’s sold 6 million copies worldwide, and 15 million tracks. So, yeah, that’s a lot. But Disney Music chief Ken Bunt points out that the music piece of the massive Frozen empire is considerably bigger than that.

"It’s one thing to sell albums and tracks, and the streaming numbers are just ridiculous," Bunt relates (and more on streaming in a moment). "But in terms of user-generated content, I don’t think anyone’s seen anything like this on the music side yet. We’re claiming and monetizing that."

In other words, every time a kid sings "Let It Go" in a YouTube clip while her dog barks skeptically? Disney gets paid.

"There are more than 70k versions of ‘Let It Go,’ and user-generated versions have been viewed half a billion times," Bunt notes. "Kid groups, bands, parents singing in cars—it’s worldwide, and language isn’t a barrier." Indeed, the album is available in more than 20 languages (it’s 17 times platinum in Korea alone), so factor that in when you consider all the UG renditions that are now Disney revenue streams.

With video and audio streams in the neighborhood of 1 billion, the phenomenon has been self-sustaining—the official versions inspire amateur ones, and these in turn send fans, friends and families back to the originals, and so on.

Fan participation was further stoked by a karaoke album, which has sold 75k. But the next frontier in UG Frozen performances is Disney’s karaoke app, created in conjunction with its book/tech publishing division. At an impressive $7.99 a pop (as much as or more than many labels are charging for current albums on iTunes), the app includes lyrics and video and enables users to record their own versions of the songs. "We expect to sell hundreds of thousands," Bunt reveals.

Oh, and then there’s merch. Music is included in some 70 Disney toys. Imagine the boundless snowy vistas of Frozen as landscapes composed entirely of money and you’ll have some idea.

Frozen is currently being performed on ice, and a stage production in the works. Cha-ching, princess.

Also in the pipeline:

--A songs-only album (without score, at a reduced price), due in the fall
--A
Spanish-language set via Wal-Mart, also in the fall
--TV and Interactive initiatives connected to Olaf the Snowman’s song "In Summer"
--As-yet unannounced content created with Disney newly acquired video content arm, Maker Studios

"We're always looking for ways to foster that emotional connection with this property, says Bunt. "It's about sustaining this phenomenon."

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