EMI BOOSTS ONLINE PUSH

EMI has added 60 albums to its North American digital download trial, including albums simultaneously released offline, in an attempt to forward its digital downloading initiative. The major has inked a deal with digital music application service provider RioPort to further its online thrust.

The label group launched its initial push in July by offering more than 100 albums and 40 associated singles for sale through major online retailers (hitsdailydouble, 5/9).

EMI's agreement with RioPort is the label group's first foray into secure digital retailing without any physical product being involved. EMI already has arrangements with more than 80 retailers.

"EMI's goal is to bring our music to as many fans as possible, and RioPort allows us to bring that to a whole other dimension," said EMI Recorded Music Senior VP New Media Jay Samit. "This is an extension of our policy to make our music easy to use and easy to buy."

New releases from Blur, the Spice Girls and Medeski, Martin and Wood are available today on CD, cassette, or as downloadable files in formats from Microsoft and Liquid Audio.

EMI plans to regularly add other new releases as downloadable files as the discs are released to stores. New downloadable titles include catalog product by Al Green, Dean Martin, Ziggy Marley and Scarface.