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Coca-Cola joins forces with Musicmatch in marketing venture
MUMBAI: Coca-Cola is seeking to fizz up its brands with a partnership that taps the popularity of online music. The Cola major has teamed up with online music company Musicmatch Inc. on 28 January to promote its Sprite brand. The alliance comes at a time when digital music sales are exploding all over the world and companies are recognising consumers’ desire for choice and control over their music.
According to an official release, the partnership will give Sprite consumers in the United States an unparalleled personalised digital music experience and link Musicmatch with millions of consumers through The Coca-Cola Company’s popular Sprite brand. The details of the partnership will be announced later this year.
“Our new partnership with Musicmatch is an example of the kinds of relationships we are always looking for, where both companies understand each other’s objectives and can create mutually beneficial programming that delivers great value to consumers,” said Coca-Cola North America senior VP (integrated marketing) Katie Bayne.
Added Coca-Cola North America group director (music) entertainment marketing group, “The Sprite brand has a long history with music, and we believe our partnership with Musicmatch is a great way to bring personalised digital music to US consumers in new and innovative ways,” said Geoff Cottrill.
The new partnership with Coca-Cola reinforces Musicmatch’s position as the most successful digital music company to date. Musicmatch has achieved a number of company and product milestones over the past several months that have resulted in a significant increase in Musicmatch Jukebox revenues, digital music downloads, subscribers to its Musicmatch MX service, Musicmatch Radio usage and overall company revenues. The specific milestones include:
* Musicmatch Jukebox: More than 45 million registered software users in 2003, a 25 percent increase over 2002, with more than one million copies of Musicmatch Jukebox Plus sold in 2003.
* Musicmatch Downloads: Now selling more than one million downloads per month.
* Musicmatch MX: More than 170,000 paying subscribers to the company’s subscription radio service, with 100 percent growth over 2002.
* Musicmatch Radio: More than 90 million hours played in 2003, with growth of more than 50 percent over 2002. The company’s Artist MATCH station is the world’s most popular Internet radio station.
* Corporate: Cash flow positive for each of the past 10 quarters, with more than 30 percent growth in overall revenues over 2002.
“Musicmatch has just completed the most successful quarter in the history of the company, with significant growth in all areas of our business and a tremendous start to 2004,” said Musicmatch president and COO Peter Csathy. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Coca-Cola company’s efforts to bring legitimate music services to millions of consumers. This relationship demonstrates that Musicmatch has the right product and service offerings for our partners, the ability to appeal to the broadest set of consumers, and the passion to work with major partners to enhance their brands with digital music promotions,” he added.
Coca-Cola had said in December 2003 that it would also be launching an Internet music download service in Britain this month through which it will begin selling music downloads from a catalog of 250,000 songs supplied from each of the five big music labels.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
