August 29, 2005

News

BMI Acquires Advanced Digital Recognition Technology, Launches Landmark Digital Services, LLC

BMI has announced the acquisition of a digital audio recognition technology that will greatly expand its ability to measure the performance of music on radio, television and the Internet. Named BlueArrow^sm, the system uses pattern recognition to identify performances from any source containing audio. It achieves extraordinary accuracy, even in high-noise environments, after detecting audio for as little as one to two seconds.

BlueArrow technology will first be applied to increasing the data available for BMI's radio airplay analysis. Over the next 12 months, performance information from this new technology will be combined with BMI's current radio airplay measurement system, providing the company with the industry's most diverse picture of radio airplay and assuring that BMI will be able to continue to create the highest value for its affiliates' music. Additionally, the technology can be applied to any audio performance and a wide spectrum of media, including broadcast and cable television and the Internet.

Pictured after the signing of the BMI/Shazam agreement are (l-r) Bob Barone, Senior Vice President, Operations & Information Technology, BMI; John Cody, COO, BMI; Ajay Chowdhury, Chairman, Shazam Entertainment; and Andrew Fisher, CEO, Shazam Entertainment

"Pattern-recognition technology is the single most promising way to identify music performed on today's media and further into the digital future," said Del Bryant, BMI's President and CEO. "BlueArrow technology will give us a powerful new tool for the identification of music played on radio, television and in digital media."

BMI has formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Landmark Digital Services^sm, LLC, to own, deploy and exploit the technology, which was acquired from Shazam Entertainment, Ltd., a UK-based company. Landmark will also develop future technologies that can be integrated into BMI's royalty distribution systems.

BMI's John Cody and Shazam Entertainment's Ajay Chowdhury finalize the paperwork

Based on several years of intensive research at BMI, BlueArrow technology emerged as the leading recognition system for identification of music and other audio information. Bryant said, "Shazam has developed a superior technology in this field with incredible accuracy, speed and scalability."

"We believe this advanced technology will be a tremendous benefit to BMI as we continue our drive to maximize efficiency in measuring music use," said BMI Chief Operating Officer John Cody. "The ownership of this technology will provide Landmark Digital Services with real opportunities as a leading edge supplier of music performance data."

The agreement between Shazam and Landmark transfers worldwide ownership rights of this cutting edge technology to Landmark, including patents and pending patent applications. As part of the agreement, Shazam will continue to pursue business activities aimed at the mobile consumer use of the BlueArrow technology under a worldwide exclusive license to be provided by Landmark.

Click here to download the press release

photos by Gary Gershoff

In this story: Del Bryant

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BMI represents more than 400,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with more than 6.5 million works.