Billboard's coverage of Zune is based on an iinterview with Chris Stephenson, Microsoft's new GM of marketing for MSN Entertainment Business. The story says:
Zune users will be able to view each other's playlists, recommend music and sample tracks in what Stephenson describes as a multifaceted music discovery experience. This capability will extend to the Xbox 360 game console, PCs running Windows Media Center and mobile phones using the Windows Mobile operating system.
"The ability to connect the different devices is a key part of the strategy," Stephenson says. "Whether it's a portable media device, or a phone, or the Xbox or Media Center PC, the idea is you can access your entertainment from anywhere."
The music industry seems reasonably keen on Microsoft getting involved. Billboard says:
While publicly praising Apple's success in building the digital music space, music industry executives have expressed frustration at the company's my-way-or-the-highway tactics. Competition means more opportunities to sell digital music in ways Apple won't allow. For instance, Microsoft is more open to variable pricing, whereas Apple is not.
"We definitely see the need for really strong competition in the marketplace," says [Warner Music Group's George White].. "We'd love to see more players getting in and offering more types of digital content. We think that having more, stronger competition is more likely to yield that outcome."
