Borders.com to be Official Online Music Retailer of the IBM-Sponsored Grammy
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Ann Arbor, Mich (December 14, 1998) – Borders Group, Inc., IBM and the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (Recording Academy®) today announced that Borders.com will be the official online music retailer of the Webcast for the 41st Annual GRAMMY Awards. IBM is sponsoring and producing the official event site with the Recording Academy.
Borders.com, the e-commerce site of Borders Group, Inc., a global book, music and video retailer with over 240 superstores on four continents, will feature a special GRAMMY-related section which links with the GRAMMY Webcast on http://www.grammy.com. Once the GRAMMY nominees are announced in January 1999, music enthusiasts will be able to listen to and view clips of GRAMMY-nominated recordings and videos and to purchase CDs and related books and videos online.
According to Rick Vanzura, senior vice president of Borders.com, the retailer will do more than sell CDs on the Webcast site. Borders.com is planning to unveil many special online features after the first of the year. The site will present a wide selection of nominated performers’ CD titles and will highlight the annual GRAMMY compilation CD. Borders is also planning to go off-line in its retail stores around the globe with special in-store promotions.
“Borders is excited to be teaming with IBM and the Recording Academy for the GRAMMY Webcast, offering a comprehensive and compelling experience for music fans all over the world via the Web,” Vanzura said.
IBM Global Services’ interactive media group, which will produce the GRAMMY Webcast, also developed, hosts and enables e-commerce on Borders.com.
“We’re pleased that IBM has been a catalyst in creating a unique e-business solution that delivers real business benefits to both parties — the Recording Academy and Borders,” said Jeff Ramminger, IBM Global Services segment executive, telecommunications and media industry.
Source: IBM