PNI Digital Media offers licensed music tracks for consumers to download or order on CD. As with any online service, site experience plays an important role in the success of the service. PNI Digital Media’s experience in offering content transaction sites allows it to deliver a superior site experience across the whole platform. In the case of music, customers interact with the online site to select their music by artist, album title, song title or genre. Searching and saving of play lists with the ability of sharing these lists with friends and family is standard. Once the consumer decides to order the music they have selected they have the two aforementioned options: 1. Download direct or 2. Place CD order for pickup in-store.

The download store needs little description as after the consumer is done searching, creating and saving play lists, they can enter a credit card or prepaid card and download the tracks direct from the site. The Custom CD Creation service needs a more detailed explanation as it is the truly defining differentiate PNI Digital Media offers the music scene and retailers. Offering the same searching and sharing functions as the download store to stimulate purchasing but integrating tools to arrange and compose CD play lists, the PNI Digital Media Platform (DMP) takes the consumer experience to a new level. The music aficionado no longer has to worry about DRM, downloading issues or even paying online (most PNI Digital Media retailers opt for payment in-store at the time of purchase). Basically the consumer selects their music online and the retailer, using the DMP, does the rest.

Utilizing the DMP either integrated with the retailer’s PNI Digital Media provided online photo operation or operating in parallel with another online photo system, PNI Digital Media can transmit individual tracks, complete albums or compilation lists selected by the consumer for burning to Custom CD’s at the store of the consumer’s choice - in real time. Within this environment, the retailer can opt to offer one hour service, next day service or even mail to the home.

Once the customer places their order, the PNI Digital Media Platform (DMP) delivers it to the chosen location. The music tracks are sent in the manner necessary for the appropriate service time and the appropriate production equipment. The license(s) to burn the tracks are acquired from the content owner or licensor and delivered to the production center in the store. Emails are automatically generated to the consumer and billing information is automatically generated for the retail location.

Output options within the DMP include:

  • Direct to Store for “One Hour” CD production on digital labs from AGFA, Fuji, Konica and Nortisu or on dedicated equipment such as the Rimage.
  • Wholesale Lab for “Next Day” or “Mail to Home” service from wholesalers such as District Photo, Konica Wholesale, Photo Gift Company and TCN among others
  • Direct to In-store Kiosks with capable CD burners

The DMP routes the play list insert, jewel case cover and CD disc image along with the music tracks to the photo printing equipment. The complete CD and packaging can be produced and ready for pickup in as little as one hour.

By utilizing the PNI Digital Media Platform, a retailer who already offers photofinishing services doesn't need any new equipment to offer this service - the digital labs used to create millions of prints and photo CD’s every year in the store can print the packaging and burn music CD’s just as efficiently. Most retailers have the right gear in place today – they just need PNI Digital Media to provide the distribution system and workflow at the retail level. Pictures or music. It’s all the same thing from a technological point of view.

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