Roc Nation Signs Licensing Deals With MelodyVR for Virtual Content
Jay Z performs onstage during the 2017 Budweiser Made in America festival - Day 2 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sept. 3, 2017 in Philadelphia.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch
Virtual reality startup MelodyVR keeps piling up the licensing agreements, this time with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. Under the terms of the worldwide deal, announced on Thursday, MelodyVR will create and distribute virtual content in partnership with Roc Nation artists for its in-the-works app. The two-pronged deal covers both label and publishing rights.
MelodyVR has agreements with all three major label groups, the latest being Sony Music, as well as several independents, and it touts itself as the world's only fully licensed VR music program. Earlier this year, the startup announced a global partnership with Microsoft that will make its content available to over 500 million Windows 10 consumers.
In line with previous licensing deals, the content created featuring Roc Nation artists will initially be distributed on the MelodyVR platform before it is released for joint-exploitation by both parties.
Read more: Sony Music Inks Deal With Virtual Reality App MelodyVR
The Roc Nation roster includes Jay-Z, J. Cole, DJ Khaled, Rihanna, Romeo Santos, Shakira, Vic Mensa and Justine Skye, among others. The licensing deal gives MelodyVR more artists to work with as it stockpiles content ahead of its commercial launch in 2018.
"Roc Nation is one of the world's most prolific entertainment companies and we look forward to creating content with their outstanding roster of talent," said Anthony Matchett, CEO of MelodyVR parent EVR Holdings. "As we continue to push the boundaries of immersive entertainment, we look forward to working closely with Roc Nation and their artists."