Microsoft Corp. today announced that it is working with EMI Music to help the company standardize on a common technology platform, based primarily on Microsoft� technologies, as part of a change program known as Digitizing EMI Music. Through this program EMI expects to achieve greater efficiency; optimize its distribution in an increasingly digital world; maximize its marketing capabilities; and become more flexible, fast-moving and responsive to the needs of consumers, artists and business partners. Microsoft and EMI have been working together for two years under a global enterprise agreement.

EMI Music�s technology change program, which is being rolled out across all 50 countries in which the company operates, will help ensure that the company remains at the forefront of the digital music revolution. The program will provide revenue benefits and cost savings for the company by Web-enabling key back-office, marketing and other processes and allowing EMI to take an industry-leading approach to the new digital music environment. It is also designed to improve EMI�s ability to respond more quickly to meet consumer and customer demand for innovative music products and services anywhere in the world.