"It's a clear signal that this is a big market, that it is important, that it is growing. And so it really validates the marketplace that we started going after several years ago."
Partnerships are playing a key role in the company's plans to compete. Dell for instance, uses MusicMatch software with its portable digital music players. And a promotion will be launched this spring with Coca-Cola's Sprite brand…similar to the collaboration between Apple and Pepsi. The Musicmatch MX subscription service… is where the company makes most of its money. And Ohlweiler says new digital rights technology may soon allow subscribers to take that music with them on portable devices…
"That's definitely going to happen by the Christmas time frame. You'll start seeing services and products that allow that. And that's really going to reinvigorate the whole subscription business as well."
One thing that's clear…he says…the way in which music is listened to and purchase has changed forever. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.