Boosey and Hawkes signs with Sibelius

The Sibelius Group, developer and producer of the world's leading music publishing software, has signed a major Internet deal with Boosey and Hawkes, one of the world's leading music companies.

The deal licences the use of Sibelius's revolutionary Internet publishing technology on Boosey and Hawkes' site (www.boosey.com) which will enable customers to buy sheet music straight from the online catalogue and instantly receive it via their computer printer. The deal is evidence of the publisher's commitment to digital sheet music distribution via the Internet.

The technology enables a "try before you buy" service that allows customers to see and listen to the music before deciding if a piece is suitable. They can also specify the key and instrument in which they wish the music to be written - for instance, the song "I Feel Pretty" from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story could be rearranged for clarinet and piano at the touch of a button.

Sibelius has worked in partnership with Boosey.com to develop the Internet edition of its award-winning software. The technology will be used to make contemporary music more accessible to a wider audience, exploiting the Internet's capacity for search, online playback and global distribution. Sibelius anticipates that the vastly increased availability provided by the Internet could expand the world sheet music market from $1 billion to $3 billion p.a. over the next ten years.

Ben Finn, chief executive officer of the Sibelius Group, said: "Online retailing is the perfect way to sell sheet music, especially unusual titles that are difficult to get hold of. Since the music is delivered straight to your own printer, it is free of all the hassle associated with buying online, like waiting around at home to sign for a delivery."

Stephen Richards, Director of the Printed Music Division at Boosey and Hawkes, comments: "The fact that people will now be able to browse and listen to both well-known and lesser known titles on the site will vastly expand the music's exposure, having a substantial impact on demand. There will be many benefits for composers, performers, teachers and conductors, as well as significant supply chain efficiencies for us the publisher."

Notes to editors

Sibelius

Since 1993, Sibelius has been developing and selling software used by composers, publishers and educational institutions to write and print music. With customers in 70 countries, Sibelius' award-winning software (also called Sibelius) is the world's best-seller and is recognised as the quickest and most advanced method of writing music.

In 1995 Sibelius foresaw that the Internet, then in its infancy, could revolutionise the print music industry, so the company set out to integrate Internet publishing into its music notation software. Signed with Sibelius' US subsidiary Sibelius.com Inc, the deal with Boosey and Hawkes forms the latest component of Sibelius' business strategy. Earlier this year Sibelius signed a deal with Music Sales, Europe's largest sheet music publisher and will be announcing further major deals over the next few months.

Sibelius' website can be found at www.sibelius.com

Boosey and Hawkes

Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd

Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers is part of the Boosey & Hawkes Group. It is one of the largest classical music publishing organisations in the world with offices in London, Berlin, New York and Sydney.

Its extensive rights catalogue of 20th and 21st century concert music includes the works of Bartok, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Britten, Bernstein, John Adams, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and James Macmillan.

The Boosey & Hawkes sales catalogue of printed music includes titles for professional and amateur performers, students and teachers. Its works vary in style from Victorian ballads to the multi-platinum selling album Adiemus by Karl Jenkins, from Duke Ellington to the Colonel Bogey March, and from best-selling tutor books such as Microjazz and Learn As You Play, to innovative interactive educational software.