New Euro Retail Body Seeks Even Digital Playing Field

A new European branch of the Global Entertainment Retail Assn. (GERA) yesterday reiterated that multinational record companies must not limit the digital distribution of their repertoire to services in which they have a stake, such as Pressplay and MusicNet. Njara Zafimehy-president of GERA Europe, which was unveiled at Midem in Cannes-said, "The majors must accept independent [digital-distribution] platforms which can offer their own range and price levels."

Zafimehy, an executive at 120-store French retail chain FNAC, also warned that GERA Europe will not hesitate to raise the issue with European Commission competition authorities if members feel they are not being afforded an equal opportunity to participate in digital distribution. "We don't believe that Pressplay and MusicNet should be the only link with the customer," he said.

Martin de Wilde, treasurer of GERA Europe and chairman of Netherlands music retail association NVGD, told Bulletin that the Dutch group has already contacted EC antitrust chief Mario Monti on the issue. De Wilde says NVGD has been unable to obtain 30-second music samples and artwork from local IFPI-affiliated record companies for promotional use on its forthcoming portal, www.platenzaak.nl.

In addition to de Wilde and Zafimehy, GERA Europe officers include Bob Lewis, director general of U.K. music retail body BARD, and Nina Krogmann, director of German music merchant group HAMM. The association was formally established Jan. 10 in Brussels.