The Zune Is Giving Up On English Speakers
It’s no particular secret that the Zune hasn’t really caught on with most of America so far, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still people out there willing to pick one up. Audience of El Gordo y La Flaca, have we got the portable digital audio player for you!
Before we get into Microsoft’s latest adventure in demography, let’s recap which audiences have been paired with the Zune so far. (I might be missing one or two target markets.) • Bloggers. • People who enjoy the color pink. • Easily impressionable message-board types. • Factory Records completists. • LA hipsters. • Bloggers (again).
At this point, the audience of Sabado Gigante might be the only group of people left in the continental United States underexposed to the digital-media player’s merits!
Spanish-language network Univision and Zune, the Microsoft music and entertainment service, today said they were launching a music download service via Univision.com.
The new service will be branded Baja Zune Musica en Univision.com (Download Zune Music on Univision.com).
“Music has been at the forefront of Univision.com’s offerings, and this new partnership is part of a number of steps we have taken this year to enhance the music experience of our users,” said Cesar Conde, executive vice president and chief strategy officer, Univision. “By offering Zune’s music catalog and cutting-edge features, we are delivering a comprehensive online music subscription platform experience via the most-visited Spanish-language Web site in the U.S.”
As a result of the deal, Microsoft becomes the exclusive online music download and subscription provider on Univision.com in the United States, including Puerto Rico. The service offers Zune music charts, artist profiles and access to more than 4 million songs through the online music store called Zune Marketplace, the companies said.
This might actually be the best idea Microsoft has had in the multi-year debacle of trying to pawn the Zune onto consumers, since the Latino music market is fiercely loyal to its music and artists. But what exactly does Univision get out of lending its credibility and audience to Microsoft? Either way, I’m excited for the crossover promotion when the nuns bring a stack of Zunes back to the children of the orphanage on Querida Enemiga. It’s sure to be a touching moment when the children ask if they can have an iPod Touch instead.
