Epic Records, Microsoft in Xbox 360 deal

updated 8:53 a.m. ET March 17, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Xbox 360 gamers will get a year of free music videos and other content from artists signed to Epic Records under a promotion deal between the record label and Microsoft Corp., the companies said Thursday.

The arrangement calls for Epic Records to feature 12 of its artists on a program dubbed Artist of the Month, which users of Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's popular gaming console can access over the Xbox Live entertainment network.  (MSNBC is a Microsoft - NBC joint venture.)

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Xbox Live members will be able to download exclusive music videos free and compete for a chance to play an online game against the Epic recording artists.

The first artist to participate in the promotion will be British singer Natasha Bedingfield.

New York-based Epic, a unit of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, is banking its artists will find a new audience among video gamers. Sony BMG is a joint venture of Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann AG.

MORE FROM GAMES

Games Section Front

10 best Nintendo DS games of the year FTC: Children still marketed violent content   'Assassin's Creed 2' a big step forward   Video games of December This holiday season, let the games begin! Best games for kids over 10   Tony Hawk’s back for a ‘Ride’   'New Super Mario Bros. Wii' review Nintendo’s Mario endures as games come, go Best games for kids under 10 Games Section Front   Add Games headlines to your news reader: