Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. and Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd. commenced on-demand print services of sheet music on June 10, 2003, as part of their jointly operated Net Print Contents Gallery, which utilizes Fuji Xerox's multifunction machines at Seven-Eleven Japan stores nationwide. The new service employs contents offered from Yamaha Corporation and Yamaha Music Media Corporation.
Approximately 300 songs, based primarily around guitar and piano scores from the latest pop tunes provided by the Yamaha companies, have been prepared for the initial marketing offering. Between 20 and 30 monthly hit scores will subsequently be added on a regular basis. The sheet music is printed on a two-page, A3-size spread at a cost of 150 yen per sheet. The price per song generally ranges from 150 yen to 600 yen, depending on the number of pages. The use of laser printing ensures a high level of quality and authenticity, while the waterproof printouts allow easy annotation. The sheet music can be easily purchased 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, and will never be out of stock, which often occurs in conventional purchase routes.
Corresponding with the commencement of this service, Yamaha also created a site within KDDI Corporation's mobile phone service, AU Ezweb, enabling users to search for musical scores easily by mobile phone.
To acquire the desired music, users input a printing registration number attained from the aforementioned site or through the Net Print Contents Gallery (http://www.printing.ne.jp/cg/) into the multifunction machine at any Seven-Eleven Japan store. After confirming the details, the sheet music will be downloaded from the Net Print center for purchase.
In the past, although providers possessed various contents suitable for printing in addition to animated transmission that includes both visual and audio media, there was no mechanism for the sale of these print contents. Using the new service offered by Fuji Xerox and Seven-Eleven Japan, customers can purchase the desired contents at a reasonable price, and at their convenience.
Availability: Japan
