Nawras partners with international recording giant to introduce unique Backstage music experience

Nawras customers can now be first to hear the latest music releases from their favourite artists as they 'Live it First', with the introduction of an exciting, interactive music experience 'Backstage'. Launched in partnership with Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, this new experience brings interactive entertainment to the fingertips in a pleasingly different way.

Backstage not only offers unlimited music downloads for mobile phones and PCs but unlocks privileged access to top names in the industry. Nawras customers can be amongst the first to get their hands on exclusive material ahead of release dates and even have the opportunity to meet their music heroes, attend recording sessions and win VIP concert tickets.

For a minimal monthly fee of just 1.9 Omani Rials, customers can enjoy unlimited access to the most extensive international music catalogue of over 120,000 international hits from Universal Music, Mazzika and Melody. Artists on these leading labels include Amr Diab, Haifa Wehbi, Tamer Hosny, Khaled, Rachid Taha and many more popular performers. The impressive list continues with Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Kanye West, Snoop Dog and Snow Patrol. Music from R&B artists like Pussycat Dolls and Akon lines up with classical titles from Andrea Boccelli and Luciano Pavarotti.

Unlimited downloads are accessible as long as the service subscription continues. Playlists can be created and music searched by track, artist, genre or album. A specially designed interface allows Backstage customers to build their own collections and share playlists with friends and family as well as other fans. Every month 10 tracks can be chosen and saved forever.

Ross Cormack, Nawras Chief Executive Officer, said, "Backstage is one of the most exciting services that Nawras has made available and we are thrilled to launch this fantastic 'first' for our customers. At the heart of Backstage is the idea that we all want to be entertained and want to be able to personalise the way we enjoy music in our daily lives. Living the customer experience is important to us and it is with this in mind that we will continue to deliver unique products and services like Backstage to the people of Oman." 

The service is supported by variety of mobile devices, including iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia and SonyEricsson. Backstage is also accessible via computer by simply visiting www.nawras.om/backstage and downloading the PC Client. No data charges are made for downloading tracks.

Backstage stands out among other music products in that Nawras customers will have unique opportunities to get closer to the artists themselves with backstage passes and rather than purchasing and downloading individual tracks, there is unlimited access to an astonishingly broad selection of international music. 

"Music has the unique ability to cross cultural and geographic divides while allowing people to get closer in a fun, heartfelt way," added Cormack. 

"We expect Backstage to be a great hit with our younger customers as well as all those who are 'young at heart'. We are pleased to be offering a huge variety of genres to suit everyone." 

Backstage has been jointly developed by a team working across the Qtel Group with Universal Music and its technology partners. It was successfully launched by Qtel in Qatar at the end of last year and is expected to be rolled out by other operators within the Qtel Group footprint in the near future. 

Nawras was recently named Best Superbrand Oman 2010 by the Superbrands Council as well as being awarded Customer Service Provider of the Year, by CommsMEA.