The deal was announced at the Digital Music Forum East in New York. While no prior rights clearance is required, Island Def Jam will become the publisher of the app. As such, it will handle payments to publishers and split revenues with The Echo Nest and the app developers.

Echo Nest CEO Jim Lucchese told DigitalMediaWire, "This is a bold move on the part of Island Def Jam, which has become the first major label business department to embrace an ...