The Source – Multi-Platform Entertainment Company

Overview: The Source Enterprises, Inc., now a multi-platform entertainment company, began over a decade ago as a simple one-page newsletter. Today The Source is the best-selling music magazine on America 's newsstands, with three million readers per month. Since its founding, The Source, an award-nominated publication by the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME), has become a multimedia entertainment brand boasting a sports magazine, a television production company, a radio network, a CD library, and a critically acclaimed Website (www.TheSource.com).

Business Challenge: : TheSource.com has the unique opportunity to be positioned among its competition as the premier portal of worldwide, up-to-the-moment, dynamic information, commerce and services for the growing hip hop community.

Business Solution : DDGlobal has worked closely with TheSource.com to define, develop, host and manage the recreation and strategy behind its website. For competitive positioning, the site was launched with expansive commerce, community and content. DDGlobal d eveloped a business model to meet financial objectives, leverage the vast content resources (audio, video, text, images) and employ programs that promote reader/member participation across The Source TV, radio, print and Internet properties. DDGlobal also defined and implemented the commerce element of the website and developed a content management tool tailored for continuous dynamic content needs.

Technical Solution : DDGlobal used Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, IIS 5.0, Site Server 3.0-Commerce Edition, and Windows 2000 with Internet Cash, Cybersource, and Fullecom technologies to develop the commerce portion of THESOURCE.COM website. The community section of this site includes email; using Critical Path software, chat rooms developed with I Chat, and message boards that were custom designed by DDGlobal. Video Streaming, Sound, Animation, Flash, Java Script, DHTML, ACTIVEX, ASP, COM and a custom content tool developed for real time dynamic information makes up the Content element of the site.

Outcome of Engagement: THESOURCE.COM experienced a record 1.6 million hits during the twelve hours following the broadcast of The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards 2000. Additionally, 16,000 new users registered to become members of the site's community. Hip hop enthusiasts can now enjoy a vast resource that is tailored to their niche. As a result of the business model DDGlobal developed, THESOURCE.COM can meet all site-related financial objectives and The Source Enterprises, Inc. benefits from THESOURCE.COM's positioning as the world leader in information, commerce and services for the hip hop community.

 

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