Polygram enters Vietnam

Polygram enters Vietnam

HANOI (AFP): Music giant Polygram has signed exclusive deals with two Vietnamese distributors to sell its products in Vietnam, becoming the first foreign company to offer its music in the communist nation, a report said yesterday.

Polygram Far East, the Hongkong-based armed of Philips International of the Netherlands, will sell compact discs and cassettes under a copyright purchase agreement with two state- owned companies, the Vietnam News said.

Saigon Audio, a company controlled by the ministry of culture and information and Vietnam's first manufacturer of compact discs, will sell under license initially about 10 titles, company director Le Van On was quoted as saying.

A second company, Phuong Nam Film, will also distribute Polygram's titles, and all works will be subject to strict scrutiny to ensure they contain no "social evil" in the titles or lyrics, Frankie Chow, Polygram business development manager told AFP.