EA buys online karaoke company

Electronic Arts has acquired karaoke site SingShot as part of plans to exploit the growth of online communities and user-generated content.

Singshot allows users to upload recordings of themselves performing hit pop songs, and to watch and rate other users' performances. The site features audio, video and photos, and hosts a variety of competitions.

According to a statement issued by EA, SingShot will become part of the company's Sims division, and the acquisition "will help accelerate EA's efforts in community-building and promoting user-generated content through a unique music platform".

The statement also observed that SingShot technology "can be applied to several different community projects within EA".

Based in San Francisco, SingShot is just one year old and has five members of staff. CEO Ranah Edelin and CTO Niranjan Nagar, who co-founded the company, will join EA as vice presidents. The remaining employees will also take on new roles with the publisher.

EA's executive vice president, Nancy Smith, described SingShot's staff as "tremendously talented, technically adept and true experts in developing user-generated communities through music".

She added, "We see a bright future for the technology and each of these individuals within EA."