Bing Helps Decode Jay-Z’s Life and Music

Just hours from now users will be able to start putting together Jay-Z’s first book: Decoded page by page with a tad of help from Microsoft technologies such as Bing and Silverlight.

Bing.com/Jay-Z is now live, with the site placed at the core of the Decode Jay-Z with Bing Cloud experience.

Fans of the artist will receive a variety of clues to help them find over 300 pages of Decoded which will be shared with the public ahead of the book’s launch on November 16th.

Obviously, users will get the chance to get insight into Jay-Z’s life and music, but also to win some rather sweet prizes, including tickets to a performance scheduled later this year.

“In anticipation of the release of his first book, DECODED, which will be on sale on November 16th, Jay-Z and Bing have teamed up to launch a multi-platform search experience and interactive game to help fans decode Jay-Z’s life and lyrics,” revealed Eric Hadley- General Manager, Bing.

“The immersive online experience utilizes multiple facets of Bing, including Bing Maps and Bing Entertainment, to give fans full access to the stories behind Jay-Z's songs.

“Over the course of a month, fans will come together as a community to compile DECODED online before it hits bookshelves.”

Hadley notes that all the pages of the book will be offered through the Decode Jay-Z with Bing initiative, placed in no less than 15 locales around the world.

The clues offered via Jay-Z’s Twitter and Facebook accounts will help fans narrow down the search.

The Redmond company’s search/decision engine can be leveraged to look for clues. Bing Maps will permit users to explore the same streets as the artist.

At the same time, Bing Entertainment will offer the chance to access lyrics and to buy Jay-Z songs.

“Starting [on October 18th, 2010], five to ten new pages from DECODED will be unveiled each day, until the contest ends on November 20th.

- Players answer clues to find the DECODED pages in the online game experience at Bing.com/Jay-Z, or in-person by locating the clues in NYC, London and beyond.

- Any player who locates a page online or in-person (by texting unique game codes from the page) is entered into a drawing for a prize: the specific page they’ve located, signed by Jay-Z.

- All participants will be entered for a grand prize: two tickets to Jay-Z and Coldplay in concert in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve,” Hadley said.