Audible Inc. Joins Audio Portal MP3.com as Premier Provider of Spoken Word Audio

Business Wire, Feb 24, 1999

WAYNE, N.J./SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1999--

Debuting Free Daily Trial Downloads Of "The New York Times Audio

Digest On Audible" And Top Stand-Up Comedy

Audible Inc., a leader in secure distribution of premium audio content via the Internet, and MP3.com, a leader in the authorized download of digital music from the Internet, announced today a strategic partnership that will add a significant selection of premium spoken audio to the wide range of music files available through MP3.com.

MP3 listeners can now access free selections from Audible at MP3.com, featuring "The New York Times Audio Digest on Audible". Listeners of "The New York Times Audio Digest" can access edited stories from the front page, national, international, business, and sports sections, as well as the editorial and OpEd pages of The New York Times every morning.

Audible will regularly add to a new section of the MP3.com site called "Free Speech," initially offering "The New York Times Audio Digest" and great stand-up comedy by George Carlin and Richard Pryor, among many others. Audible will also contribute other selections from the audio service's vast collection of audiobooks, lectures and readings, Pimsleur Language lessons, business, technology and news programming.

"MP3.com and Audible share a commitment to superior listening experiences via the Web, and to providing a new channel of distribution for the best audio creators," noted Audible's founder, Don Katz. "The mix of selections from Audible.com's premium spoken word collection and MP3.com's music portfolio represent a significant first step for this partnership and Audible's commitment to embracing a secure MP3 format in the future. We are working with the leading MP3 playback device manufacturers to secure MP3 files in a way that will allow Audible.com's entire library of titles to be delivered via MP3."

"This is an opportunity for the MP3 community to expand its range of listening experiences and add valuable audio to their collection of MP3 files," stated Michael Robertson, president and CEO of MP3.com. "Audible's commitment to MP3.com means that MP3 listeners can access the best spoken word programming on or off the web. We look forward to building our partnership with Audible and enhancing the power of electronic distribution of audio together."

"Our relationship with Audible, and the distribution of "The New York Times Audio Digest on Audible" via MP3.com is indicative of our commitment to bringing the most trusted source of news and information to new audiences," noted Tom Carley, director of business development for The New York Times News Services division.

About Audible

Founded in 1995, Audible Inc., based in Wayne, NJ, aims to combine the growing popularity of spoken audio programming with the rapid development of commercial viability of the Internet. The company is focused on audio content sourcing, development, packaging, secure delivery, and playback, as well as continued development of the platform, tools, services, and varied licensing opportunities afforded by the Audible MobileAudio System. The company services Internet-savvy business professionals and other consumers whose primary needs include staying informed of critical business information and having access to the best entertainment-based audio. Audible provides unique content services that allows customers to program their own listening time and take better advantage of their commute and travel time by delivering premium information and entertainment when and where they need it.

Audible Inc.'s investors include AT&T Ventures, Compaq Computer Corporation, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, The Intel Corporation, Ironwood Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Patricof & Co., and TTC Ventures (The Thompson Corporation).

About MP3.com

MP3.com has experienced geometric growth and is the clear and undisputed leader in providing MP3 formatted music to consumers.

The Webby-nominated MP3.com hosts tens of thousands of songs from many thousands of artists available for download in the MP3 audio format. MP3.com has busily championed artists' rights while facilitating many tens of millions of legal downloads (over 14 million to date).

MP3.com's DAM (Digital Automatic Music) label program enables artists and labels alike to distribute and market their music to a worldwide audience while earning a 50% royalty check. The revolutionary label program provides artists with powerful online marketing and sales information further empowering artists in the digital arena.

Well over 3,000,000 monthly visitors experience the MP3.com site in search of great, new music and news of the ever-burgeoning digital audio movement.

MP3.com's investors include Sequoia Capital and idealab.