ASCAP Announces Groundbreaking Music and Licensing Deal With MP3.com

Business Wire, June 17, 1999

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--June 16, 1999--

ASCAP, the world's largest music performing rights organization as well as the leading Internet music licensor Wednesday announced a unique strategic relationship with MP3.com.

MP3.com, as part of the relationship, will take a comprehensive ASCAP music performance license that will allow the unlimited interactive performances on the MP3.com site of more than 4 million copyrighted works from ASCAP's 85,000 members.

MP3.com joins a rapidly growing list of Web sites that have realized the business-building advantages of an ASCAP license. What makes this relationship unique are the elements put in place to achieve both ASCAP and MP3.com mutual objectives -- the protection of creators' rights and the development of music talent.

Also, as part of the relationship, MP3.com will provide prominent exposure of the benefits of ASCAP membership to all unaffiliated writers, composers, artist/writers and publishers, using the MP3.com site, as well as help facilitate the processing of membership applications.

An interactive ASCAP "radio channel" will be created on the MP3.com Web site. Programmed by ASCAP in collaboration with MP3.com listeners, it will feature the musical works of ASCAP writers and artist/writers.

ASCAP and MP3.com will nationally co-host music showcases and educational workshops both on and off line. In this way, the talent development skills of both organizations will be made available to the largest possible audience.

ASCAP will offer its many exclusive membership benefits to unaffiliated writers and publishers on the MP3.com Web site.

Commenting on the announcement, John LoFrumento, ASCAP chief executive officer, said: "Today we take a big step forward in the proper use of protected intellectual property. All ASCAP members can take pride in this groundbreaking agreement with MP3.com.

"And of course, I take great pride in the fact that ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization that regularly distributes money for Internet music performances."

This agreement reflects ASCAP's approach to new technology, which focuses on the maximization of members' performance payments. ASCAP's technology is more than a promise for tomorrow; it is, in fact, a reality for today.

ASCAP is the world's largest performing rights organization, with more than 85,000 active composer, lyricist and music publisher members in the United States, representing music of every variety and style. ASCAP is the only U.S. performing rights organization governed by and for its members.