First Auction and T.J. Martell Bring Together Some of Music and NASCAR's Hottest Stars Online for StarBid '99 - the All-American Celebrity Auction

Business Wire, June 4, 1999

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--June 4, 1999--

Dixie Chicks, Jeff Gordon, Amy Grant, Hanson and

Shania Twain Donate Items

People across the nation will have the opportunity to obtain memorabilia from some of country music's hottest stars, as First Auction announced the newest StarBid `99 -- the All American Celebrity Auction, with bidding opening on Friday, June 4 and continuing through Sunday, June 20.

Items available on StarBid '99 include objects from contemporary Christian, gospel, rock and pop music stars, as well as signed equipment and photos from NASCAR race drivers and other notable athletes. Additionally, there will be a booth located at Fan Fair, country music's biggest fan appreciation event, where fans can place bids and meet artists in person (Building D, Booth 403).

Since the announcement of the partnership between First Auction and the T.J. Martell Foundation in March 1999, hundreds of one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia have already been auctioned off, with all proceeds benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation.

In addition to the chance of winning a piece of country music history, participants in StarBid '99 -- the All American Celebrity Auction, will be raising funds for lifesaving research to find better treatments and cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.

"Leveraging the broad popularity of country music today, we are pleased with the enormous celebrity support that has benefited such a worthy cause," said Alan Citron, president, USA Networks Interactive. "With thousands of consumers, including some of today's top celebrities, converging for our next live StarBid '99 auction at Fan Fair, we anticipate even greater returns for T.J. Martell."

"Our partnership with First Auction has broadened our fundraising efforts through the power of the Internet and its enormous reach," said Tony Martell, chairman of the T.J. Martell Foundation. "We look forward to this StarBid event that will help continue the lifesaving research of the foundation."

For detailed descriptions of the items and bidding instructions for StarBid `99, participants should log on to www.firstauction.com.

Some of the items up for bid include:

-- Autographed Amy Grant certified platinum sales award for "Behind

The Eyes"

-- Epiphone Guitar signed by Shania Twain, Celine Dion, Janet

Jackson, Neil Diamond and Sawyer Brown

-- Wynonna autographed platinum award plaque and certificate of

authenticity for "Wynonna Collection"

-- George Strait autographed hat, photo and single CD "Carrying Your

Love With Me"

-- Three autographed pairs of pants worn by the Dixie Chicks in the

video "Wide Open Spaces," along with a copy of the video

-- Charlie Daniels Myrtle Beach Golf Weekend, Aug. 14-16, 1999:

includes two round-trip airfare, one hotel room for two, a round

of golf with Charlie, reserved tickets and two backstage passes

for Charlie's show at The Palace, August 15 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

-- Plane ride with pilot Ricky Van Shelton

-- Gibson electric guitar signed by Hanson, with a Gibson USA

lockable hard case

-- Epiphone guitar signed by all 3 Wilkinsons

-- Jeff Gordon-signed Simpson racing helmet

-- Busch Series Racing Dale Earnhardt Jr. No. 8 autographed cap

-- Andre Agassi-autographed white shirt and photograph

Internet Shopping Network (www.isn.com), a division of USA Networks Interactive, launched the world's first online store in 1994. ISN continues its online commerce innovation with First Auction (www.firstauction.com), the first real-time online auction, featuring a diverse selection of home and leisure products, jewelry, apparel, consumer electronics and computers.

ISN plans to launch new commerce sites in 1999 including a jewelry store and an online outlet shopping center. Internet Shopping Network is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA.

The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research (www.TJMartellFoundation.org) was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues after the death of Tony's son, T.J., a victim of leukemia. The music and entertainment industry charity has raised more than $120 million for cutting edge research and maintains an overhead of less than 7 percent.

The Foundation funds lifesaving research at the T.J. Martell Memorial Laboratories at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York City, the Neil Bogart Memorial Laboratories at Childrens Hospital in Los Angeles, and the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt/Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.