Elektra Entertainment Group and AOL's Winamp Announce a Record Number of Secure Downloads of The Cure's Latest Single

Business Wire, Feb 29, 2000

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 29, 2000

Over 58,000 Internet Music Listeners Download The Cure's

"The Last Days of Summer"

Elektra Entertainment Group and America Online's Winamp, the world's most popular high fidelity audio player and music Web site, today announced that The Cure's "The Last Day of Summer" surpassed 58,000 unique secure downloads within one month of launching the world premiere of songs from the Cure's 20th album on Winamp and Spinner music services.

This milestone represents the highest number of licenses issued for a digital song in a one-month period by Server-Side Technologies Inc.

Host to eight million visitors per month, Winamp.com and Spinner.com were the first music destinations to feature music from the Cure's highly anticipated new release, Bloodflowers, which has achieved one of the highest Billboard charting debuts in the bands 20-year history. Winamp.com offered a secure, time-release download of the "The Last Day of Summer" single as well as a convenient link to purchase the CD from Amazon.com where the Bloodflowers CD has risen to number six on the "Top Sellers" chart.

"This is concrete evidence that creating early, online awareness about a new release gets results, " stated Sylvia Rhone, Chairman and CEO of the Elektra Entertainment Group. "Our goal has always been to service our community of listeners, and Cure fans are a unique and special audience. This promotion with Winamp and Spinner.com enabled us to give online users the unique opportunity to preview this long-awaited release,"

Also as part of this promotion, which ended yesterday, Spinner.com featured streaming audio of "Watching Me Fall" and other songs from Bloodflowers. Also on Spinner.com, Robert Smith and fellow band members created a playlist of more than 150 songs, including rare Cure gems (like eighties chart-toppers "Just Like Heaven" and "Why Can't I Be You") and songs that have influenced the band throughout its twenty-year career.

"With Winamp and Spinner.com and we're focused on giving listeners convenient, secure access to the music they want," said Josh Felser, General Manager of Spinner and Winamp. "As these results show, the Internet provides a convenient way for fans around the world to preview music from their favorite artists."

About Nullsoft Winamp:

Launched in January 1998, Winamp is the world's leading high-fidelity audio player, giving millions the ability to listen to digitally downloaded music. Winamp supports playback of MP3, CD, and all popular digital audio formats, custom appearances called skins and audio visualization and audio effect plug-ins. Nullsoft which developed, Winamp (www.winamp.com) and SHOUTcast (www.shoutcast.com), was acquired by America Online, Inc. in May 1999. Nullsoft resides in San Francisco's Audio Alley and is part of AOL's Interactive Properties Group.

About Spinner.com:

Spinner.com is the first and largest Internet music service with 130 music channels. Covering an unprecedented depth and breadth of music programming -- with channels such as 90's Rock, Bluegrass, British Invasion, Chicago Blues, Top Pop, Great Guitar, Jungle and Latin. The Spinner player displays artist and song information as music is played, while providing dynamic links that enable online purchasing and real-time listener feedback. Spinner.com was acquired by America Online, Inc. (NYSE: AOL), in May 1999, and merged with Nullsoft, Inc. Spinner.com and Nullsoft now reside in San Francisco's Audio Alley. New listeners can visit Spinner.com and download a free player at www.spinner.com.

About Elektra Entertainment Group:

Elektra Records is celebrating its 50th year as one of the music industry's most cutting edge labels. Home to such legendary and diverse artists as The Doors, AC/DC, Linda Ronstadt, Third Eye Blind, Busta Rhymes, Metallica, Missy Elliott and more, Elektra is a Warner Music Group company.