Windows Media Player 7 Promotion Links US Consumers to Virgin JamCast for EMI Digital Downloads; Promotion Makes it Easier than Ever to Download and Enjoy Popular Digital Music

Business Wire, July 18, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 18, 2000

WAVO Corporation (Nasdaq: WAVO) announced today that the new Windows Media Player 7 links consumers to Virgin JamCast(TM) for the purchase of EMI Recorded Music in the US. Consumers downloading the Windows Media Player 7 can listen to samples of more than 100 albums and singles and purchase the digital selections directly from www.virginjamcast.com.

Starting today, consumers who visit the popular WindowsMedia.com guide to digital audio and video (http://WindowsMedia.com) can download Windows Media Player 7, the only all-in-one digital media player. Once the player is downloaded, consumers will have the ability to play song samples of their favorite EMI artists in Windows Media Format, including D'Angelo, dcTalk, Everclear, Janet Jackson, Pink Floyd, Bonnie Raitt, Selena, Frank Sinatra, Spice Girls and Tina Turner. By clicking a "buy" button after sampling the tune, US consumers will be linked directly to www.virginjamcast.com, where they can purchase the music via digital download. Consumers will enjoy CD-quality audio and the ability to view liner notes and album art.

Windows Media Player 7 is an easy to use, customizable player that offers CD-quality audio in half the size of an MP3 file. With more than 100 million licensed copies, Windows Media has the largest installed base of secure media players in the world.

"The launch of Windows Media Player 7 is an enormous stride toward the widespread adoption of digital music by mainstream computer users through its easy-to-use, intuitive interface," said Kevin Unangst, group product manager for Microsoft's Digital Media Division. "Windows Media Player 7 makes it easy to find, organize and play digital music. We are pleased that Virgin JamCast is making it convenient to purchase the music as well." Virgin JamCast is one of the first US retailers involved in this promotion. The promotion will last for 60 days.

Virgin JamCast, a unique partnership between WAVO Corporation (Nasdaq: WAVO) and Virgin Entertainment Group, is a pioneer in the digital music arena. Virgin JamCast offers traditional click and downloads for thousands of today's popular and emerging artists. In addition, by subscribing to the free JamCast Direct service, consumers can automatically receive up to 10 songs each week from each genre of music. This breakthrough service eliminates wait times for music downloads, as files are automatically delivered to the consumer's PC while they work, surf, chat or play online.

"We are very excited to be a principal US retailer for the EMI music promotion on WindowsMedia.com," said Patrick Gilbert, general manager of Virgin JamCast. "Today marks a significant milestone to reaching the full potential of the online digital music marketplace, by providing one location for all of a consumer's digital music activity."

"This marks the first in a series of very exciting, upcoming announcements regarding Virgin Entertainment Group's multi-channel online strategy," said Glen Ward, CEO of Virgin Entertainment Group (U.S.). "Virgin embraces the latest developments in new technology and champions all means of delivering a broad range of music to its consumers. We will continue to provide music lovers with the ultimate choice and convenience in purchasing their music via innovative retail experiences synonymous with the Virgin brand."

Supertracks, a leading enabler of the legitimate digital distribution of music (DDM), will facilitate and manage the digital music distribution process. As a trusted third-party clearinghouse for DDM, Supertracks accurately tracks sales and protects rights so artists and labels are paid for all music and content sold.

About WAVO Corporation

WAVO Corporation (NASDAQ: WAVO) is in the business of moving media. As an industry leading Internet media delivery company, WAVO partners with the foremost providers of news, business data, consumer content and multimedia programming. WAVO provides value added content management and electronic commerce services to media providers over its Internet and satellite networks in order to deliver quality content to an information dependent society. WAVO offers www.MediaXpress.com, the industry's leading solution for delivering streaming rich digital media to Web servers worldwide and www.VirginJamCast.com, an innovative Web site and service that delivers targeted high quality music directly to a consumer's PC without the wait times associated with traditional music downloading. Virgin JamCast is a member of the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) and supports SDMI initiatives.

About Virgin Entertainment Group

The Virgin Entertainment Group is the best multi-channel music and entertainment retailer in the marketplace, providing consumers with a range of superior entertainment experiences through a family of integrated Virgin-branded businesses. The "category killer" Virgin Megastores, Virgin Megastore Online at www.virginmega.com, Virgin's ultimate online listening post at www.radiofreevirgin.com, and the unmatched digital downloading store at www.virginjamcast.com are integral parts of a strategy to get consumers who are looking for music, books, video, software and other entertainment content what they want, how they want it, and when they want it.