CheckOut.com's Wherehouse Online Stores Selected as First Featured Retailer for Sony Music Entertainment's Video Music Network

Business Wire, May 17, 2000

Entertainment, Technology and Retail Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 17, 2000

Sony Music Entertainment has inaugurated a featured retailer program for its Video Music Network, a new 24 hour streaming video service, with The Wherehouse Online Stores, part of The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network and the exclusive Internet arm for Wherehouse Music. When VMN users click the "buy" button at the Video Music Network, they will be linked to the music area of The Wherehouse Online Stores located at www.CheckOut.com.

"We are very pleased to kick off this new retailer program with The Wherehouse Online Stores," said Danny Yarbrough, Chairman, Sony Music Distribution. "Sony Music is committed to working with traditional retail both online and off, and this is another example of how we can continue to grow this relationship into the Internet realm."

"We are thrilled to be featured on Sony Music's Video Music Network and to deliver thousands of Internet based fans music and information. Our affiliation with Wherehouse Music has offered us exclusive relationships and promotions with major labels such as Sony Music, allowing CheckOut.com and the Wherehouse Online Stores exciting music opportunities for our fans both online and in stores," said Jason Fiber, Vice President of Digital Strategies, CheckOut.com, The Entertainment Network.

Current featured artists on the Video Music Network channels include Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gloria Estefan, Grooverider and Jamiroquai. The VMN is available in both the Real Player G2 and the Apple QuickTime formats.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment (SME), a leading global producer, manufacturer, and marketer of recorded music and video has a presence in 60 countries. In the past few years, Sony Music has aggressively expanded its online presence, making key investments in over 25 digital media companies including Acuity (now Quintus), ARTISTdirect (NASDAQ: ARTD), AudioBase, CDNow (NASDAQ: CDNW), CustomRevolutions, Digital On-Demand, Dobedo, Exactis (NASDAQ: XACT), Gig.com, i3 Mobile (NASDAQ: IIIM), Intertainer, JFAX (NASDAQ: JFAX), lastminute.com (NASDAQ: LMIN), Launch Media (NASDAQ: LAUN), Listen.com, MongoMusic, NetGen, OnRadio, Palm, Inc (NASDAQ: PALM), Platform.net, Reciprocal, Spinner.com, TalkCity (NASDAQ: TCTY), Vidnet, and Yupi.com.

About The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network

The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network, based in Los Angeles, Calif., is the recognized online entertainment leader. It develops, maintains and markets online entertainment destinations including CheckOutMusic.com, CheckOutMovies.com, CheckOutGames.com, The Lounge and the Wherehouse Online Stores. The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network is one of the fastest growing destinations on the Web according to Media Metrix.

In November 1999, The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network entered into a strategic partnership with Wherehouse Music to become the exclusive Internet arm for the almost 600 Wherehouse retail locations. The CheckOut.com Entertainment Network and also holds key partnerships with RealNetworks, AOL MovieFone, Talk City, GameSpy Industries, EarthLink, LAUNCH, among others.