In the Wake of Napster, Scour, and MP3.com, ThrottleBox Surges

Business Wire, Sept 12, 2000

Business Editors

JOHNSON CITY, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 12, 2000

Traffic Swells and Downloads Increase Significantly for Licensed Free Content from Metallica, Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Others

ThrottleBox.com, the fully licensed free content site from ThrottleBox Media, Inc., has begun to reap the benefits of the turmoil currently surrounding the online peer-to-peer exchange services like Napster. ThrottleBox Media operates in complete compliance with all label and studio partners in providing popular multimedia content free to viewers.

While other services such as MP3.com and Scour are coming under increased scrutiny and pressure from both industry and government sources, ThrottleBox has turned its partnerships with major content providers like Warner Brothers, Tommy Boy, Atlantic, Priority and Elektra Records into a successful alternative to the beleaguered, unlicensed exchanges.

"While the industry continues to debate licensing issues--and some sites have been forced to rethink their operating models--our licensed content from today's most popular artists has proven a great benefit," said Drew D. Saur, Chief Technology Officer at ThrottleBox. "As the situation for other services grows more uncertain, we've seen significant increases in traffic and downloads at ThrottleBox.com."

The available Metallica content is a particularly poignant example of the different ways online content distributors have chosen to operate. Fully licensed material from Metallica is available for free at ThrottleBox.com, including videos from their latest releases. Lars Ulrich, Metallica's drummer, has been an extremely vocal opponent of services such as Napster, and played a lead role in Congressional hearings and efforts to have that and similar services shut down.

ThrottleBox utilizes their proprietary Viewer software and related BOX files to offer protected free content in full cooperation with the major music and entertainment labels and studios. The Viewer, and related content files ("BOX" files) are available for free download at http://www.throttlebox.com/.

The freely available content includes music, videos, and full-length movies, cartoons, and television episodes. Extreme sports content and light-learning lessons in subjects such as golf and fitness are also available. Material from hundreds of today's hottest stars are ready for download, including Kid Rock, Busta Rhymes, Tori Amos, Lil' Kim, Slipknot, Led Zeppelin, Bjork, and Neil Young..

About ThrottleBox Media, Inc.:

ThrottleBox Media, Inc., based in Johnson City, New York, is a leading international developer and marketer of downloadable multimedia and customized World Wide Web solutions for the Internet/intranet market. ThrottleBox Media maintains alliances with Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Records, Elektra Records, Reprise Records, Broadband TalentNet, GT Bicycles, Listen.com, Tommy Boy Music, Hollywood Records, Motown Records, MCA Records, DreamWorks Records, and many other content providers, promoters, and sponsors. Clients include the National Golf Foundation, Telebrands/As Seen on TV, Madison Square Garden, AIG Life, Dow Jones, Combe Incorporated, and the National Mentoring Partnership.