CNET Download.com Launches Free, Legal Music Discovery & Download Service; Music Fans Can Now Fill Their MP3 Players with Diverse Music Selections

Business Wire, April 26, 2004

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2004

CNET Download.com, the world's leading download resource and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq:CNET), today launched its free, legal music discovery and download service (music.download.com). The service enables the tens of millions of people who visit CNET Download.com each month to easily navigate a diverse selection of songs from participating artists, find the music that appeals to them, and fill their MP3 players and other audio devices with tunes, without spending a penny.

CNET Download.com began building its music database just last month, providing artists the opportunity to easily upload their songs (http://music.download.com). It is launching with basic functionality, enabling users to browse, find, download, and listen to featured music from its initial collection of thousands of songs. During the year, as the song database grows significantly as expected, the site will undergo rapid development as CNET Download.com adds community, discovery, and technology features and functionality. User feedback will be integral to this development process.

"While commercial music services have proliferated, we are the first large-scale provider to offer free music downloads in a discovery-focused environment, saving music fans valuable time in finding tunes that match their tastes," said Scott Arpajian, senior vice president of CNET Download.com. "Our goal is to provide music fans free digital fuel for their devices, and exposure to original artists and songs that can become their new favorites."

CNET Download.com is adapting its proven, intuitive interface and unbiased approach to meet the needs of music fans. On a monthly basis, tens of millions of people turn to CNET Download.com to discover free-to-try, legal software, easily navigating between more than 30,000 latest-version offerings in 12 primary categories for virtually any purpose, business or pleasure. Users download more than 75 million software files each month. An unbiased resource, CNET Download.com makes software discovery easy, directing users to "most popular" and "most talked about" lists, new releases, product spotlights, and top-rated programs in each category. During the year, the music service will evolve with similar discovery features.

CNET Download.com's user base includes a heavy following of music fans, as evidenced by the fact that the "Audio and Video" software category steadily ranks as the number one download category on the site. Now, the people who turn to CNET Download.com for software such as CD burners, media players, rippers and encoders, music management, and MP3 search tools will also be able to fill their audio devices with free, legal songs.

The launch of the CNET Download.com music service is part of a major expansion of CNET Download.com, going beyond its core software offering to provide three primary categories of digital fuel -- software, music, and game files -- that bring today's technology gadgets and devices to life (see related announcement for more detail). It is separate from CNET Networks' coming launch of the all-new MP3.com site, which will take place in the next few weeks.

Upload Service for Artists

The CNET Download.com upload service provides clear, step-by-step directions for successful music uploading. Each submission is reviewed by the CNET Download.com staff to meet the site's established standards. Registered participants can provide feedback via message boards, receive CNET Download.com's artist-only newsletter, and gain access to support forums.

About CNET Networks, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is a premier global interactive content company that informs, entertains, and connects large, engaged audiences with content in the personal technology, games and entertainment, and business technology categories. Known for its editorial expertise, the company combines its award winning content with the power of interactive technology to provide its users an intuitive, dynamic and relevant environment. The company's content portfolio features top brands including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, GameSpot, and mySimon, as well as Computer Shopper magazine, and CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the US, Asia and Europe, CNET Networks has operations in 12 countries.