Toby Keith Celebrates New Album Release with AOL Music LIVE! Performance in Nashville; Fans on the Web Can Experience AOL Music Original Program Live at aolmusic.com

Business Wire, Nov 9, 2004

NEW YORK -- AOL Music's First Live Broadcast from Nashville Takes Place at The Factory on Wednesday, November 10

One night after the highly anticipated release of Greatest Hits 2, country music superstar Toby Keith will perform live online as part of the popular AOL(R) Music LIVE! series. In a further effort to showcase AOL's original programming on the Web, AOL Music will broadcast this special event live to both AOL for Broadband members and fans on the Web. The live broadcast will occur on Wednesday, November 10 at 9:00pm ET/8:00pm CT, from The Factory in Franklin, TN. In addition, online fans can tune in to hear this special event in a simultaneous audio broadcast on the AOL Radio Network. The concert will be available on demand for nine days.

"There are a lot of fans online and the live AOL concert is a great way to do something special for them," said Toby Keith. "It's going to be an exciting kick-off to the Greatest Hits 2 CD. It is very cool to be the first country artist to have a concert on AOL."

"Toby Keith live from a small club the night after the Country Music Awards -- I could not think of a better way to bring our AOL Music LIVE! series to Nashville," said Evan Harrison, Vice President and General Manager of AOL Music. "Toby is the epitome of a country music star. What a treat for every country music fan who owns a computer."

Toby Keith's exclusive performance follows successful AOL Music LIVE! events with Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Avril Lavigne, Nelly, Usher and Good Charlotte. Recent performances were played more than one million times in a week. Months after the live events, individual original performances from these concerts consistently appear on AOL Music's weekly Top 11 charts, often outpacing the traditional music videos for the same songs. Select AOL Music LIVE! events, including Keith's, also air in 2,600 Wal-Mart stores nationwide through AOL's relationship with the world's largest retailer.

As part of this special AOL Music LIVE! event, fans are encouraged to donate to Keep a Child Alive (http://www.keepachildalive.org/), an organization dedicated to providing life-saving medicine to children and families with AIDS in Africa. Toby Keith will be featured in a public service announcement for the cause.

AOL made tickets for this special invitation-only event available through giveaways on select radio stations in Nashville and several Infinity Broadcasting radio stations around the country. Fans also had a chance to win tickets from Toby Keith's official fan club.

With a music career that began in the mid-'80s, Toby Keith's trip to fame began with his 1993 eponymous debut album, which spawned several hit songs, including the number one single "Should've Been a Cowboy." Hailed as a traditionalist in the genre, Keith quickly established a devoted following and secured enough hit songs to release his first compilation of greatest hits just five years after his debut. Fueled by his post September 11 anthem "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)," Keith's eighth studio album, Unleashed (2002), debuted at the top of both the Country and Pop album charts, and helped launch the artist into mainstream consciousness. Keith has received numerous awards, including an American Music Award in 2003 for Best Country Album for Unleashed, five ACM Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in both 2003 and 2004, several CMT Flameworthy Awards and a People's Choice Award. He has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide. Greatest Hits 2, which includes three previously unreleased songs, will be released on November 9 on Dreamworks Records.

AOL Music is a leading online destination for music, reaching over 19 million music fans a month through a rich array of programming, products and services that make it easy to discover, experience, listen to and buy music online.(1) AOL Music's offerings, which include AOL for Broadband original features such as AOL Music LIVE!, are available through the AOL(R) Music Channel, the AOL Radio Network and AOL's family of Web brands including Netscape(R), CompuServe(R), AIM(R), ICQ(R), Winamp(R) and SHOUTcast(R).

About AOL(R) for Broadband

AOL for Broadband is the best source for entertainment and information on the Internet, with programming and features exclusive to AOL for Broadband members. Consumers nationwide can simply add the AOL for Broadband service to any high-speed DSL or cable Internet connection if they have existing high-speed access through their local phone, cable TV or Internet provider. Current AOL members can visit AOL Keyword: Broadband to learn more about AOL for Broadband and place an order. Or call 1-800-243-1319 or visit www.aol.com for more information.

(1) comScore Media Metrix, September 2004