Business Services Industry

Kanye West's ''Late Registration'' Wins MP3.com's 2005 Readers' Choice Award for Best Album; Additional Winners Awarded ''Best Single'', ''Best Music Video'' and More

Business Wire, Jan 24, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- Kanye West's "Late Registration" has won the 2005 Readers' Choice Award for Best Album by MP3.com, an interactive digital music site for passionate fans and a property of CNET Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:CNET). MP3.com's First Annual Readers' Choice Awards includes six categories ranging from "Best Single" to "Best Music Video" where artists are acknowledged for their popularity as noted by MP3.com's community of passionate music enthusiasts.

"MP3.com's Readers' Choice Awards give our community a chance to pick their favorites. We are thrilled to let everyone's voice be heard, not just that of our editors," said Laura Hess, site director, MP3.com. "Hip hop artist Kanye West has been creating a lot of buzz on the site all year. Our readers, consistent with our editors, selected Kanye West in the best album and best single categories."

In the Best Album category, Kanye West won by a very slim margin over runner-up Mariah Carey who had a stellar year with her "Emancipation of Mimi" album. In the Best Male category, there was also a tight race between incomparable Pharrell Williams and runners-up Brandon Flowers and Coldplay's Chris Martin. In the Best Video category, Green Day won by a landslide reinforcing their popularity among the MP3.com community.

Following is the complete list of the award winners.

Up & Coming:

Mike Jones

Best Music Video:

Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

Best Single:

Gold Digger by Kanye West

Sexiest Female Artist:

Shakira

Sexiest Male Artist:

Pharrell Williams

For more information about the awards, go to: http://www.mp3.com/feature/2005bestworst/rc.> About MP3.com

MP3.com is a content site that caters to the way people learn about and listen to music today. As the MP3 and digital music markets grow, MP3.com serves the expanding need for an unbiased, editorial-driven digital music discovery resource that leverages the power of the Internet, selectively aggregates from its vast music-related content, and helps people make the right music and technology choices. MP3.com offers a powerful branding environment through engaging features like MP3.com Community.

About CNET Networks

CNET Networks, Inc. is a worldwide media company and creator of content environments for the interactive age. CNET Networks takes pride in being "a different kind of media company," creating richer, deeper interactive experiences by combining the wisdom and passion of users, marketers, and its own expert editors. CNET Networks' leading brands -- such as CNET, GameSpot, MP3.com, Webshots, and ZDNet -- focus on the personal technology, entertainment, and business technology categories. The company has a strong presence in the US, Asia, and Europe.