Internet Access: Microsoft Taps Platinum Entertainment To Showcase Digital Download Capabilities of Windows Media Technologies 4.0 - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, April 19, 1999

Platinum Entertainment, Inc. Tuesday announced it will join Microsoft Corp. as a supporting partner in the launch of Windows Media Technologies 4.0, which features the latest and most advanced system for the Internet delivery of CD-quality music. "The digital music delivery landscape is changing fast," said Steve Devick, Platinum president and CEO.

"Microsoft's new software offers improved streaming, but the real benefit lies in its faster, more efficient download capabilities. While other music labels continue to resist secure digital downloads as a method of delivery, we believe it will eventually play a major role in the distribution of popular music." Songs from Platinum's extensive music catalog, including "Itsalwaysomething," the debut single from Rick Springfield's new album "Karma," and "Do You Love Me That Much" by Peter Cetera, featured in the forthcoming film "Goodbye Lover," will be used to demonstrate the improved audio capabilities of Microsoft's new codec, code-named "MS Audio." Tracks will be available for download at Platinum's retail Web site, www.PlatinumCD.com, which currently receives millions of hits each month, and hosted at www.Broadcast.com. The two-week trial also will include "Layla," by Derek Trucks and Eric Gales, from a House of Blues Music Co. tribute to Eric Clapton, due out June 22; "Walk On By," Dionne Warwick's updated version of her classic hit; and gospel diva Vickie Winans' new single, "Already Been To The Water." Windows Media Technology allows near CD-quality sound files to be stored in half the space of comparable MP3 music files. By enabling audio content to be downloaded twice as fast, Windows Media Technology revolutionizes the Web audio experience, providing the only technology to deliver FM stereo quality over a standard 28.8K modem. Through Microsoft's Windows Rights Manager, each digital download will be playable for 20 days, after which time each music file becomes disabled. Windows Media Rights Manager enables copyright holders to encrypt audio and video in such a way that the content is protected and licensed for use only as the publisher intends. For more than six months, Platinum artists, including Roger Daltrey with Pete Townshend, the Beach Boys, T. Graham Brown and Kansas, have been among the most downloaded artists at MP3.com, one of the Web's most popular music sites. Platinum was the first company to make its complete music catalog available for digital download, in the Liquid Audio and MP3 formats, via its equity investment in Musicmaker.com. Platinum Entertainment, Inc. produces, licenses, markets and distributes high quality recorded music for a variety of music formats under its Platinum, Platinum Nashville, House of Blues Music Co., River North Records, CGI Platinum and Intersound Classical labels. Platinum's products include new releases, as well as compilations that enable Platinum to exploit its catalog of master recordings.