Viztas -- the Amazon.com for Portland's Booming Independent Music Scene

Market Wire, October, 2004

Word is quickly getting out that Portland, OR, has become a hot spot for independent musicians. The city boasts the biggest jazz scene outside of New Orleans, and the largest blues mecca outside of Memphis. A wide variety of talented, hopeful musicians are flocking here from every corner of the nation -- all looking for a chance to be heard. Viztas.com, a web site that allows independent artists to post their music for others to sample or purchase online, is giving them their big chance.

Viztas is at the forefront of one of the biggest, fastest growing trends in technology and the music industry -- the ability to download music.

--  By 2009 Jupiter Research projects that digital music sales will
    increase to $1.7 billion, totaling 12 percent of consumer music spending.

--  Jupiter estimates 8.5 million people have paid to download a music
    file.
    

And what better place to start an online music revolution than the city that inspired musicians the likes of Art Alexakis of Everclear, and the Dandy Warhols?

"Portland is a place where citizens are actively encouraged to follow their own muse," said Portland's Mayor Vera Katz. "That is why we have a wonderful melange of musical choices, from our symphony and opera to one of the nation's foremost blues festivals, a major alternative rock festival and our newly inaugurated Portland Jazz Festival, to name just a few examples. There is something here for every type of music lover every day of the week."

The same can be said for Viztas. The site allows customers to download a single track or an entire CD, gives band reviews and bios and offers real-time samplings of the tracks before you buy.

As an independent online publication source, Viztas has the advantage of tapping into the local soil of Portland. The city has long been recognized as a thriving mecca for independent artists of all kinds.

"Artists initially flocked to Portland because it is such a financially livable city," said Jimmy Mack, owner, Jimmy Mack's Jazz Club. "But they soon saw what other legendary artists were emerging -- Leroy Vinegar, The Temptations' Mel Brown, etc., -- they saw how easy it was to focus on their work. Portland became a breeding ground, a hot bed that attracted and created amazing musical talent from all over. People came just to check it out -- and they stayed."

And now, visitors to Viztas.com can share the wealth of artistic talent from Portland and all over the country.

"We want to provide an alternative outlet for the independent artist to be commercially successfully rather than just create another ecommerce site," said Jonathan Hager, President of Viztas. "We are doing this by fostering a digital community. The community is still in its formation stages, but some values have already emerged. Independent artist can publish music, even experimental music, at no or little cost and unlike larger commerce web sites, we have made it easy and risk free to publish and buy music."

Viztas enables talented, independent artists to share their works, and discriminating consumers to purchase them. Whether it's a complicated concerto, jazz riff, or drum solo, Viztas truly is the marketplace for the emerging artist.

About Viztas Digital Marketplace Inc. (www.viztas.com)

Viztas Digital Marketplace Inc. is the marketplace for the emerging. Independent musicians can publish their music for little to no cost and consumers can browse our extensive selection for fresh voices and talent. Consumers can purchase a single track or an entire CD as well as browse band reviews, bios and listen to sample tracks. To learn more visit www.viztas.com.

Media Contact: Laurie Halter Charisma! Communications 503-245-3140 laurie@charismacommunications.com