Music.com Announces Affiliate Relationship With Universal Music Group To Conduct Bluematter(TM) Trials For Digital Downloads

Market Wire, 20050229

Music.com today announced an affiliate relationship with Universal Music Group to participate in the trials of bluematter(TM), the new premier digital download format. As an affiliate partner, Music.com will offer legitimate premium digital music and enhanced multimedia content to music fans visiting www.music.com.

"bluematter(TM) lays UMG's groundwork for the legitimate distribution of digital music and multimedia content over the Internet," stated Philippe Bellosguardo, President and CEO of Music.com, Inc. "Music.com offers a wide range of information and content on our Web site. With this partnership with Universal Music Group, we are now able to offer our visitors the highest quality digital downloads from some of the best known artists."

"We are proud to have Music.com for our affiliate partner as we rollout the trials for bluematter(TM)," said Heather Myers, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Global e. "During the bluematter(TM) trials, the feedback that we receive from consumers at Music.com will provide us with a better understanding of appetites and preferences for legitimate digital music."

Songs in the bluematter(TM) format come with enhanced multimedia content, such as biographies, photographs, lyrics, and credits. bluematter(TM) tracks span a breadth of genres from rock to pop to classical. Music.com will offer 60 tracks from a variety of Universal Music Group artists including Blink 182, George Benson, Live, Luciano Pavarotti, 98 Degrees, Marvin Gaye, and SMASH MOUTH, with more tracks to be added weekly as the trials roll out.

During the bluematter(TM) trials, visitors to Music.com will be able to try the service risk free by using the $4 credit in the Magex digital wallet offered to each new consumer by UMG. The bluematter(TM) format allows consumers to introduce friends to new music through "superdistribution." Consumers can click the "e-mail a friend" button on their music player and send legal music references to friends via e-mail. Friends can listen to a sample of the song and opt to purchase the full track in the bluematter(TM) format.

About Music.com

Music.com (www.music.com) owns the premier URL when it comes to music content on the Web and is one of the fastest growing aggregators of music online. The privately held company provides online content for consumers, music industry professionals, and artists encompassing all aspects and genres of music. Music.com offers a wide range of services and products including hosting artist Web sites, co-branding, local content music Web sites, custom CDs, digital downloads, and streaming radio and video. The Company maintains neutral and non-competitive relationships with all record labels and digital download technologies.