Hollywood Records and MusicPlayground Team Up to Release First Interactive Enhanced Music CD

In a move that will be closely watched by a music industry that's under relentless pressure to develop innovative new revenue streams, Hollywood Records today released The World's Greatest Air Guitar Album. The album is the first full-length, wide-release enhanced CD to include embedded MusicPlayground interactive technology, by which consumers can listen to the CD as they would any other, but also assume the guitar lines of select tracks and literally perform along with the band.

"Consumers are demanding more value for the money they spend on their music," Brad Naples, President and Chief Executive Officer of MusicPlayground said today. "At the same time, the music industry is being challenged to develop new revenue streams for themselves as well as for their artists. In order to survive, let alone grow, the music industry must offer value-added enhancements and features that allow consumers to enjoy the music they purchase in new and compelling ways. Hollywood Records is leading the way by integrating new technology that will help the industry take back the multi-billion dollar karaoke market and identify with a whole new audience that has grown up with video games and the Internet."

The MusicPlayground-enabled tracks on The World's Greatest Air Guitar Album can be accessed on a PC and allow the user to take on responsibility for the guitar line of each song using their computer keyboard or a special V-Pick™ interactive guitar pick, a USB device available from MusicPlayground. An on-screen Rhythm EKG™ display on the computer's monitor prompts the user to play at the right time, effectively inserting them into the band as the lead guitarist.

A number of upcoming CD's will also feature MusicPlayground-enabled tracks, including Elektra Entertainment's release of The Troys debut album, "Massaging Your Ego," and new releases from Meat Loaf and Blondie. In addition to the enhanced audio tracks, Elektra is bundling The Troys new music video onto the release, effectively making the MusicPlayground technology a form of "interactive MTV," according to Naples.

"Artists love the idea of connecting with their fans," Naples explained. "And what music fan wouldn't love the idea of actually performing with their favorite band?"

10th Street Entertainment CEO Allen Kovac, who manages Blondie, Hanson, Meat Loaf and Motley Crue amongst others, sees the interactive technology as the music industry's path to the future. "We live in an interactive world primarily driven by the video game industry and the Internet," Kovac said today. "The music industry must recognize this and incorporate it into their way of thinking and product. Consumers need a valid reason to spend their hard-earned money on music CD's and MusicPlayground has developed a technology that can turn a compact disc into a fun, interactive experience."

The World's Greatest Air Guitar Album is available now nationwide and carries a suggested retail price of $21.98. Consumers who wish to extend the MusicPlayground interactive experience beyond the tracks provided on the music CD can go to www.musicplayground.com to purchase additional interactive song files along with the company's V-Pick™ Virtual Guitar Pick and V-Stix™ Virtual Drum Pad.

Headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, MusicPlayground, Inc. is a leading music technology and entertainment company that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Namco Limited of Japan. MusicPlayground, Inc. is the owner of five patents worldwide covering real-time interactive signal processing technology that allows general music consumers to play-along with musicians without having to know how to play an instrument.

Contact: Bob Griffin Title: Griffin Public Relations & Marketing Voice: 212-481-3456 Ext. 16 Email: bgriffin@griffinpr.com