SAN DIEGO, March 13, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Music fans are demanding digital music, and now over 100 retailers are answering that need by providing instant listening of purchased CDs. nTunes.com, a leader in e-commerce syndication, has partnered with MP3.com, Inc. (Nasdaq:MPPP) to syndicate MP3.com's Instant Listening(tm) service to over 100 music and entertainment-related afflilate web sites, including Country Stars.com (www.countrystars.com) and radio stations such as Power106 in Los Angeles (www.power106.fm).
"Being a successful online retailer today means more that just serving as a recommendation engine for consumers--it's about making products available immediately online," said Michael Robertson, chairman and chief executive officer of MP3.com (www.mp3.com). "This partnership truly makes nTunes a leader in the online delivery of digital entertainment. By being one of the first companies to embrace the Instant Listening service, they are breaking out of the jungle of online retailers and enabling their affiliates to provide customers with nearly immediate delivery of songs online."
Upon purchasing an enabled CD from one of MP3.com's Instant Listening partners, the available tracks are activated in the consumer's My.MP3 music manager. If the consumer has not established an account, one is automatically created for them. An email is then sent from MP3.com to the consumer with a direct link to the activated tracks available for immediate listening online. The consumer will then receive the physical disc from the retailer in the mail.
"By partnering with MP3.com, we're headed in the right direction in terms of the availability of digital music," said Randy Choplin, of nTunes, "nTunes' reach and the high-quality online stores we provide combined with MP3.com's inventive approach to music retailing and access provides consumers and labels with the perfect solution. Finally, it's a situation where everyone wins. The Instant Listening service provides a great benefit to our customers by immediately increasing the functionality of their online music offerings. We've seen a great response from our wide variety of music and entertainment-related sites, and we're pleased to work with MP3.com to help extend the reach of this innovative service."
The Instant Listening service is available to music-related e-commerce developers through a downloadable Application Programming Interface (API) at developer.mp3.com. For a list of current Instant Listening partners, visit www.mp3.com/instantlistening.
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About MP3.com
MP3.com, Inc. has created a unique and robust technology infrastructure designed to facilitate the storage, management, promotion and delivery of digital music. As the Internet's premier Music Service Provider (MSP), the company is dedicated to providing consumers access to music when they want it, where they want it, using any web-enabled device. The company's web site hosts what MP3.com believes is the largest collection of digital music available on the Internet, with more than 862,000 songs and audio files posted from over 135,000 digital artists and record labels. Dedicated to growing the digital music space, the company's products and services include on-demand Subscription Music Channels, an innovative Business Music Services program, a Radio Services Division and others. Additionally, through the company's MSP technology initiative and its Music InterOperating System, MP3.com is partnering with a variety of forward-looking businesses to expand its digital music strategy. MP3.com's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the ticker symbol MPPP. The company is based in San Diego, California. For more information on MP3.com, visit www.mp3.com.
About nTunes
nTunes (http://www.ntunes.com) allows radio stations and other music-related sites to capitalize on the reputation they have built in their markets by giving listeners the chance to buy music where they hear it. nTunes combines fulfillment channels, syndication technology, customized content and business development to create valuable e-commerce solutions. Visitors to these affiliate-branded sites may browse and buy from a selection of over 300,000 music and movie titles. A 50% commission on CD and DVD sales offer radio stations and other affiliate companies the potential for substantial new centers of revenue without any up front cost or fees.
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements may include references to activities and events expected to occur in connection with the agreement between nTunes.com and MP3.com. These statements involve a high degree of risk and uncertainty, are only predictions, and actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences include risks related to: MP3.com's litigation proceedings, including without limitation the inability to reach settlement with all parties to such proceedings; risks associated with the implementation of MP3.com's agreement with nTunes.com; MP3.com's new and uncertain business model; acceptance of MP3.com's products and services; MP3.com's limited operating history; and MP3.com's rapid growth, as well as other risks detailed from time to time in MP3.com's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000.