[sdiy] Remember MP3.COM, well, it's back!

[larry at unicode.com]

MP3tunes.com PRPlease forgive me for cross-posting this on several groups
and the potential 'off topic' of this post.  But as someone who "consumes' a
lot more music then he makes, and who HATES DRM and the in-ability to use my
purchased music as I see fit (not I said use, NOT distribute) this
announcement is good news.  Since some of you may be artists looking for
exposure, this could also be an opportunity to get some exposure.

Larry T.
(big supporter of Linux, Atari ST/TT/Falcon computers, Modular Analog
Synthesizers, Do It Yourself modules, Fantasy Role Playing, and having
access to 'software' that I have purchased even after my computer crash's!)


 MP3tunes Online Music Service Opens Today with 300,000 Songs

More than 22,000 artists support new DRM-free digital music store launched
by MP3.com founder Michael Robertson


SAN DIEGO, February 9, 2005 - MP3tunes, a new digital music store started by
Michael Robertson, founder and former CEO of MP3.com, opened for business on
the Internet today at www.mp3tunes.com. Robertson, CEO of MP3tunes, unveiled
his new venture at the Desktop Summit in San Diego this week. Songs are
available for download from the MP3tunes site for $0.88 per song or $8.88
per album.

All music sold at MP3tunes will work on any computer and with any portable
player including popular models like the Apple iPod, Dell DJ and Creative
Nomad. At www.mp3tunes.com, consumers never run the risk of losing their
music - songs that have been purchased are permanently stored in a “music
locker” and accessible from any Web browser. Even if a computer crashes or a
user switches machines, the music is saved and can be accessed without
repurchasing.

"Digital music sales make up less than two percent of the total music
business because many consumers know they aren't really buying the music -
they're renting it from a big corporation that controls what software,
computer and portable devices they can use," Robertson said. "A
consumer-friendly digital music store that provides true music ownership to
paying customers can triple the digital music business almost overnight.
MP3tunes gives the consumers more value because they can use the music on
all their computers and MP3 players - whatever brand they may have. And it's
permanently stored in their music locker, so they never lose the music they
paid for."

MP3tunes only offers songs for purchase and download that are legally
licensed for distribution from the copyright holders. More than 22,000
artists are participating in the launch of MP3tunes, and 300,000 songs
representing nearly 30,000 complete CDs are now available for immediate
purchase in high-quality 192k MP3 format at www.mp3tunes.com. No special
software is required to sample the music and make purchases and virtually
any Web browser will work.

MP3tunes differs from other online music services such as Apple's iTunes and
Microsoft's MSN Music Store because it does not use digital restrictions
management (DRM) technology, which restricts how a buyer can use the music.
DRM restrictions limit what software or computer can be used to listen to
the music and also limit what types of portable players will work. Songs in
the open MP3 format, like those found at www.mp3tunes.com, are the most
flexible for consumers because the songs work with a wide array of software
players such as iTunes and Windows Media Player and are also compatible with
virtually all digital players or computers, including the iPod series.

Major features of MP3tunes:
  a.. Affordable music - Only 88¢ per song and $8.88 per CD
  b.. Free Music Locker with permanent storage for all purchased songs
  c.. Songs will play on all portable MP3 players
  d.. Songs will play from any computer (Mac, Windows, Linux)
  e.. Unlimited CD burning and downloads for personal use
  f.. Super-high-quality sound - 192k MP3s (most sites offer 128 KB)
  g.. Discover great new music with chart-driven Web site
  h.. Sample song clips before you buy
  i.. You own the music - it never times out or refuses to play or be copied

The design of www.mp3tunes.com makes finding new music simple. Charts,
featured artists, user reviews, similar artist recommendations, and other
features encourage visitors to browse, sample and discover new music.

"All new trends in music start with emerging artists and
progressive-thinking labels who are most willing to try new approaches,
which is where MP3tunes is focusing initially," Robertson said. "MP3.com
started with complete songs in MP3 format from promising young artists like
Linkin Park and Maroon 5. Then it expanded to include new artists from major
labels, and eventually it grew to be a key promotional vehicle for all the
major record labels. I'm confident MP3tunes will follow the same path - if
music buyers come to MP3tunes, then ultimately forward-thinking labels will
too."

For more information about MP3tunes, please contact:

Heather MacKenzie
Public Relations
858-587-6700, ext. 263
858-587-8095 Fax
pr at mp3tunes.com

About MP3tunes

MP3tunes was founded in 2005, three years after Robertson stepped down as
the CEO of MP3.com. San Diego-based MP3.com was founded in 1997 and grew to
nearly 300 employees, becoming the largest digital music site on the Web,
with more than 1,000,000 songs from 250,000 artists and hundreds of
thousands of unique daily visitors. Vivendi Universal purchased the
profitable company in 2001 for $372 million in stock and cash.

MP3tunes is the third venture for Robertson since he sold MP3.com. In 2001,
Robertson founded Linspire, Inc. (www.linspire.com), a company that produces
the Linspire desktop Linux operating system, which has been gaining market
share from the popular Microsoft Windows. In 2003, he founded SIPphone, Inc.
(www.sipphone.com), a VoIP technology company that competes with traditional
phone systems.

MP3tunes is a trademark of MP3tunes. Other marks used herein may be the
property of their respective owners.
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