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<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Please 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.</FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG></DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG> </DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Larry T.</FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG></DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT size=2><FONT
face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff>(big supporter of Linux, Atari ST/TT/Falcon
computers, Modular Analog Synthesizers,</FONT> <FONT color=#0000ff>Do It
Yourself modules, Fantasy Role Playing, and having access to 'software' that I
have purchased even after my computer
crash's!)</FONT></FONT></FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG></DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG> </DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN></BIG></BIG> </DIV>
<DIV><BIG><BIG><SPAN class=370534016-09022005> </SPAN><STRONG>MP3tunes
Online Music Service Opens Today with 300,000
Songs</STRONG></BIG></BIG><BR><BR><BIG><I><B>More than 22,000 artists support
new DRM-free digital music store launched by MP3<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>com
founder Michael Robertson</B></I></BIG> </DIV><BR><BR><B>SAN DIEGO, February 9,
2005 - </B>MP3tunes, a new digital music store started by Michael Robertson,
founder and former CEO of MP3<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>com, opened for business
on the Internet today at <A href="http://www.mp3tunes.com">www.mp3tunes.com</A>.
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. <BR><BR>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 <A
href="http://www.mp3tunes.com">www.mp3tunes.com</A>, 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. <BR><BR>"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." <BR><BR>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 <A
href="http://www.mp3tunes.com">www.mp3tunes.com</A>. No special software is
required to sample the music and make purchases and virtually any Web browser
will work. <BR><BR>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 <A
href="http://www.mp3tunes.com">www.mp3tunes.com</A>, 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. <BR><BR><B>Major
features of MP3tunes:</B>
<UL>
<LI>Affordable music - Only 88˘ per song and $8.88 per CD
<LI>Free Music Locker with permanent storage for all purchased songs
<LI>Songs will play on all portable MP3 players
<LI>Songs will play from any computer (Mac, Windows, Linux)
<LI>Unlimited CD burning and downloads for personal use
<LI>Super-high-quality sound - 192k MP3s (most sites offer 128 KB)
<LI>Discover great new music with chart-driven Web site
<LI>Sample song clips before you buy
<LI>You own the music - it never times out or refuses to play or be copied
</LI></UL><BR>The design of <A
href="http://www.mp3tunes.com">www.mp3tunes.com</A> 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.
<BR><BR>"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<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>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." <BR><BR><B>For more information about
MP3tunes, please contact:</B> <BR><BR>Heather MacKenzie<BR>Public
Relations<BR>858-587-6700, ext. 263<BR>858-587-8095 Fax<BR><A
href="mailto:pr@mp3tunes.com">pr@mp3tunes.com</A> <BR><BR><B>About MP3tunes</B>
<BR><BR>MP3tunes was founded in 2005, three years after Robertson stepped down
as the CEO of MP3<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>com. San Diego-based
MP3<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>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. <BR><BR>MP3tunes is the third venture for Robertson
since he sold MP3<FONT="HELVETICA">.</FONT>com. In 2001, Robertson founded
Linspire, Inc. (<A href="http://www.linspire.com">www.linspire.com</A>), 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. (<A href="http://www.sipphone.com">www.sipphone.com</A>),
a VoIP technology company that competes with traditional phone systems.
<BR><BR>MP3tunes is a trademark of MP3tunes. Other marks used herein may be the
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