SAN DIEGO, March 20, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- Rule changes taking effect on April 1 will make it easier for eligible artists and record labels to qualify for MP3.com's (Nasdaq:MPPP), Payback for Playback program (www.mp3.com/payback). The new rules make it easier for artists to qualify for the program by lowering the number of unique listens required.
Since its Payback for Playback program began in November 1999, MP3.com, Inc. has made over $13 million available to artists and record labels who offer their music and audio files for free listening on the MP3.com site (www.mp3.com). The top Payback for Playback earner for the month of February was Emily Richards (www.mp3.com/emilyrichards), who earned $13,141.92.
To be eligible for the program and the up to $1 million available in April through the Payback for Playback program, members of the MP3.com music community must be enrolled in the Premium Artist Service, which is available at a cost of $19.99 per month. More information can be found on the Premium Artist Service by visiting www.mp3.com/premium.
Subscribers to Premium Artist Service receive a wealth of online benefits, including a professional online presentation, the potential for faster, more effective exposure to music fans and the option of eliminating banner ads on their artist pages. Subscribers receive priority placement on the MP3.com search engine and song approval priority that can activate an artist's songs on the web site more quickly than songs submitted by those not participating in the Premium Artist Service. Additionally, review priority guarantees that participants' songs will be evaluated for use in promotional programs such as Business Music Services (www.mp3.com/bmscentral) and MP3.com Radio Services (www.radio.mp3.com). Subscribers are also able to upload multiple audio files at once using the MP3.com Uploader Tool, potentially saving hours of time.
All eligible artists and record labels can still place their music on MP3.com for free, with a variety of no-cost promotional and marketing tools at their disposal. Free bandwidth, free storage, and free statistical data are available by registering at (www.mp3.com/newartist). On an average day, approximately 20,000 artists qualify for the Payback for Playback program under the new rules.
Artists interested in subscribing to the Premium Artist Service program will want to visit www.mp3.com/premium for more information.
More than 144,000 artists and record labels currently post music and audio files on MP3.com. To register to post music on the site at no cost, visit www.mp3.com/newartist.
To receive MP3.com press releases via email, register at pr.mp3.com.
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 926,000 songs and audio files posted from over 144,000 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.
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 expected to occur in connection with the implementation and possible continuation of the Payback for Playback program designed to distribute money to eligible artists who post music on 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 and possible continuation of the Payback for Playback program designed to distribute money to eligible artists who post music on MP3.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.