REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 18, 1996 —
— MSN TM , The Microsoft Network, today announced a relationship with Times Books, a division of Random House Inc., that will bring the exclusive online serialization of Fred Goodman’s highly anticipated book
“The Mansion on the Hill: Dylan, Young, Geffen, Springsteen, and the Head-On Collision of Rock and Commerce” to Microsoft® Music Central
™
on MSN. The relationship marks the first exclusive online serialization of a major trade book.
The serialization of
“The Mansion on the Hill”
will debut on the Music Central interactive music reference and entertainment guide on MSN, in concert with the book’s January 1997 publication. Early reviews of
“The Mansion on the Hill”
have described it as the most anticipated book about the music industry in the past decade.
“The MSN relationship with Times Books represents a milestone in our strategy to leverage best-in-class expertise and provide consumers with the most compelling content,”
said Bob Bejan, executive producer for MSN.
“‘The Mansion on the Hill’ serialization will deliver subscribers a unique offering that integrates the depth of the book with the rich multimedia experience of Music Central.”
Fred Goodman
Fred Goodman has been a music critic and rock journalist for 20 years. He has served as news editor for Billboard and music editor for Rolling Stone. A contributing writer for Music Central on MSN, Goodman has been published in periodicals such as the New York Times, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, US and GQ.
“
The Mansion on the Hill
”
“The Mansion on the Hill”
begins with the 1960s music scene and chronicles the rise of the modern-day music industry through profiles of music legends such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles. With more than 200 interviews,
“The Mansion on the Hill”
chronicles the creation of the modern rock and roll business and how the alternative rock scene of the ’60s moved into the commercial mainstream, becoming the financial engine for a $20 billion business.
“I wanted ‘The Mansion on the Hill’ to be the first general-interest book with an exclusive online serialization,”
Goodman said.
“I knew that MSN Music Central would appreciate the book for what it was, and that together we could create a unique project that was more than just a magazine article on a screen.”
Equally important, he said, was an opportunity for Goodman to control any electronic usage of his work.
“I hope my arrangement with Microsoft will demonstrate to other writers that there is no reason for them to give their rights away, and that it will give traditional publishers pause.”
The Music Central multimedia presentation of
“The Mansion on the Hill”
will enrich the text of Goodman’s book with additional layers of information and media culled from Music Central. Artist biographies, song clips and interview sound bites will allow viewers to experience a new dimension in online publishing.
MSN Music Central
Music Central, located at (http://musiccentral.MSN.com/) , will present the serialization in four weekly installments beginning Jan. 16, 1997. A synopsis of
“The Mansion on the Hill,”
with artist biographies, song clips and interview sound bites, can be viewed by anyone with Internet access. MSN members will receive full serialization and additional enhanced content.
Music Central is the MSN music reference and entertainment guide providing the latest music news and reviews, including artist interviews and concert tour information. Consumers can also check out the hottest new releases and purchase music titles online.
MSN is the third-largest online service worldwide, offering high-quality information, entertainment and communications on the Internet. With the Web-based version, MSN also will make available hundreds of special-interest bulletin boards and such online services and programming as the Encarta® multimedia encyclopedia, Expedia
™
travel service, Star Trek: Continuum
™
, Slate
™
online magazine, CarPoint
™
car-buying guide, and up-to-date news and information from MSNBC News. The MSN home page can be reached at (http://www.MSN.com/) .
In 1990, Times Books published the bestseller
“Hit Men”
by Fredric Dannen about the power brokers of the music business. In addition, Times Books has published former President Jimmy Carter, Boris Yeltsin, Robert McNamara and President Bill Clinton. Times Books is an imprint of the Random House Adult Trade Group, which is a division of Random House Inc., the world’s largest English language trade book publisher.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing each day.
Microsoft, MSN, Music Central, Encarta , Expedia, Slate and CarPoint are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
StarTrek: Continuum is a trademark of Paramount Pictures.
The Microsoft Network is operated by Microsoft Corp. on behalf of Microsoft Network LLC.
For more information, business and technology press only:
Samantha Lagerloef, Shandwick Seattle, (206) 452-5400, [email protected]
Laura Ames, Shandwick Seattle, (206) 452-5400, [email protected]
For more information, entertainment and consumer press only:
Lauren Snyder, Edelman Public Relations, (212) 704-8284, [email protected]
Note to Editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages, or visit ( http://www.MSN.com/) for more information on The Microsoft Network.
