REDMOND, Wash., and SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. and MusicMatch Inc., maker of the award-winning MusicMatch Jukebox TM software application, today announced a broad strategic relationship with the objective of increasing consumer use and improving digital media management on PCs and portable devices.
This agreement brings together the industry’s leading audio and video technology and pioneering personal jukebox software and will extend the delivery of industry-leading consumer solutions for the use and management of digital audio and video files on PCs and portable devices.
Microsoft and MusicMatch will work together in a number of areas, including joint marketing and distribution efforts and technical collaboration. Customers of both companies will have access to MusicMatch’s award-winning jukebox technology and the industry-leading Windows Media TM format.
“Microsoft and MusicMatch share a common goal, which is to provide music consumers with the ability to access and experience exciting, high-quality digital media content,”
said Dennis Mudd, CEO of MusicMatch.
“We’re looking forward to working with Microsoft, an industry leader, to enhance the digital audio experience for consumers worldwide.”
The first milestone in this agreement is the inclusion of the MusicMatch Jukebox in the Microsoft® Windows® 98 Second Edition operating system Play Pack CD-ROM, announced separately today. As part of the Play Pack CD-ROM, MusicMatch Jukebox enables users of Windows 98 Second Edition to build extensive collections of CD-quality digital music downloaded from the Internet and recorded from music CDs, while also providing access to high-quality Windows Media-based content from leading artists in a variety of genres.
The Play Pack CD-ROM, which also includes digital music* from leading platinum artists in Windows Media format, computer game demos, digital photography offerings and more, is scheduled to be included in Windows 98 Second Edition at retail beginning this holiday season.
In addition, MusicMatch Jukebox is scheduled to be made available for download by the end of the year from Microsoft’s family of Web sites, including http://www.microsoft.com/ and http://windowsmedia.com/ , providing millions of Microsoft customers with easy access to MusicMatch’s Jukebox technology.
Microsoft and MusicMatch will also work together on future product development to drive further jukebox and digital media innovation. The companies are joining in the areas of management and transfer of digital music from jukebox to portable devices, increased interoperability between Windows Media-based applications and MusicMatch Jukebox, and ongoing innovative MusicMatch Jukebox support of the advanced audio and video Windows Media technology.
“Today’s announcement with MusicMatch, the industry pioneer in jukebox applications, underscores Microsoft’s commitment to driving the mainstream adoption of digital media,”
said Will Poole, general manager, Marketing and Business, Streaming Media Division, Microsoft.
“By combining MusicMatch’s expertise and award-winning technology with compelling, Windows Media-based content, we’re joining forces to provide our customers with the best solution for digital media today.”
About WindowsMedia.com
WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN TM network of Internet services, is among the fastest-growing major audio and video guides on the Internet. WindowsMedia.com provides access to localized audio and video content worldwide, including more than 700 radio stations and major music and video events from more than 1,000 content providers.
About Windows Media Technologies
Windows Media Technologies is the leading digital media platform that provides consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations with unmatched audio and video quality. Windows Media Technologies 4, which includes Windows Media Player, Windows Media Services, Windows Media Tools and the Windows Media Audio SDK, is available for free** download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . More than 40 million copies – at a rate growing by more than one every second – of the free** Windows Media Player have been downloaded to date.
About MusicMatch Jukebox
MusicMatch Jukebox is the world’s first personal jukebox software. It lets users build extensive collections of CD-quality digital music downloaded from the Internet and recorded from music CDs, vinyl and cassette tapes. MusicMatch Jukebox lets users organize all of their tracks in a digital music database on their PC, create custom playlists and play them on their PC in CD-quality. MusicMatch Jukebox is one of the world’s most popular audio software programs, downloaded by over 1 million people each month. MusicMatch Jukebox is currently bundled with a number of hardware devices, including Creative Labs’ NOMAD portable MP3 players and Sound Blaster Live! sound cards, and with select Dell Dimension and HP Pavilion PCs.
About MusicMatch
MusicMatch develops digital audio software that lets people take control over how they listen to their music. The company’s popular MusicMatch Jukebox software turns a PC into a powerful component of a user’s stereo system. The company has 53 employees, was incorporated in February 1997, and is headquartered in San Diego. MusicMatch is 20 percent owned by Thomson Multimedia Inc. Together with Fraunhofer IIS, Thomson was the co-developer of the MP3 technology and ranks No. 1 in the United States and No. 4 in Europe in sales of consumer electronics.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
* Music can be played for 30 days from the first play.
** Connect-time charges may apply.
Microsoft, Windows Media, Windows and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. MusicMatch and MusicMatch Jukebox are trademarks of MusicMatch Inc. Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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