REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 26, 1999 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of new digital music in the popular, high-quality Microsoft® Windows Media TM technology format from leading platinum artists including Alice in Chains, Grateful Dead, Michael Hutchence, Queen, Stone Temple Pilots, Shania Twain and Robbie Williams. This new digital music is scheduled to be available at WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN.com TM network of Internet services, within the next 30 days. Today’s announcement encompasses artists from such diverse major labels as EMI Group plc, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group and marks another milestone in establishing Windows Media as the leading platform for Internet-based entertainment.
“Windows Media-based files are half the size of other formats, such as MP3, and this is a huge draw for online fans wanting quality music without the wait,”
said Jay Samit, senior vice president of new media at EMI.
“In our recent download promotion of the new David Bowie album, ‘Hours,’ most customers chose the Windows Media format for their download.”
In a separate announcement this week, Sony Music launched its first multiartist download promotion using LAUNCH.com and Windows Media as the exclusive download format. Dubbed
“Download 2000,”
this promotion features hot new songs from an array of Sony Music artists including Alice in Chains, Roger Waters, Ben Folds Five, Cypress Hill and Train. New releases will be available approximately every two weeks through January 2000 at http://www.launch.com/ . Music fans can download full length songs from the Internet throughout the countdown to the millennium.
“Today’s announcement means more great digital music from leading artists will be available in Windows Media format,”
said Will Poole, general manager, Marketing and Business Development, Streaming Media Division, Microsoft Corp.
“We’re gratified that more and more major labels are choosing Windows Media to deliver their artists’ music to millions of fans via the Internet.”
Windows Media delivers CD-quality audio in half the size of other formats, such as MP3. Music from these artists and many more is available for download at WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), which showcases digital music from platinum artists in a variety of genres.
About WindowsMedia.com
WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN.com 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 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.
* Connect-time charges may apply.
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