LOS ANGELES and REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 8, 2000 — Microsoft Corp. and Atomic Pop, a leading provider of online music, today announced the formation of a strategic relationship through which Atomic Pop will make its entire catalog of music, video, live broadcasts and original radio and television programming available in the Microsoft® Windows Media TM format. The Atomic Pop catalog includes thousands of tracks and full albums from such artists as Public Enemy, Ice T, the Breeders, the Pixies, Everclear and Built to Spill.
As part of the alliance, Microsoft will sponsor Atomic Pop content, including a series of monthly Web events. Atomic Pop will be featured at WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), the MSN TM network of Internet services guide to audio and visual content on the Internet, and its content will also be accessible directly from Atomic Pop’s Web site ( http://www.atomicpop.com/ ). Featured events will include a performance by underground hip-hop group Blood of Abraham from the Black Eyed Peas’ biweekly nightclub in Los Angeles. In addition, WindowsMedia.com will feature the premier segment of Atomic Pop’s original series,
“Behind the Hype.”
The first show will take a probing look at Ice T the artist and how the Internet has revolutionized the music industry.
Broadband content from Atomic Pop will be showcased in the new WindowsMedia.com Broadband Guide, a special section of the WindowsMedia.com Web site that highlights high-quality audio and video suitable for fast connections.
“We are continually working to forge strategic relationships with key industry players such as Microsoft to expand our audience and presence in the online music industry, which will soon be a multibillion-dollar business,”
said Al Teller, Atomic Pop’s founder and CEO.
“Microsoft Windows Media provides Atomic Pop with a high-quality audio and video format through which we can expand our secure downloading options for customers and generate increased sales of our diverse multimedia content online. With the added promotional support from Microsoft, we expect to increase our global customer base significantly.”
Atomic Pop’s audio content is available now for download purchase in Windows Media format. In addition, consumers will be able to access free Windows Media-formatted promotional streams of audio samples and singles, videos, artist interviews, performances, listening parties, radio shows and more.
“Atomic Pop is a prime example of a multimedia music company that is maximizing Windows Media to compete effectively in online commerce with the secure delivery of audio and video content,”
said Will Poole, general manager of the Digital Media Division at Microsoft.
“We’re excited to provide the tools for Atomic Pop to promote and distribute its entire catalog over the Web, and we know its customers will appreciate the quality of Windows Media-formatted sound and video.”
The Atomic Pop music and video catalog features thousands of individual tracks and full albums from such internationally known artists as Public Enemy, Ice T and Gas Giants; such esteemed artist rosters as 4AD (Breeders, Pixies, Lush, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins); hip-hop labels Rufflife Records (Outsidaz) and Goodvibe Recordings (Spontaneous, Bahamadia); and digital downloads from the legendary U.K. label Fire Records (Everclear, Built to Spill, Pulp).
Atomic Pop television content includes interviews with such eclectic artists as Moby and Cibo Matto, behind-the-scenes interviews with Beastie Boys’ producer Mario Caldato, and a live performance from 4AD artists Kristen Hersh and Brendan Perry. Radio programming includes a mix of genre-based radio shows, Los Angeles radio personality Liza Richardson’s own
“Mad Doll”
show, guest DJ sets from such artists as Fantastic Plastic Machine and Arling & Cameron, and the delivery of underground hip-hop music to a global audience through the radio station of rap icon Chuck D.
Beginning in early 2000, downloadable content will be protected using the Windows Media-formatted digital rights management (DRM) technology, which provides a flexible system for securing digital content. To play protected files, consumers are seamlessly directed to a license-acquisition site, after which they can listen to the content on their local machine or transfer it to a Windows Media-equipped, SDMI-capable portable device.
About Atomic Pop
Atomic Pop was founded by Al Teller, the former head of MCA Music Entertainment Group, president of CBS records and CEO of Alliance Entertainment. Atomic Pop is an Internet-centric music company committed to leveraging the digital medium to change the way music is acquired, marketed, promoted, sold and distributed. The company is based in Santa Monica, Calif. Additional information can be found on the Internet at http://www.atomicpop.com/ .
About WindowsMedia.com
WindowsMedia.com ( http://windowsmedia.com/ ), part of the MSN 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 major music and video events and entertainment from more than 1,000 content providers.
About Windows Media Technologies
Windows Media Technologies is the leading digital media platform, providing 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 SDK, is available for free* download at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/ . The Windows Media Player is the fastest growing media player. More than 50 million copies have been downloaded to date – growing by more than one every second.
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.
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