REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 24, 2002 — The MSN® network of Internet services, with more than 270 million unique users worldwide, today announced the availability of a new version of MSN Music, offering people a unique and richly personalized music experience. The MSN Music site, http://music.msn.com/ , was redesigned to make it even easier for people to discover, listen to, research and purchase the music they want and care most about. MSN Music now allows people to download and share certain music selections free of charge, stay up to date on the latest local music concerts, receive music recommendations via enhanced My Music pages based on their favorite artists and songs, and read other listeners’ music reviews and album ratings. Through this release, MSN is providing consumers with useful content and advanced technology to deliver the ultimate online music experience.
Screenshot of MSN Services Click for larger image
“MSN Music offers the best online music experience to consumers through innovative technology and the coolest content,”
said Benjamin Kilgore, general manager of MSN Music at Microsoft Corp.
“The second wave of MSN Music brings people the features they’ve asked for, such as the new Download Center, where they can check out new sounds and the latest hits for free.”
It’s All About
“
Me
”
on MSN Music
MSN Music provides a richly personalized experience with a new My Music page, finely tuned recommendations and a redesigned home page. By simply entering a handful of music preferences and favorites, users will automatically receive personalized music recommendations that they can rate, add to their favorites and send to friends. The My Music page also generates related recommendations for radio stations, concerts and listener reviews based on the criteria entered. Between the unique SoundsLike technology and new personalization features, people can easily tailor MSN Music to fit their personal music tastes.
Free Downloads on MSN Music
Delivering one-click access to innovative new features, more than 300,000 preprogrammed radio stations and near-CD-quality sound, MSN Music makes it easy for people to experience the music they want. The new MSN Music Download Center provides music fans with the opportunity to download free promotional songs from the hottest new artists, while also helping artists better promote their music online through a safe, secure site that is dedicated to delivering a premier online music experience. To remain on the cutting edge, the Download Center will be continuously updated with the latest hits and fan favorites. Examples of popular artists featured in the Download Center today include Diana Krall, Elbow, Indigo Girls, Phantom Planet and Incubus. Songs by these artists can be downloaded and enjoyed offline for as long as the promotion is valid. People can easily share a link to these downloads with friends and fellow music fans by selecting the E-Mail This Page option.
Music Purchases on MSN Music
Once people have discovered and listened to free music on MSN Music, the integration of local concert ticket information, online music stores and links to on-demand music subscriptions make it simple for them to make educated music purchases. Today’s availability of MSN Music helps consumers keep up to date on the latest music developments by offering Microsoft® .NET Alerts for recommended local concerts with links directly to ticket sales on Ticketmaster. For consumers who are content to enjoy music from home or work, pressplay subscription service integration on the MSN Music site expands subscribers’ listening experiences through opportunities to stream songs, download music and burn CDs based on the music they’ve discovered and listened to on MSN Music.
Celebrity Concerts on MSN Music
To complement its broad range of music content and services, MSN Music recently launched a special All Access feature, giving people exclusive concerts and behind-the-scenes footage from their favorite musicians. MSN Music teamed with Alanis Morissette to kick off the first show and is hosting the concert webcast as well as an interview with Morissette at http://music.msn.com/alanis/ . With the new All Access feature, music fans can count on MSN Music to provide an interactive experience with their favorite artists. Whether people’s tastes include alternative, hip-hop, hard rock or any of the more than 100 other styles available on the site, MSN Music is another important way that MSN delivers an exciting and original online environment.
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 270 million unique users worldwide per month. Available in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and digital marketing solutions to businesses worldwide. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies 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.
Microsoft and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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