Copyright 2000 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire
January 24, 2000, Monday
SECTION: ENTERTAINMENTWIRE
DISTRIBUTION: Entertainment Editors
LENGTH: 1083 words
HEADLINE: MUSICBLITZ Debuts With Exclusive Free Downloads
From Aimee Mann, and the Band Formerly Known as The Presidents
of the United States of America
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2000
BODY:
Also Included are Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe, Taj
Mahal, and Many Others
MUSICBLITZ Launches the Internet's Only Critical Guide to the Best Free
Music Downloads; Unveils First in a Series of Genre-Specific Web Communities
MUSICBLITZ, a consumer-oriented music company founded by experienced music
industry professionals, debuted today with exclusive new songs from premier
artists including Aimee Mann, the multi-platinum modern
rock band formerly known as the Presidents of the United States of America,
Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe from Bell Biv DeVoe and New Edition, Taj Mahal,
and many others. Collectively MUSICBLITZ artists have sold more than 20
million albums and won Grammy, Soul Train, American Music and W.C. Handy
Awards.
MUSICBLITZ funds established artists to record exclusive new singles and
features these songs as free downloads on its site, MUSICBLITZ.com, and
in its genre-specific Web communities.
The most popular MUSICBLITZ exclusives -- as determined by the number of
downloads -- will be licensed for use in TV shows, movies, commercials,
soundtracks and compilations. MUSICBLITZ also generates revenues from a
variety of other sources, including corporate use of MUSICBLITZ's marketing
services team, advertising, sponsorships, and opt-in affiliate marketing.
"MUSICBLITZ is replacing the traditional business model of deriving
revenues from the direct sale of music to consumers with a new model that
leverages the value of recording music from established artists to generate
advertising, marketing and licensing fees," explained CEO Kevin Nakao.
"The value to consumers and artists is that MUSICBLITZ creates new
music and does not re-purpose content that is already available. Instead,
MUSICBLITZ has developed a new model with exclusive single recording deals
that provides artists with the resources and opportunity to record new music,
develop their careers and maintain a profile without the shackles of a traditional
long-term record contract. In turn, this also allows MUSICBLITZ to offer
music fans the best selection of free new music from their favorite artists."
In addition to featuring exclusive new music, MUSICBLITZ.com also provides
the only critical guide to free, legal music downloads currently available
anywhere on the Internet. Every song that is available on the site undergoes
the careful scrutiny, review and rating of MUSICBLITZ's experienced talent
scouts, music producers and professional music journalists.
Commented Nakao, "We only sign and select artists we believe in and
apply this same creative filter to all the music on the Web, which enables
us to offer consumers a critical guide to music downloads. This helps music
fans find the songs they might most enjoy and avoid the ones we think will
be a waste of their time and hard drive space."
reggaeBLITZ.com Debuts
MUSICBLITZ adds to its rich consumer experience by presenting artists in
the context and culture of the musical community that they foster. The first
of its genre-specific music communities, called reggaeBLITZ, also launched
today. Available online at www.reggaeblitz.com or through www.musicblitz.com,
the site offers reggae enthusiasts exclusive free downloads from renowned
artists such as Andrew Tosh, Big Mountain, The Wailing Souls, Junior Reid
and Toots and The Maytals. reggaeBLITZ also features a glossary of reggae
terms, a history of reggae and the Rastafarian religion, the Top 10 books
on reggae, the Top 25 reggae albums of all time, an interactive discussion
forum and even traditional Jamaican food recipes. MUSICBLITZ develops these
communities online and offline by bringing together consumers, artists,
music journalists, radio programmers, and local club promoters.
About MUSICBLITZ
Based in Los Angeles, MUSICBLITZ is a consumer-oriented music company that
is redefining the relationships between consumers, artists and record labels.
The company combines traditional record label and artist development and
offline marketing practices with technology-enabled distribution. MUSICBLITZ
funds established artists to record new singles and then features this exclusive
music in the form of free downloads on its site, MUSICBLITZ.com, and in
its genre-specific communities. MUSICBLITZ.com offers music fans the only
critical guide to free, legal music downloads from anywhere on the Internet.
For more information about MUSICBLITZ, visit www.musicblitz.com.
Editor's Note: Exclusive singles from the following artists, and others,
are currently featured on MUSICBLITZ's Web site, www.musicblitz.com:
-- Aimee Mann, singer/songwriter with the multi-platinum 'Til
Tuesday and currently featured on the "Magnolia"
soundtrack
-- The band formerly known as Presidents of The United States
of
America, multi-platinum modern rock recording
artists back from
hiatus
-- Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe, offshoot R&B superduo from
multi-platinum Bell Biv DeVoe and New Edition
-- Taj Mahal, Grammy Award-winning blues artist, singer, songwriter
and noted musicologist who has played a vital
role in the
preservation of the blues and African-American
roots music.
-- Mother Superior, the backing band for media icon Henry Rollins
-- Koko Taylor, Grammy Award-winning female blues artist who
has
also won 17 W.C. Handy awards
-- Wailing Souls, reggae legends and Bob Marley's first artist
signing
-- Colin Hay, lead singer/songwriter for multi-platinum Men
At Work
-- Sugar Blue, Grammy Award-winning blues artist who played
harmonica for The Rolling Stones
-- Eenie Meenie, new project from Pixies drummer David Lovering
-- Bobby Womack, legendary R&B singer/songwriter who played
guitar
for Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin and Sly Stone,
as well as wrote
hits for The Rolling Stones and James Taylor
-- Wayne Kramer, guitarist for punk legends MC5
-- The Samples, popular live touring jam band
-- Maceo Parker, legendary sax player with James Brown and
Parliament Funkadelic.
-- Chris Whitley, acclaimed guitar rocker
-- Big Mountain, popular reggae group with a gold single featured
on
the "Reality Bites" motion picture
soundtrack
-- Toots and The Maytals, respected reggae legend whose song
"Pressure Drop" was popularized
by The Clash
CONTACT: mPRm Public Relations
Paul Breton, 323/933-3399
pbreton@mprm.com
URL: http://www.businesswire.com
BACK