MusicMatch and Gracenote Join Forces to Provide Bowie Fans Exclusive Online Access to Missing Track from New "Bowie at the Beeb" CD Set
LONDON, SAN DIEGO and BERKELEY, Calif. (October 24, 2000) -- David Bowie extends his reputation as a cyber-pioneer, announcing today that he is offering fans the opportunity to download an exclusive live version of "Ziggy Stardust." Working with MusicMatch, Inc., inventor of the world's first all-in-one jukebox software, and Gracenote (formerly CDDB), a content delivery platform specializing in music recognition technology, Bowie is giving fans who purchased his recently released "Bowie at the Beeb" CD an exclusive opportunity to obtain the live version of "Ziggy Stardust," which was intended for the CD set.
For the first time ever, a major record label and recording artist have chosen to use jukebox software enabled with CD recognition technology to offer additional tracks to consumers who purchase CDs. Beginning today, fans who purchased "Bowie at the Beeb" need only download and install a copy of the popular MusicMatchÒ JukeboxÆ6.0 Beta, drop the CD into their CD-ROM drive and Gracenote's CDDBÒ will identify the CD with its exclusive CDKey? technology. Once verified, the owner of the CD will be given an opportunity to download an exclusive live version of "Ziggy Stardust."
Bowie's latest release, a special limited-edition three-CD set, chronicles his classic sessions at the BBC and includes rare favorites performed between 1968 and 1972. The third CD in the limited package features exclusive classic tracks and live favorites performed by BOWIE at the BBC Radio Theatre show this past summer. Bowie intended the CD set to feature two different live versions of the famed "Ziggy Stardust," recorded live in 1972, but a production error caused one of the versions to be published on the CD set twice, omitting the second version. An estimated 250,000 copies were shipped before the error surfaced. The "double-minted" Ziggy tracks have already become collector's items and consumers snapped up early shipments in the U.K., where the CD set debuted at #7. Bowie turned to EMI, Virgin Records, MusicMatch, and Gracenote in an effort to provide fans with a unique and cutting-edge way to obtain the missing track via digital download.
"MusicMatch and Gracenote were able to step into the breach and quickly provided a solution to the 'double minting' of the CD," said Bowie. "Five years ago this would never have been possible and it's a great bonus to those who already own the album, as it extends the value of the CD overall."
Bowie continued, "MusicMatch and Gracenote were the clear choices for resolving this issue because of their superior technology and their understanding of the demands of digital music fans around the world."
MusicMatch Jukebox gives fans the opportunity to discover more about Bowie and his music by viewing multimedia-rich biographical and album information, as well as sampling tracks from his complete discography in the MusicMatch Music Guide. Bowie fans can also create a custom MusicMatch Radio station containing Bowie classics and tracks from similar artists based on the listening tastes of the MusicMatch community.
"MusicMatch Jukebox bridges the gap between artists and their fans online by offering a direct way to reach fans with new music, CD updates or special promotional tracks," said Dennis Mudd, CEO of MusicMatch, Inc. "Together with the Gracenote CD-recognition technology in MusicMatch Jukebox, we can offer this exciting and exclusive music directly to Bowie fans easily and immediately."
Gracenote's CDKey technology is at the center of the solution. When used in combination with the patented CDDB recognition service, bonus content can be unlocked from any location, including Gracenote-enabled applications such as MusicMatch Jukebox, simply by playing the CD.
"David Bowie has again demonstrated early adoption of cutting edge technology," said David Hyman, CEO of Gracenote. "He's embraced digital technology and online music exchange for the benefit of his fans. At Gracenote we're working with artists, like David Bowie, to enhance the music listening experience for fans around the world. CDKey extends the value of the CD purchase, and creates an ongoing relationship with the music fan."
Bowie fans can visit http://www.musicmatch.com/get_music/ to learn more about this exclusive live version of "Ziggy Stardust" as well as download the free version of MusicMatch Jukebox 6.0 Beta.
About Gracenote
Gracenote is a content delivery platform offering music recognition technology that enables relevant information and services to enhance the music listening experience. Gracenote designed its platform for makers of media players and encoders, consumer electronic manufacturers, record companies, and on and off-line consumer brands. Its network of technology and services opens new direct interactive channels to online music fans worldwide. Over 1,000 partners worldwide, serving more than one million consumers daily, rely on Gracenote's CDDB technology, which is the industry standard in Music Recognition Services (MRS). Gracenote was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Berkeley, California. For more information about Gracenote, go to www.gracenote.com.
About MusicMatch, Inc.
MusicMatch, Inc. (www.musicmatch.com) is a music company focused on giving people the music they want, the way they want it. The company's award-winning MusicMatch Jukebox is enjoyed by more than ten million music fans worldwide who trust MusicMatch to deliver personal fulfillment through music.
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MusicMatch is a registered trademark of MusicMatch, Inc.
MusicMatch Jukebox is a trademark of MusicMatch, Inc.