Berkeley, CA
Nov 4 1999
Fans Choose Reeves Gabrels on the Net;
CDDB Empowers Users to Opt-In for MP3 Only Album
Internet music info-database enables artists and promoters to establish digital pipeline to active listeners online
Leveraging the 10 million online fans that use their Disc Recognition Service monthly, CDDB, Inc. has inked an exclusive, one-year agreement with Grammy-nominated Reeves Gabrels to enable the artists to release his new solo album on the Internet. The album, Ulysses (della notte), goes online at www.ReevesGabrels.com at midnight tonight and will not be available in stores.
Unprecedented in the emerging Internet music business, the deal gives CDDB the exclusive right to make the album available to over 250 CDDB-enabled applications (which include RealJukebox, WinAmp, and MusicMatch) to put Gabrels' current listeners a link away from purchasing his new album online. The move incites software developers to upgrade their music player applications to incorporate CDDB, an enhanced version of the Disc Recognition Service with extended data, dynamic linking and international language translation capability.
"Because CDDB identifies over 450,000 albums daily, we have an opportunity, on an opt-in basis, to help Reeves and his fans hook-up online," said Ty Roberts, CTO, at CDDB. "Whenever a registered fan listens to Bowie, The Cure, Public Enemy or any of Reeves music on a CDDB-enabled application, they'll be a mouse click away from buying his new solo album on the Net," continued Roberts. Gabrels' discography will trigger links to www.ReevesGabrels.com when played on CDDB-enabled applications.
"The Internet lets me make my music available to listeners within a week of completion. And these songs are coming out unaltered or remixed by a record label's A&R department. What you hear is what I wanted you to get. No compromises," said Reeves Gabrels who will release the single today to rock and alternative affiliates exclusively through MTV Radio Networks.
"The deal is a marked shift for the global distribution of music for artists and labels," said Andy Spray, Director of Music Business Development at CDDB. "CDDB's distribution agreement with Reeves Gabrels levies a flat fee and targets the exploding wired fan-base."
To support the release, CDDB will employ a viral marketing strategy to promote sales of Gabrels' new album. "User-created content may be the buzz word of the day, but user-distributed content is where CDDB comes in. We're using a branded software player and Internet postcards to let fans introduce fans to Reeves' new release on the Net," said Ann E. Greenberg, SVP, Marketing and Business Development at CDDB.
When fans download "Ulysses (della notte)" they will receive a bonus player that is the equivalent of a virtual album cover with audio playback capability. The result is the integration of the music and album art online. The player is self-reliant with the aid of the AMP MP3 digital playback engine from PlayMedia Labs at www.playmedia.hr. AMP is the same technology used to power AOL's popular WinAmp MP3 player.