RealNetworks, Warner Music Group And Trans World Entertainment Are Joining Forces To Market And Promote Music From Popular Artists On The Web
RealNetworksÆ (Nasdaq: RNWK), the recognized leader in media delivery for the Internet, the Warner Music Group (NYSE: TWX) and TWEC.COM, the e-commerce site of Trans World Entertainment (Nasdaq: TWMC), the leading U.S. music retailer, announced today that the companies are working together to jointly market and promote a series of popular artists from Warner Music Group labels including Warner Brothers, Elektra, Atlantic Records and Maverick. Artists participating in the promotions include Jewel, Edwin McCain, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mint Condition, Gerald Levert and rising star Vitamin C. The promotions, which will begin later this month, are designed to develop compelling promotional and e-commerce opportunities for consumers of music on the Web. All of the promotions will be available via secure download at TWEC.com (http://www.twec.com ) through use of the RealJukeboxô Beta 2 version and RealJukebox Plusô, with CD-quality audio, both of which were just released. ""We are pleased with the enhancements RealNetworks has made in the Beta 2 version of the RealJukebox and the RealJukebox Plus. The enhancements provide a great consumer experience while supporting the objectives of the Secure Digital Music Initiative,"" said Paul Vidich, Executive Vice President, Warner Music Group. ""Working with RealNetworks and Trans World Entertainment on this series of promotions will provide the Warner Music Group with valuable experience for effectively driving the market for digitally distributed music over the Web."" ""We are very pleased to be Warner's exclusive retail partner in this new initiative,"" said Robert J. Higgins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trans World Entertainment. ""This continues to strengthen our ongoing relationship with RealNetworks, as well as to capitalize on our long standing partnership with the Warner Music Group. As digital distribution of music continues to grow, Trans World is committed to utilizing our strong relationships with the music community, the e-commerce community and our customers to bring them the most advanced technology available."" ""This initiative with Warner Music and Trans World Entertainment marks a significant milestone in the development of the digital distribution market. We are thrilled to be working closely with them to help develop a market that is compelling for consumers and provides optimal e-commerce opportunities for labels and artists,"" said Rob Glaser, Chairman and CEO, RealNetworks, Inc. ""With its millions of users and one-click access to songs, RealJukebox provides the ideal system for artists, consumers, music labels and retailers to interact."" RealJukebox Plus, with CD-quality audio, and the free Beta 2 version of RealJukebox are the first digital music products to support secure drag and drop integration with multiple portable devices, including the RCA LYRA, Creative Lab's NOMAD, Diamond Rio and Philips' newly announced device. Released today, the new beta versions of RealJukebox and RealJukebox Plus are also the first systems to support the broadest range of popular downloadable music formats, including RealAudioÆ, MP3, AT&T's a2b, IBM's EMMS and Liquid Audio. About Real Jukebox With more than 7 million registered users since its release in May of this year, RealJukebox is the first complete digital music product that gives consumers everything they need to acquire, play and manage their personal music collections. RealJukebox turns an Internet PC into the best way to listen to music by allowing consumers to listen to their favorite music at their convenience, record CD collections to PC hard drives, find and download music from the Internet, organize and personalize music collections and take their music anywhere they wish through the use of portable devices. Both RealJukebox Plus and RealJukebox now provide consumers with the ability to personalize the appearance of the interface with a wide variety of skins. RealJukebox and RealJukebox Plus are available for immediate download at http://www.realjukebox.com. About RealJukebox Plus RealJukebox Plus is the $29.99 enhanced version of RealJukebox and the only complete digital music system with the ability to record and playback at CD quality - up to 320 kbps, a 10-band graphic equalizer, and powerful new music management capabilities among its many features. RealJukebox Plus is immediately available for purchase at http://www.realjukebox.com. About RealNetworks RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in streaming media delivery for the Internet. It develops and markets software products and services designed to enable users of personal computers and other consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio, video and other multimedia services using the Web. RealNetworks can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.real.com. About Warner Music Group Warner Music Group, which includes Atlantic, Elektra, Sire, Rhino, Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music International as well as WEA Inc. and Warner/Chappell Music Publishing, is a division of Time Warner Inc. About The Web's Entertainment Center (twec.com) TWEC.com is the online hub for Trans World Entertainment's retail stores. With worldwide distribution spanning 16 countries in addition to the United States, the site features all of the music CDs and cassettes, video games, DVD and VHS (PAL and NTSC) home videos that are available at its retail stores, plus much more! TWEC.com is home to Trans World's ""On Stage"" series, featuring live concerts, online chats, in-store artist appearance schedules, in-studio performances and entertainment media that is on-demand. About Trans World Entertainment Corporation Trans World Entertainment is the leading music retailer in the United States, operating 1,000 retail stores in 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico as well as an e-commerce site, http://www.twec.com. Mall locations include Record Town, Camelot Music, The Wall, Saturday Matinee and F.Y.E. Freestanding locations include Coconuts Music and Movies, Strawberries Music, Spec's and Planet Music.