Spinner.com to Offer MP3 Downloads; Leading Internet Music Service
Adds
Digital Download Capability to Its 100 Plus Channel Player
* 02/22/99
Business Wire
(Copyright (c) 1999, Business Wire)
BURLINGAME, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 1999--Spinner.com, the
first
and largest Internet music service, announced today that it will expand
its
streaming audio service to let users download licensed MP3 or other
digital
song files, making Spinner.com the first Internet music site to offer a
complete Internet music solution.
Spinner.com's current site lets listeners hear its growing collection of
150,000 whole songs on 100 plus unique channels, get artist and CD
information, rate songs and purchase CDs.
TD
"Spinner.com will be the first streaming music site to let listeners
hear an
extensive collection of whole songs, and download licensed songs at a
click of
a button," said Dave Samuel, CEO and founder of Spinner.com. "This preview
before you buy option is the most compelling way for listeners to know
what
they want to buy before downloading."
"Offering the most complete range of legal music listening and buying
options on the Internet is good for listeners and good for record labels,"
added Samuel. "Spinner.com has strong and symbiotic relationships with the
major and independent record labels, and we're working with them to ensure
continued trust and support for our venture."
Earlier this month, Spinner.com closed a $12 million round of financing,
led
by Sony Music Entertainment, Intel Corp. and Amerindo Investment Advisors,
Inc. These investors joined existing investors Allen & Co., Arts Alliance,
IDG
Ventures, and Phoenix Partners.
Spinner.com will remain digital format agnostic, offering MP3 or another
standard, dependent upon which format emerges as the industry standard. It
expects to launch digital download service in 2Q99.
About Spinner.com
Spinner.com is the first and largest multi-channel Internet music
service
with a database of 150,000 digitized songs delivered over 100 plus highly
specialized music channels. Covering an unprecedented depth and breadth of
* music programming -- with channels such as 90's Rock, Bluegrass, British
Invasion, Chicago Blues, Top Pop, Great Guitar, Jungle and Latin --
Spinner.com reaches 2.5 million listeners worldwide, broadcasting 1.5
million
songs per day and delivering 31 million audio sessions per month.
Based in Silicon Valley, Spinner.com combines the power of the Internet
with
advanced digital audio technology to raise entertainment to a new octave.
The
Spinner.com music players -- the Web-based Spinner and the stand-alone
Internet application Spinner Plus -- display song information as music is
played, while providing dynamic links that enable online purchasing and
real-time listener feedback. New listeners can visit Spinner.com and
download
a free player at www.spinner.com.
