Breakthrough Feature Set to Include Unlimited "Near-CD Quality" Recording of MP3s and Integrated Windows Media Support

SAN DIEGO, CA  May 3, 1999  MusicMatch Inc., makers of the world's first personal jukebox software program  “MusicMatch Jukebox”,  today released the public Beta version of its fourth generation jukebox software.  The MusicMatch Jukebox lets users record, sort and play digital music tracks from their personal CD collections or downloaded from the Internet.  Downloads of MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0 are now available at www.musicmatch.com/jukebox.

The MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0 Beta builds on the existing MusicMatch features, adding a number of breakthrough capabilities.  New line-in recording allows users to record digital music from vinyl, cassette or microphone source.  An integrated CD player makes it possible for users to more effectively manage CD music, and preview tracks before choosing which to record.  Support for GUI "themes" allows users to choose from a growing number of dynamic user interfaces.  MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0 also offers advanced recording capabilities with fade control, volume normalization, clipping, stereo and joint stereo recording, and the ability to record in up to 12 stereo channels. 

The free version of MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0 now includes a complete "near-CD quality" MP3 encoder, which allows users to record an unlimited number of MP3 files at up to 96kbps without having to upgrade.  Users are able to upgrade to CD-quality MP3 recording at bit rates of up to 320kbps.  The company also plans to incorporate support for Windows Media Technologies 4.0, the new advanced compression format from Microsoft, into the standard version of MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0.

“MusicMatch was the first personal jukebox software on the market, and as the leader in this space we know what digital music enthusiasts want,” said Dennis Mudd, CEO of MusicMatch, Inc.  “We are completely focused on one goal: creating the most powerful personal jukebox program in the world. The MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0 gives music lovers even more control over how they experience their music, whether that music is recorded straight to the PC using MusicMatch, or downloaded from the Internet.”

A beta version of MusicMatch Jukebox that supports only the Windows Media format was made available today at www.musicmatch.com/jukebox.   MusicMatch and Microsoft will also cooperate with SDMI to address concerns regarding mixing of MP3 content with secure formats such as Windows Media.

The Windows Media version of MusicMatch Jukebox supports Windows Media Rights Manager, which enables copyright owners to prevent unauthorized duplication of the music they make available for download.  It is the first personal jukebox software to allow recording in the new Windows Media Technologies 4.0 format.

MusicMatch announced last week a strategic alliance with Thomson Multimedia to  further develop the MP3 standard for digital music. Thomson will also take a 20 percent equity stake in MusicMatch.  Also announced last week, the company will partner with InterTrust Technologies Corporation, the MetaTrust Utility^TM to develop a MetaTrust-Certified MusicMatch Jukebox that will enable digital rights management (DRM).

About MusicMatch Jukebox
MusicMatch Jukebox is the first completely integrated MP3 music management software program that lets users build extensive collections of CD-quality digital music downloaded from the Internet and recorded from music CDs.  MusicMatch Jukebox lets users organize all of their tracks in a digital music database on their PC, create custom play lists and play them on their PC in CD-quality.  MusicMatch Jukebox is one of the world's most popular audio software programs, downloaded by close to one million people each month.  MusicMatch Jukebox is currently being bundled with the Diamond Rio and Creative NOMAD portable MP3 players.

About MusicMatch, Inc.
MusicMatch, Inc. develops digital audio software that lets people take control over how they listen to their music. The company's popular "MusicMatch Jukebox" software turns a PC into a powerful component of a user's stereo system, and is the world's number-one selling MP3 software program.  The MusicMatch web site  (www.musicmatch.com) is one of the world's 50 most popular music web sites, and contains one of the finest collections of downloadable music from independent artists on the Internet.  The company has 32 employees and sales approaching $1 million per month.  MusicMatch was incorporated in February, 1997, and is headquartered in San Diego, CA.

**MusicMatch and MusicMatch Jukebox are trademarks of MusicMatch, Inc.

Joeli Yaguda
MusicMatch, Inc.
direct line:    805.227.0186
http://www.musicmatch.com

Links: Music Match Home Page
Software: MusicMatch Jukebox
News: MusicMatch Brings MP3 to the Masses, Thomson Multimedia To Invest In MusicMatch, MusicMatch Unveils MusicMatch Jukebox 4.0