SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT Launches Platinum MusicPass

Digital Album Cards Deliver High Quality Files That Are Compatible with All
MP3 Players

NEW YORK, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT today
announced the launch of Platinum MusicPass, a series of digital album cards
that enable consumers to download full-length albums, and in many cases
special bonus content, in the form of high-quality MP3 files. The first 37
titles in the series, which represent musical genres ranging from Rock and Pop
to R&B and Country, will debut on January 15th, 2008 and by the end of the
month will be available at 4,500 retail outlets across the United States. In
Canada, MusicPass will debut in late January of 2008.
"The introduction of MusicPass is an important part of SONY BMG's ongoing
campaign to bring its artists' music to fans in new and innovative ways, and
to develop compelling new business models," commented Thomas Hesse, President,
Global Digital Business & U.S. Sales, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. "The MP3
files delivered through MusicPass play on computers, as well as on all MP3
players, including iPods. This makes them a simple, easy to use solution that
will appeal to fans who already access their music on the Internet, as well as
to consumers who are just getting into the digital realm. The cards themselves
are high-quality collectibles featuring artist images and album information.
They're a great choice whether you're buying for yourself, or as a gift for
occasions ranging from a birthday to Valentine's Day."
According to the 2007 American Express Gift Card Survey, Americans plan to
spend 25% of their total gift spending on gift cards, up from 13% in 2005. 61%
of shoppers said they were planning to purchase at least one gift card, and on
average intended to purchase a total of six cards.
In the United States, MusicPass cards will be available at Best Buy,
Target, and Fred's on January 15th, with Trans World stores (Coconuts, FYE,
Wherehouse, & Spec's) and Winn-Dixie rolling out the cards by the end of
January.
In Canada, participating retailers include Best Buy, CD Plus, Future Shop,
Shoppers Drug Mart and Wal-Mart. In addition, HMV will launch MusicPass in
Canada during the first calendar quarter of 2008.
"We see MusicPass as a great way to bring digital music to the physical
retail space," Mr. Hesse added. "We believe it will have strong appeal for a
broad range of consumers, and that it will ultimately expand both the digital
and physical markets for music. As we begin the roll out of this impressive
new product we are extremely encouraged by the high levels of enthusiasm that
MusicPass has generated among our artists and launch partners, and we look
forward to making music fans across the U.S. and Canada a part of the
MusicPass experience."
"We're happy to be participating in the launch of a new physical format of
digital music for retail," commented Jennifer Johnston Schaidler, Vice
President, Music, Best Buy. "Physical products like this will be another way
for Best Buy to deliver music and entertainment to our customers in a manner
that suits their needs whether it is an impulse purchase, gift, or great
collectible. Digital music doesn't need to be restricted to online
environments. We look forward to learning how physical products can help grow
the digital marketplace."
Rich Romano, Prepaid Card Sales Manager, Winn-Dixie, commented, "We are
excited to have the opportunity to partner with SONY BMG to launch this
initiative. An extensive list of titles and bonus material from superstar
artists makes this offering unlike any other in the marketplace; it gives our
customers the opportunity to purchase new release albums while they do their
grocery shopping."
SONY BMG is offering Platinum MusicPass cards at leading national
retailers through a technology and distribution relationship with InComm, the
nation's largest marketing and technology provider for gift and music cards
and other prepaid products.
"We are excited to be working with SONY BMG on Platinum MusicPass,"
commented Brooks Smith, InComm President and CEO, "We believe people want a
physical product as part of their music purchase, and these cards speak
directly to that desire -- they have great graphics and a quality look and
feel that will make them highly collectible. We look forward to working with
SONY BMG as we roll out this exciting new product line."
The cards will be priced at a suggested list retail price (slrp) of $12.99
which will include the complete digital album plus bonus material or, in the
case of compilations, extensive track listings. In order get the content from
their MusicPass cards consumers scratch the back of their card to unveil their
pin number. They then visit MusicPass.com to download their music files and
bonus material.
Two of the albums included in the initial offering -- Celine Dion's Taking
Chances and Kenny Chesney's Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates -- will be made
available both as regularly priced Platinum MusicPass Cards, and in special
slrp $19.99 versions through which consumers will receive the complete album
and bonus material, plus the choice of one additional album from that same
artist's rich catalog of recordings.
The initial slate of Platinum MusicPass titles is as follows:

Platinum MusicPass Albums with Bonus Material (slrp $12.99):

Alejandro Fernandez, Viento A Favor
Alicia Keys, As I Am
Avril Lavigne, The Best Damn Thing
Backstreet Boys, UnBreakable
Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies
Bob Dylan, Dylan
Boys Like Girls, Boys Like Girls
Brad Paisley, 5th Gear
Britney Spears, Blackout
Brooks & Dunn, Cowboy Town
Bruce Springsteen, Magic
Calle 13, Residente o Visitante
Camila, Todo Cambio
Carrie Underwood, Carnival Ride
Casting Crowns, The Altar and The Door
Celine Dion, Taking Chances
Chris Brown, Exclusive
Daughtry, Daughtry
Elvis Presley, Elvis 30 #1 Hits
Jennifer Lopez, Brave
John Mayer, Continuum
Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Martina McBride, Waking Up Laughing
P!nk, I'm Not Dead
Santana, Ultimate Santana
Sara Bareilles, Little Voice
Sean Kingston, Sean Kingston
The Fray, How To Save A Life
Three Days Grace, One-X
Tony Bennett, Duets

Platinum MusicPass Compilations (slrp $12.99)

Various, 70's POP HITS
Various, ROCK OF THE 70's
Various, SENSATIONAL 60's
Various, COUNTRY GOLD: THE 90's
Various, 80's POP HITS
Various, CLASSIC ROCK
Various, Everlasting Love

Expanded MusicPass Titles (slrp $19.99 versions which include the complete
album, bonus material, plus choice of one additional album from that same
artist's rich catalog of recordings.)
Kenny Chesney, Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates
Celine Dion, Taking Chances
SOURCE SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

John McKay, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, +1-212-833-5520