Loudeye Powers Its First Music Download Store in South Africa

Loudeye Powers Its First Music Download Store in South Africa Leading South African Retailer Musica Chooses Loudeye's OD2 Services to Launch Privately Branded Music Store SEATTLE, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Loudeye Corp. (NASDAQ:LOUD), a worldwide leader in business-to-business digital media solutions, today announced the expansion of its OD2 services into South Africa through the launch of a music store for leading retailer Musica. The music store, which will be available at www.musica.co.za, marks the first digital music download store powered by Loudeye's OD2 services in South Africa, and the 20th country where Loudeye provides digital music services. The deal allows Musica to enhance its online presence through the addition of a custom-branded digital music store to its existing online retail Website. The site will be updated with new releases, allowing consumers to access the most contemporary music available. Musica is also planning to focus on local talent by working with local record companies to educate them about the benefits of legal digitized music as a means to generate extra revenue and promote their brand to a wider audience. "The international download market is growing apace and as South Africa's largest retailer, Musica had to be the first to offer a download service here," said Colin Robb, Musica MD. "Our customers would expect us to offer the service and, as they already know and trust our brand, we're confident that they'll feel safe and comfortable buying music online through the Musica website." "This is an exciting new territory for OD2 to be moving into, especially as there is no current digital music supplier in the country," said Philip Shepherd, OD2's business development manager. "It was an obvious choice to collaborate with Musica as they are the largest music retailer in South Africa and the ideal partner for educating the market about the benefits of digital music." About Loudeye Corp. Loudeye is a worldwide leader in business-to-business digital media solutions and the outsourcing provider of choice for companies looking to maximize the return on their digital media investment. Loudeye combines innovative products and services with the world's largest music archive and the industry's leading digital media infrastructure enabling partners to rapidly and cost effectively launch complete, customized digital media stores and services. For more information, visit www.loudeye.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current estimates and actual results may differ materially due to risks, including adverse changes in the market for distribution of digital music that Loudeye's OD2 services target, in particular in new markets; potential delays in store launch; loss of digital distribution rights from any major label; adverse or uncertain legal developments with respect to copyrights surrounding the creation and distribution of digital content; pricing pressures and other activities by competitors; lack of market acceptance for Loudeye's and its OD2 products and services; possible delay in the adoption of digital media or related applications on the web in general; and other risks set forth in Loudeye's most recent Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and other SEC filings which are available through EDGAR at www.sec.gov . Loudeye assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Source: Loudeye Corp. CONTACT: media, Karen DeMarco, kdemarco@mprm.com or Yasmeen Coning, yconing@mprm.com, both of mPRm Public Relations, +1-323-933-3399, for Loudeye Corp.; or in Europe, Simon Hill of Trimedia Communications UK, +44 (0)207 471 6826 or +44 (0)7776 251192, or simon.hill@trimediauk.com, for Loudeye; or investors, Michael Dougherty of Loudeye Corp., +1-206-832-4000, or ir@loudeye.com Web site: http://www.musica.co.za/ Web site: http://www.loudeye.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment