Zune Supports Live Nation to Connect With Music Fans at Concerts Across the Country

Zune Supports Live Nation to Connect With Music Fans at Concerts Across the Country

Zune summer music programs continue; new artists featured through Ignition and On the Road.

REDMOND, Wash., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced that Zune(TM) will have a significant presence at 28 Live Nation concert venues across the United States this summer as part of its continuing drive to connect music fans with the bands they love. Zune will have a strong on-site presence with its Zune Spots, inviting consumers to try the devices and see the latest summer colors. The innovative Zune Spots are actually converted freight containers that have been redesigned to bring the brand to life for concertgoers.

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"Being on-site at these Live Nation amphitheaters lets us build on our efforts to connect consumers with the music they love," said Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Zune. "It also presents the perfect backdrop to get Zune into the hands of consumers so people can see our summer colors firsthand and send tracks to each other via the wireless sharing feature."

Zune is also helping consumers travel to see their favorite bands live by giving them the chance to win a trip to see a Live Nation show in its Zune Zoom Away competition or a Zune 30GB digital media player. Consumers can view Official Rules and enter by visiting http://www.zune.net/. In addition to the concert getaways, consumers can download Zune Zone vouchers. The first 50 people to bring the voucher to a Zune Spot will receive VIP treatment at the Zune Zone, a special area at select concerts with private wait staff and Zune lawn chairs.

New artists participate in Zune Ignition and On the Road programs

Ryan Adams steps forward in July as the newest artist to be promoted across a selection of Microsoft(R) Web properties as part of the Zune Ignition program. Promoting free and exclusive music and video downloads from his latest album, "Easy Tiger" (released June 26 on Lost Highway Records), Adams will feature the following content on Zune Marketplace, Zune.net, MSN(R) Entertainment properties and the Xbox LIVE(R) Marketplace:

   -- "Beautiful Sorta (Live)." Available for exclusive promotional (free)      download on Zune Marketplace for the entire month   -- "Beautiful Sorta (Live)." Available as a stream on MSN   -- "Two" (video). Available as a stream on MSN during the last two weeks      of the month   -- "I Taught Myself How to Grow Old" (video). Available for promotional      download on Xbox LIVE    

Complementing Ignition, the Zune On the Road program provides financial and tactical tour support for emerging artists. Great Northern, whose debut album "Trading Twilight for Daylight" was released last month, will be embarking on its U.S. tour July 17. A complete schedule of Great Northern tour dates can be found at http://www.greatnorthernmusic.com/. Other artists supported by On the Road are CSS, Ladytron, LCD Soundsystem and MIMS.

About Zune

Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment platform that provides an end-to-end solution for Connected Entertainment. The Zune experience includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service, and a foundation for an online community that enables music fans to discover new music. Zune Marketplace offers for purchase more than 2.6 million song titles, ranging from popular hits to leading-edge new music. Zune users can download songs individually or by the album using Microsoft Points or a Zune Pass subscription, which offers unlimited downloads for $14.99 a month. Zune Marketplace also offers insightful editorial programming produced by a team of music professionals who aim to bring a local record store experience to the digital world. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

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Source: Microsoft Corp.

CONTACT: Christopher Lehman of Microsoft, +1-425-421-8501,
clehman@microsoft.com; or Sara Ball of Edelman, +1-206-223-1606,
Sara.Ball@Edelman.com, for Microsoft

Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/
http://www.zune.net/
http://www.greatnorthernmusic.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment