Month: August 1999

For the first time ever in the history of the music business, a majorrecording artist and a leading record company are joining with retail tobring a complete album to music fans via download from the Internet.

On Tuesday, September 21st, David Bowie and Virgin Records will make the tensongs from the artist’s new album “hours…” available via download from theInternet from any participating retailer. As a special bonus to theweb-surfing music fan, an eleventh new track offered exclusively through thedownload will be provided. This exciting opportunity is being made availablein conjunction with over 50 retailer outlets for only the two weeks prior tothe album’s actual in-store retail date of October 4th.

Announcing the new venture, Virgin Worldwide Vice Chairman Nancy Berry said:

“David Bowie is one of the most technologically well informed and culturallyprogressive artists in the world. It is only natural that he be the firstmusician to bring his art to his fans in this manner. We are very excited tobe part of this experiment in new music distribution with David and ourdistribution channel EMI Music Distribution (EMD). Although this process isnot indicative of how Virgin will conduct business in the future, we areexcited to be pioneering this development and look forward to many otherexciting and ground-breaking advances”

Comments David Bowie
“I couldn1t be more pleased to have the opportunity of moving the musicindustry closer to the process of making digital download available as thenorm and not the exception. We are all aware that these broadbandopportunities are not yet available to the overwhelming majority of people.However, just as colour television broadcasts and film content on home videotapes were required first steps to cause their industries to expand consumeruse, I am hopeful that this small step will lead to larger steps by myselfand others ultimately giving consumers greater choices and easier access tothe music they enjoy. Concurrently, the Internet, with its low barriers ofentry will allow retailers large and small to compete on a level playingfield. This can only be of benefit to the consumer”

Read the entire “official press release” here on BowieNet.

Further to the news on BowieNet yesterday about Bowie & the NY Yankees, it’s also made the news over in England.

The attached is from yesterday’s Daily Telegraph (UK national newspaper -business news section)

THANKS TO DAVE BURDETT (still grinning uncontrollably after Mondays VH1 show!)

Tuesday’s New York Post printed this article about the newest Bowie / UltraStar project: www.yankees.com

The article talks about Bowie’s evolvement with the new Yankee’s site, and includes a mocked-up photo of Bowie jammin with a few of the boys. Take a look at the article here.

The story has also been picked up by the following:

www.billboard.com
www.launch.com
Jazzin’ for Steinbrenner
www.sonicnet.com

Bowie had this to say about the new Yankee site:

“We hope to deal with one of the most profound unanswered questions in all of sports. [Yankees teammates] Paul O’Neill can play drums, Bernie Williams can play guitar, but who’s on bass?” – db

Read the official press release here on BowieNet.

News stories are popping up about the VH-1 Storytellers taping. Here is a brief excerpt from ALLSTAR:

VH1 Storytellers executive producer Bill Flanagan prepared the crowd who came to watch David Bowie tape an upcoming episode of the series by saying, “This is going to be the best thing that VH1 ever — scratch that, this is probably the best thing you’re going to see on TV this year.”

You can read the entire write-up at ALLSTAR, CDNow’s daily music news.

Special thanks to everyone, especially Floria Sigismondi for the chat yesterday. Check out the chat transcript here.

It’s that time again! Another week, another track! We have posted up yet another track, plus three more chunks of the album cover image for you.

Enjoy thisexclusive first look and listen from the forthcoming David Bowie album “Hours…”

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE:
We have added reviews of each song, written by David Buckley, author of “The Complete Guide to the Music of David Bowie“

Just click on the track, and read the review while you listen.

That’s right. Be on the lookout for a new website from Mark Plati.

Appropriately, it’s called www.markplati.com. We will keep you up to date on the sites launch date. Good luck Mark!

If you live in the UK, don’t miss your chance to see Bowie LIVE at Wembley Stadium for the NetAid concert, October 9, 1999.

Tickets for the event go on sale today with a limit of 6 per person.

For more information, check out the Wembley Stadium website.

PHONE NUMBERS:
Box Office 0870 738 2000
T/Master 0870 843 2000
F Call 0870 906 3743

Of course, the concert proceeds will benefit refugees in Africa and Kosovo.

The primary goal of NetAid is not to raise money, but to raise awareness of global poverty, primarily through the Web.

New York, NY – On-line sports and entertainment specialistsUltraStar Internet Services LLC announced today that they have entered intoa multi-year partnership with the 24-time World Champion New York Yankees tocreate the team’s new official web site.

Under the arrangement, UltraStar and the Yankees will take over all webrelated responsibilities including production and content, advertising,sponsorship, merchandising, a new premium on-line fan club as well as accessto the Internet via www.yankees.com.

The Yankees will become one of the first major sports teams in the world toallow fans to use the team’s name as a part of their e-mail address.Starting immediately, all fans are encouraged to reserve an e-mail address(i.e. yourname@yankees.com) which will become activated for each member uponthe launch of YankeesXtreme, the new web site’s premium on-line fan club.

In addition to e-mail@yankees.com, YankeesXtreme will offer subscribersexclusive site content, regularly scheduled chats with team players andcoaches, digital photos, archived footage, audio, video, discounts onofficial team merchandise, special ticket offers and numerous on-linecontests. Each member will also be given 2 MB of personal web space, whichcan be viewed by anyone in the world with access to the World Wide Web. Fromthree-dimensional chat rooms to direct-mail access to player mailboxes,YankeesXtreme allows fans to interact with the team in a variety of uniqueways. Anyone with access to the Internet can join YankeesXtreme for only$6.95 per month.

UltraStar and the Yankees are also offering nation-wide, full-service,high-speed, dial-up Internet access. This Yankees branded service is pricedat $14.95 a month, 25%%%% below the average cost of Internet access. This priceincludes membership to YankeesXtreme (a $6.95 value) as well as unlimitedinternet access, a customized Yankees browser, news groups & bulletinboards, daily content (news, sports, weather, stocks, etc.) and customer andtechnical support.

“We are extremely excited about our new web venture, especially regardingthe innovations that YankeesXtreme will deliver,” said Joseph Perello, VicePresident, Business Development for the New York Yankees. “Through ourpartnership with UltraStar, we have set out to create a web site thatreflects the history, legacy and unparalleled success of the New YorkYankees.”

“Partnering with the New York Yankees is a golden milestone for UltraStar’sInternet sports franchising initiatives,” said Robert Goodale, President ofUltraStar. “This major-league online offering invites Yankees fansnation-wide to get up-close and personal with their favorite baseball teamand its players, coaches and staff. For those who can’t come to YankeeStadium, we intend to bring all the excitement of the Stadium experience tothe on-line fan. Some of the features of the new web site fans will includebe pre- and post- game quotes directly from the clubhouse, real-timecoverage of games, photos, features, real-time stats and more. History buffswill love the Yankees’ Time Machine, a multimedia look at each year inYankees’ history.”

UltraStar Internet Services LLC is a management, technology partnership thatspecializes in the area of Internet services, bringing major entertainment,sports and fashion clients to the world in a community-based forum deliveredover the Web. UltraStar’s philosophy is simple: allow Internet users theopportunity to get “up close and personal” with their favorite personalitiesvia the Internet. Never before has there been a gateway where the privateand public worlds of famous figures has been opened with the continuedsupport, input and materials directly from each personality. The back-endelements of YankeesXtreme are powered by Smart World Technologies LLC.

“We couldn’t be more pleased to be working with the premier team in all ofsports.”said rock & roll legend David Bowie, BowieNet creator and co-founderof UltraStar. “We hope to build the same sense of community as we did withBowieNet, utilizing proprietary content and cutting edge technology. But,more importantly, we hope to deal with one of the most profound unansweredquestions in all of sports – Paul O’Neill can play drums, Bernie Williamscan play guitar, but who’s on bass?”The redesigned web site debuts today at www.yankees.com.

CONTACT:

FRAN CURTIS
ROGERS & COWAN
(212) 545-5856
FCURTIS@Shandwick.com

RICK CERRONE
NEW YORK YANKEES
(718)579-4460
RCERRONE@Yankees.com

Last night, an intimate crowd of 250, including 50 BowieNet members weretreated to alive performance by David Bowie for the VH-1 Storyteller show.

This wasBowie’s first live performance in nearly two years. The band was amazinglytight and the acoustics first rate. Besides a short, sweet tease ofRebel Rebel, here was the set list:

SET LIST
Life On Mars
Thursday’s Child
Can’t Help Thinking About Me
Seven
China Girl
Survive
Word On A Wing
Drive In Saturday
Encore
Thursday’s Child (re-taped)
I Can’t Read
Always Crashing In The Same Car
If I’m Dreaming My Life
The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell

For the encore, the band re-played Thursday’s Child (done a bit faster thesecond time). Bowie was in good spirits, told some great stories, includingencounters with Marc Bolan, Iggy Pop, Steve Marriot, Brian Eno, Mott theHoople, plus several personal stoies from his own experiences.

The 50 BowieNet members were CLEARLY rockin’ throughout the evening!Congratulations to our lucky winners.

We will be posting our 50 winners personal journalsup on the site as soon as they all get back home and have had a chance torecover. We will look forward to hearing what they thought of the evening.