New York, NY – April 3, 2001 – In yet another distinguished online initiative, David Bowie announced that his Internet Community BowieNet (www.davidbowie.com) will launch its first online radio Thursday, April 5. Dubbed ‘BowieRadio,’ it will utilize RealNetworks technology to stream audio to members of the Bowie community. While BowieRadio will of course include a comprehensive collection of both live and studio recordings from David Bowie’s prolific career, it will also feature a selection of ‘stations,’ many of which will stream non-Bowie material. BowieRadio was conceived, created and designed by UltraStar Entertainment, creator and facilitator of BowieNet. The radio will also utilize a proprietary Internet radio solution from Axispoint that automates reporting to performing rights organizations like ASCAP, BMI and SESAC.
Consistent with his role in BowieNet, David Bowie himself has and will continue to play a significant role in selecting the content for the radio. BowieRadio plans to roll out additional stations in the months ahead, including one in which David Bowie acts as DJ.
“The possibilities are endless,” says Bowie. “We have developed programming that not only satisfies the musical tastes and personal requests of our members, but also does not infringe on the rights of the writers and publishers.”
The announcement comes in the midst of ongoing deliberations in the realm of music on the Internet as the courts try to regulate the exchange of music online. Unlike file-sharing sources like Napster, however, BowieRadio will not allow users to copy and exchange music, but rather only to listen to pre-selected tracks via streaming audio (similar to conventional AM and FM radio).
David Bowie has long been making news on the Internet, winning the “Best Artist Site” of the year 2000 from Yahoo Internet Life and being honored in the same year with its “Online Pioneer Award.” Some of Mr. Bowie’s other online firsts include initiating EMI’s Digital Download Campaign, hosting a ‘FanMix’ in July, 2000 (where he asked fans to vote on different mixes of a song in a live streaming event from the recording studio), and his recent decision to offer fans an exclusive live version of Ziggy Stardust via digital download utilizing CD recognition technology. His subscription-based Internet community first launched in 1998 and has paved the way for other artists such as Dave Mathews Band, Hanson and Prince who recently adopted a similar model.
Axispoint (www.axispoint.com) is a technology solution provider offering customized solutions from network infrastructure to database and application programming. The company’s Internet radio solution with Digital Rights Reporting is the latest addition to an extensive menu of software licensed by this New York City based corporation.
Back end programming for BowieRadio was also made possible by VillageWorld.com (www.villageworld.com) (OTCBB: VILW). VillageWorld.com manages BowieNet’s ISP services and provides connectivity and web hosting solutions to universities, public schools systems, individuals and businesses.
