SNOCAP Opens Digital Registry; Broader Selection is Key to Move P2P Users to Authorized Services

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2005--SNOCAP today announced the public opening of its digital registry, a new service that enables any artist or record label to register content and generate revenues from its distribution across SNOCAP-enabled retailers, including authorized peer-to-peer networks and hosted online services. Individual artists and independent labels can now upload their content into the digital registry and define usage rules on a global basis. Major record labels Universal Music Group, Sony BMG and EMI, and leading independent labels and aggregators including TVT, Rykodisc, Artemis, Nettwerk and IODA and others have already begun to register their catalogs with SNOCAP.

"Individual artists and labels, big and small, finally have a one-stop opportunity to offer their music over the Internet to fans across the world," said Shawn Fanning, Chief Strategy Officer for SNOCAP. "This registry is key to creating a world of authorized peer-to-peer networks that will attract music fans en masse -- enabling consumers to share and discover new artists in much the same fashion as they did with old P2P -- but done in a way that respects the rights holder."

“This registry is key to creating a world of authorized peer-to-peer networks that will attract music fans en masse -- enabling consumers to share and discover new artists in much the same fashion as they did with old P2P -- but done in a way that respects the rights holder.”

The opening of the registry marks a significant milestone in the company's ongoing commitment to bring a rich and diverse catalog of digital music to consumers through a variety of distribution channels, including peer-to-peer networks.

"SNOCAP's core mission is to enable a world where fans have a nearly infinite pool of digital music and a variety of services to choose from," said Ali Aydar, Chief Operating Officer for SNOCAP. "To realize this vision, a one-stop registry is necessary for two reasons -- it expands the content offering by giving rightsholders a trusted and easy-to-use platform to manage rights, expand their distribution channels and grow revenue, and it empowers retailers to customize and differentiate their consumer offerings without having to negotiate hundreds or thousands of individual deals. In the long-term, the digital registry is critical to bringing the deep, diverse and often obscure music selection that consumers demand into an authorized environment."

SNOCAP's registry will give online retailers access to the broadest possible selection of digital music, allowing them to concentrate on offering consumers compelling services rather than developing and maintaining relationships with thousands of copyright holders. Such synergy will provide consumers with an authorized yet comparable alternative to today's file-sharing services, in a marketplace offering a variety of innovative business models.

Digital Registry Product Tiers

-- SNOCAP Basic -- provides the tools for artists and small independent labels to upload music and track information directly from their desktop to SNOCAP's database. Once uploaded, catalogs can be managed from a web-based interface where users can edit track and album information, organize catalogs, and build rulesets to establish usage terms. SNOCAP Basic users can register their ownership in the territories where they control the recording; register content currently being shared on P2P networks they may not know about (back catalog or live content, for example) and set use terms for distribution; seed music to new retail services; generate revenue and track overall sales.

-- SNOCAP Plus -- provides independent record labels with all of the functionality of SNOCAP Basic as well as a full menu of options for encoding, transcoding and delivering content to SNOCAP. Plus Users can upload and store up to 100,000 tracks in the SNOCAP registry, and benefit from phone-based customer support.

-- SNOCAP Advanced -- is designed to serve large rightsholders. The Advanced tier offers all of the tools and services provided in SNOCAP Plus, along with the ability to upload large catalogs of music. Labels using SNOCAP Advanced can automatically register and apply use terms based on information included with batch uploads. Advanced users can deliver weekly catalog updates of new releases to SNOCAP's registry via automated means, and receive customized feedback on their music library.

For more information or to register your content, please visit www.snocap.com.

About SNOCAP

Founded in September 2002, SNOCAP, Inc., based in San Francisco, offers record labels, publishers, and artists an end-to-end solution for digital licensing and copyright management services. Through SNOCAP, operators of authorized peer-to-peer services and online retailers will have access to the largest possible catalog of authorized content that has historically been available only on unauthorized services. SNOCAP provides digital music technology and services to Universal Music Group, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, EMI, Absolutely Kosher Records, Artemis Records/Sheridan Square Entertainment, Digital Musicworks International, IDEA Distributors, I AM Music and Entertainment, Gammon Records, Independent Online Distribution Alliance, Kufala, Streetbeat Records / Pandisc / Kriztal Entertainment, Nacional Records, Nettwerk Records, OM Records/Deep Concentration, One Little Indian, Psychobaby Reality Entertainment, Ryko Group, Six Degrees, SSDD and TVT Records. SNOCAP's easy-to-use service for registering digital content and managing online distribution will enable a more vibrant digital marketplace with better selection and a variety of compelling business models. SNOCAP's database will include current hits, new releases, live recordings, remixes, B-sides and out-of-print tracks culled from major labels, independent and unsigned artists. For more information, visit www.snocap.com.