``Music in High Places'' International Television Series and Web Adventure Launches With 12 Episodes, Taking Top Recording Artists to Earth's Ancient Locations.

Business/Entertainment Editors & High Tech Writers

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2000

Presented by RadioShack, THOMSON'S RCA BRAND and MSN, and Launching on

DIRECTV(R) in October, a Portion of Series Proceeds Support the

GRAMMY(R) Foundation

Music's top stars will journey to Earth's most ancient locations for the filming of Music in High Places, a series of 12 television and Internet specials, sponsored by RadioShack (NYSE:RSH), THOMSON (NYSE:TMS) multimedia's RCA brand and MSN (NASDAQ:MSFT), which is set to premiere exclusively on DIRECTV, the nation's leading digital satellite television service, in October 2000. Designed to be a "National Geographic for the MTV and VH1 generation," the new adventure/travelogue/music series takes recording artists to some of the world's most ancient sites and includes acoustic musical performances at each location.

The first episode, featuring Alanis Morissette and filmed on location at the Navajo Nation's Canyon de Chelly National Monument in Arizona, will debut October 6 on DIRECTV. Music in High Places will be initially broadcast as part of the DIRECTV(R) FREEVIEW(R) event series, which features exclusive first-window broadcasts to residential customers free of charge. To support the series, DIRECTV plans heavy cross-channel promotion on VH1, MTV, CNN and other networks. Plans are also underway for Music in High Places to debut on a major cable network in January of 2001.

In addition to airing on DIRECTV, an expanded version of each production will also be featured as a digital web adventure exclusively on MSN at http://musicinhighplaces.msn.com, powered by Windows Media Technologies. Launching in late October, the new MSN destination will allow viewers to experience the Music in High Places adventure on the road by participating in celebrity chats and online communities, receiving weekly newsletters, viewing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and online acoustic musical performances. Additionally, visitors will be able to find in-depth information about the artists and locations, and shop for Music in High Places branded merchandise via MSN eShop.

A portion of the proceeds from the Music in High Places franchise supports the work of The GRAMMY Foundation. The project also intends to build awareness for the need to preserve some of Earth's endangered sites, as designated by the United Nations' UNESCO.

Targeted locations for the 2000/2001 season of episodes include: Abu Simbel, Giza, Luxor and Karnak, Egypt; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Ajanta, Ellora Caves, Sanchi, Taj Mahal and Varanasi, India; Ayers Rock, Australia; Borobudur and Prambanan, Indonesia; Chichen Itza, Mexico; The Oracle at Delphi, Greece; Easter Island; The Great Wall, Luoyang, and Mount T'ai Shan, China; Hue Monuments, Vietnam; Kathmandu, Nepal; Lalibela, Ethiopia; Machu Picchu, Peru; Nemrut Dagh, Turkey; Petra, Jordan; Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka; Stonehenge, United Kingdom; Tikal, Guatamala and more.

Music in High Places will chronicle the adventures, thoughts and experiences of each featured recording artist or group as they travel to one of the Earth's most mysterious locations - choosing customized "adventure options" and making, in essence, their own personal pilgrimage. Shot using state-of-the-art technology to best replicate the artist's personal experience, each episode will also feature an acoustic performance at an ancient site.

Comments Alanis Morissette about the taping of her episode, "This experience has allowed me to merge my love of communicating through music and immersing myself in a culture filled with wisdom, freedom and beauty, and it has confirmed my belief in our own interconnectedness on a spiritual level, regardless of our religious, racial and cultural differences."

"Music in High Places embodies our philosophy of offering our customers access to compelling and unique programming that enhances their viewing experience," said Michael Thornton, senior vice president, Programming Acquisitions for DIRECTV, Inc. "The artistic talent and corporate team supporting Music in High Places are second to none. We are proud to be involved with such a prestigious endeavor and to broadcast these exclusive television premieres as part of our DIRECTV(R) FREEVIEW(R) event series, which is available free of charge to DIRECTV(R) customers."

Adds Deanna Sanford, Lead Product Manager for MSN: "We are proud to be the home base on the Web for Music in High Places and to be able to use technology to bring this global entertainment adventure to not only our 201 million users of MSN worldwide, but also to millions more people around the world who will be able to interact with this adventure as it unfolds."

Music in High Places also marks the entry of RadioShack, RCA and MSN into digital programming and Internet solutions. In addition to airing on DIRECTV, RadioShack will premier sneak preview portions of the series in more than 7,100 RadioShack stores. The excerpts will be played in high-resolution and surround sound on the home theater displays within the new RCA Digital Entertainment Center at RadioShack in stores nationwide. RadioShack will augment its broadcast efforts by offering exclusive streaming online content in the Windows Media Format via the Microsoft Internet Center, which will officially launch next month.

"We at RadioShack are very proud to be a title sponsor of Music in High Places," says Jim McDonald, senior vice president, marketing and advertising for RadioShack. "It is our hope that by premiering digital and online programming highlights of the series in our stores, we will bring people closer to the outer edges of our world - without ever having to leave their own neighborhoods. This unique entertainment will help us make streaming media and high-speed Internet access tangible to and accessible for all of America."

Adds Thomson's Jim Gatman, Vice President-Marketing: "We are thrilled that our association with RadioShack, DIRECTV and others provides the opportunity to link our most innovative RCA home entertainment products with some of the world's most talented entertainers to enhance consumers' television viewing choices. It is exciting to note that in addition to DIRECTV's broadcast of the program, the RCA Digital Entertainment Center at RadioShack stores will serve as a sort of global stage to watch the Music in High Places adventure unfold as these great recording artists take us on a trek across our world."

In order to create and produce the series, three independent companies have joined forces: Three-time Grammy winning Tall Pony Productions; TBA Entertainment (NASDAQ:TBAE), one of the industry's top entertainment and communications corporations; and leading cause-related entertainment event, media and marketing firm Innovative Media Productions. Music in High Places is the brainchild of independent producer and marketing executive Parvene Michaels of Innovative Media Productions. Anthony Eaton of Tall Pony Productions, Marc Oswald and Brian Murphy of TBA Entertainment and Michaels will serve as executive producers of the series.

Adds Jock Weaver, Chairman, CEO, and President of TBA Entertainment Corporation: "TBA has a long and successful history of linking the business community with the creative community to produce some of the largest, most successful communications and entertainment programs in the world. Music in High Places possesses the greatest level of integrity and represents the very best of the corporate community and creative community coming together to turn creative concepts into artistic realities that benefit us all, leave lasting legacies and help each group reach and achieve their very worthwhile goals and objectives."

Comments Anthony Eaton of Tall Pony: "From the television production standpoint, it's very exciting to combine the mediums of broadcast television, the Web and in-store entertainment to create a cross-platform entertainment program of this magnitude. There is an incredible team of corporate and artistic individuals coming together to make this digital adventure."

Music in High Places will also serve as the launch pad for a broad-based domestic and international entertainment franchise featuring a wide array of spin-off/cross promotional products and services such as branded books, CDs, videos, clothing, educational tools, travel packages and more. A portion of the proceeds from these items will support the work of The GRAMMY Foundation. The project is also intended to raise awareness for the need to preserve some of Earth's endangered sites as designated by the United Nations' UNESCO.

Observes Michael Greene, President/CEO of The Recording Academy(R) and President of the GRAMMY Foundation: "Music in High Places fundamentally embodies the philosophy of the GRAMMY Foundation's Leonard Bernstein Center for Learning(R) which positions the arts at the center of all learning. The Music in High Places series provides a perfect bridge between the arts and geography, history, and language arts, with celebrated musical artists serving as guides to encourage student participation in these expeditionary learning adventures. We're delighted to provide teachers and students with the opportunity to explore the television experiences as a guidepost to learning about world culture."

Adds Parvene Michaels, executive producer and creator of the series: "We are in an exciting era in entertainment where all the new mediums for delivery of programming -- including the World Wide Web, satellites and broadcast television -- can allow us a new way of experiencing entertainment. It is our collective goal with this production to bring the world to the viewer's doorstep with their favorite recording artists as their guides.

DIRECTV is the nation's largest distributor of multi-channel digital video programming with more than 8.7 million customers, including customers subscribing to the PRIMESTAR by DIRECTV service. DIRECTV is a registered trademark of DIRECTV, Inc., a unit of Hughes Electronics. Hughes Electronics is the world's leading provider of digital television entertainment and satellite and wireless systems and services. The earnings of Hughes Electronics, a unit of General Motors Corporation, are used to calculate the earnings per share attributable to the General Motors Class H common stock (NYSE:GMH). Visit DIRECTV on the World Wide Web at www.directv.com.

MSN is an integrated network of content and services that helps consumers get more from the Web - any time, any place and from any device. MSN Internet Access is the highly rated, fast and reliable way for consumers to get on the Web, now with 3 million subscribers. MSN delivers the Everyday Web experience by providing best-of-breed services including MSN Hotmail, the world's largest e-mail system, with more than 67 million active accounts; MSN Messenger Service, the fastest-growing instant messaging service, with more than 18 million users; MSN Search, the second most popular search service on the Web; and many other widely used services that make MSN a leading innovator of Internet technologies. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/

Windows Media Player 7 is the only software that delivers a complete, all-in-one experience, including digital audio and video playback, a jukebox, an Internet radio tuner, an integrated media guide, audio CD creation and one-click transfer of digital music to portable devices. Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry's only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs.

The RCA Digital Entertainment Center is a "store-within-a-store" display that offers a full line of RCA audio and video products in nearly 7,000 company-owned RadioShack stores throughout the country. Through special in-store programming events, RadioShack's new one-stop-shopping experience will showcase more than 100 RCA products ranging from television sets and RCA DIRECTV satellite receivers to RCA DVD players and digital home audio gear.

RadioShack Corporation (NYSE: RSH) is the nation's largest and most trusted consumer electronics retailer in the United States, and offers both on-and off-line shopping convenience. With more than 7,100 stores and dealers, RadioShack sells more wireless telephones, telecommunications products and electronic parts and accessories than any other retailer. It is estimated that 94 percent of Americans live or work within five minutes of a RadioShack store or dealer. For more information, visit the RadioShack web site at www.RadioShack.com.

The world's fourth largest producer of consumer electronics under the RCA, THOMSON, and other brand names with sales of Euro 6.7 billion ($6.4 billion US) in 1999 and 55,000 salaried employees in more than 30 countries, THOMSON multimedia has four principal activities: Displays and Components, Consumer Products, New Media Services, and Patents and Licensing. The Group engineers, manufactures, and markets display components and consumer products such as televisions, VCRs, camcorders, digital decoders, DVD players, audio and communications products, as well as professional video equipment. THOMSON multimedia is listed on the Paris stock exchange (SICOVAM:18453) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:TMS). THOMSON multimedia is the parent company of the U.S.-based Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc. Visit THOMSON multimedia on the Web: http://www.thomson-multimedia.com/.

The GRAMMY Foundation is a non-profit arm of the Recording Academy dedicated to advancing music and arts-based education across the country and ensuring success to America's rich cultural legacy. An arc of education and preservation programs and services strive to cultivate understanding, appreciation and advancement of the arts for all ages, from infants to the elderly. Through cultural, professional and educational initiatives, the Foundation aims to strengthen our educational system and our culture-at-large. For more information on the GRAMMY Foundation, please visit www.grammy.com.

The United Nation's UNESCO has designated 630 locations around the globe as "world heritage" sites. By featuring many of these sacred areas in its television series, Music in High Places seeks to raise awareness of the plight of many of these locales, many of which are considered endangered due to natural and/or man-made forces. The producers and sponsors of Music in High Places share in UNESCO's concern with regard to seeking to preserve these areas for the edification and enjoyment of future generations.

To download a media kit, please visit http://musicinhighplaces.msn.com

For additional information, please contact:

-- Jeff Urdank at Innovative Media for MIHP 818/789-0595

-- Stacey Luchs at PMK for DIRECTV 323/954-4000

-- Kay Jackson at RadioShack 817/415-0592

-- Beret Severson at Waggener Edstrom for MSN 425/637-9097

-- Dave Arland at Thomson for RCA 317/587-4832

-- Adam Sandler at the Recording Academy 310/392-3777