ARTISTdirect Records Fuels Promotion Department Expansion With Additional Hires.

Business Editors & Entertainment Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2002

ARTISTdirect Records continues to expand its national promotion staff, it was announced today by the label's Executive Vice President of Promotion, Marc Benesch. According to Benesch, the Company has named Patrick Grueber as the RPM in the Midwest, Dee Ann Metzger as Los Angeles RPM, John Nagara as RPM in the Southeast, Kathie Romero, RPM in the Southwest, Aimee Saiger Russell as RPM in the Northeast, and Rachel Earle as College Promotion Rep. The new staffers will work all pop, rock, and alternative releases in their respective areas.

"Every one of these individuals is extremely talented, dedicated, and share the vision we have for ARTISTdirect Records," commented Benesch. "I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with all of them, and know that they will make a valuable contribution to the future success of our artists."

Prior to joining ARTISTdirect Records, Patrick Grueber spent fourteen years in the Reprise Records promotion department. He began as a local in Detroit in 1987, and nine years later, moved to Chicago as the Reprise RPM. He's worked with artists including Chris Isaak, Bare Naked Ladies, Wilco, and Green Day.

Most recently, Dee Ann Metzger, who will handle L.A.-to-Denver and all points between, spent a year with London/Sire as that company's L.A. RPM. Prior to that, she worked as the Denver regional for Capricorn Records from 1995 to 2000, and before that, she held the same post for two years at Virgin Records. She began her promotion career in 1990 as the Denver regional for Charisma Records.

Prior to joining ARTISTdirect Records, John Nagara spent seven years as an RPM, first at Virgin Records ('95), then Geffen ('96-'99), and most recently at Maverick Recording Co. ('99-'01). Throughout his record company career, he has worked records by Alanis Morrisette, Counting Crowes, Rob Zombie, and Tantric. He began his career at WKDF Radio in Nashville where he served as Music Director and Assistant Program Director over a nine year period.

Kathie Romero was part of the "founding team" at Interscope Records where she was the Southwest regional rep from 1990 through 1997, working the label's artists including Marky Mark, Primus, Nine Inch Nails, and No Doubt. She moved to Priority Records in '97 as National Director, Pop, working records by Ice Cube, Master P, and Lil' Romeo.

Aimee Saiger Russell, who will cover the Maine-to-D.C. region, comes to ARTISTdirect Records from Capitol Records where she spent five years as an RPM, and a year as National Director, Pop Promotion, working artists such as Everclear, Radiohead, Coldplay, and the Foo Fighters.

In her new position as College Promotion Rep, Rachel Earle will create and run ARTISTdirect Records' college radio promotion department. She comes to the label from Capitol Records where she did college promotion for two-and-a-half years, working artists such as Radiohead, Dandy Warhols, Sparklehorse, and Idlewild.

About ARTISTdirect Records:

ARTISTdirect Records is a co-venture between ARTISTdirect, Inc. and Ted Field, one of the most successful executives in the entertainment industry. Launched in the summer of 2001, ARTISTdirect Records' talent roster includes a diverse range of hip-hop, rap, alternative, and rock artists such as Custom, NAAM Brigade, The Blood Brothers, Mad at Gravity, and Pokafase. ARTISTdirect Records has a distribution agreement in North America with BMG, who also has a license for territories around the globe. ARTISTdirect Records is affiliated with ARTISTdirect, Inc. (Nasdaq:ARTD), a music and media company that combines an online music network with integrated offline assets to provide a single-stop solution for music fans, artists, labels, and advertisers.