Audio Book Club, Inc. Announces Agreement With RealNetworks, Inc.

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 18, 1998--

Agreement Provides Users with Direct Link From Rolling Stone 

Radio Player To www.audiobookclub.com

Audio Book Club, Inc. (AMEX: KLB), today announced it has signed an agreement with RealNetworks, Inc., (Nasdaq: RNWK), the recognized leader in streaming media, to be a sponsor of Rolling Stone Radio, the first multi-station Internet music service to utilize RealNetworks Radio Toolkit. An E-Commerce Button on Rolling Stone Radio, branded with the Audio Book Club Logo, will provide a direct link to www.audiobookclub.com or www.BooksAloud.com.

Recently announced by Rolling Stone Network and RealNetworks, Rolling Stone Radio takes advantage of RealSystem(TM) G2, the next generation streaming media system, providing superior sound quality and audience interactivity. By integrating audio programming with advertising, e-commerce linking, and a set of radio programming features, Rolling Stone Radio delivers to consumers a rich source of music and artist information in a highly compelling environment. In addition to banner and in-stream advertising, Rolling Stone Radio contains a row of E-Commerce Buttons that offer direct access to music, audio books, electronics and much more.

Commenting on the announcement, Norton Herrick, Chairman and CEO of Audio Book Club, Inc. "The audience for Rolling Stone Radio, is the perfect target market for audio books and Audio Book Club. The end-user is someone who likes to listen to audio-related content, including audio books, and can now link directly to our Web site. We are confident that this agreement has the potential to significantly increase growth in membership and hits to the Audio Book Club Web sites."

Mr. Herrick continued, "We are pleased with the success of the company's Internet strategy as it continues to translate into new members. Increasing our membership base is critical and we believe the long term benefits of this strategy will be substantial."

"We're thrilled that Audio Book Club has chosen to sponsor Rolling Stone Radio, said Jeff Lehman, vice president, Advertising Sales, RealNetworks, Inc., " Being in front of an enthusiastic and interactive music audience with 'Rolling Stone' quality buying demographics, we believe, will be a highly effective marketing strategy."

Audio Book Club, Inc. is a direct marketer of audio books through membership clubs that market and sell audio books via the Internet at www.audiobookclub.com and www.BooksAloud.com, and by mail order. Since commencing operations in January 1994, the Company has engaged in an aggressive membership recruitment program to establish a core Audio Book Club member base of over 350,000 members and to continually expand its member base.

This release is covered under the "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain information included in this release that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the Company's ability to successfully implement a strategy of continued growth and other risks detailed in the Company's registration Statement on Form SB-2 and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements may differ materially from any future results performance or achievements expressed or implied in any forward looking statement.