BMI and On Ramp announce first Internet music license.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 6, 1995--BMI, the music performing rights licensing organization, and On Ramp, Inc., a leading Internet marketing and content provider, have announced that they have reached agreement for a music performance license covering the transmission of BMI music contained in On Ramp's programming over the Internet. "We believe this agreement is the first to cover musical performing rights on the Internet and recognizes that the online transmission of musical compositions constitutes a public performance under the U.S. Copyright Law," said BMI President and CEO Frances W. Preston, in making the announcement.

The BMI agreement grants On Ramp a blanket license which covers unlimited access to the more than three million compositions in BMI's repertoire, encompassing the work of more than 160,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. The license covers a variety of planned music uses in On Ramp's future business strategies including browsing, listening and transmission to consumers in the home.

"This ground-breaking agreement connects On Ramp with BMI's catalog of more than 4 million works," said John Shaker, senior vice president, licensing, BMI. "The agreement verifies music creators' right to be compensated for the use of their works in cyberspace and recognizes that the online transmission of musical compositions constitutes a public performance. On Ramp and other online services are a new and exciting delivery system for BMI writers and copyright owners. The entertainment and marketing value of music clearly makes it a key component to the future success of these services."

Adam Curry, chairman of On Ramp, cited the agreement as a crucial first step in the development of commercial music services, announced plans to launch two new services using real time audio. The first is On Ramp's "Real Time Audio Services," in which users can listen to audio programs directly over the Internet without downloading large data files. Instead, even modem users will be able to hear the programming in real time the minute the user selects their choice. One of the programs that On Ramp will make available is "Up Close," a music/interview program that goes one on one with the biggest names in the music world. The Internet selection of "Up Close" will feature BMI songwriters and composers.

The second service is On Ramp's "Browse, Listen and Buy," which will permit users to conveniently browse and listen to 30 second music clips. If they wish to purchase a copy of the song, they can download a CD-quality sound file onto their computer hard drive.

"We were able to negotiate this agreement with BMI's management," said Curry, "Because they have taken the time to study how this advanced technology provides a new avenue of exposure for its songwriters and composers. Both of us feel that a quality repertoire is the most important and basic component of any offering to the consumer. BMI has been forward looking in its approach to the new technologies ON Ramp will employ in transmitting the music to the consumer."

A significant advantage to the technology On Ramp uses is that it will enable BMI to receive performance information in a comprehensive and concise form, promising the first and most accurate distribution of music in cyberspace.

BMI operates as a not for profit music performing rights organization representing more than 160,000 songwriters, composers, and publishers with a repertoire of more than 3 million works in all areas of music. BMI currently maintains an Internet World Wide Web site which can be accessed at http://bmi.com, and can be reached via e mail on the Internet at pr(at symbol)bmi.com.

On Ramp, Inc. is an Internet marketing and content provider founded by former video jock Adam Curry, which utilizes cutting edge technology to create unique, exciting domains focusing mainly on entertainment content. The company was formed in 1993 by Curry and his partners Gary Schonfeld and Ron Hartenbaum, and maintains Curry's metaverse.com domain, which can bve accessed at http://metaverse.com. On Ramp, Inc. clients include Reebok, MCA Records, BMG, Universal, Visa, IBM, Casio and others.

CONTACT: Pat Baird

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