Navarre Sends Out Signal 21: Multi-Platinum Singer/Songwriter Richard Marx Creates Label.

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 7, 2000

Navarre Corporation's (Nasdaq:NAVR) music division today announces that the company has signed an exclusive distribution agreement, in the U.S. and Canada, with multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer Richard Marx's Signal 21 Music. The first release from Marx is titled, "Days in Avalon," and will be available through Navarre on October 24.

Jim Chiado, VP/GM Independent Music Division says, "Richard Marx is an extremely popular artist whose ubiquitous talent can be heard worldwide on some of the biggest records to date. We pursued Signal 21 Music aggressively and we're excited to be working with an artist of Richard's caliber."

Marx has enjoyed a string of self-penned hits, beginning with "Don't Mean Nothing," and followed by three successive Number One songs: "Hold On To The Night," "Satisfied" and "Right Here Waiting." In fact, his first 18 consecutive singles made it into the top 10.

Within the last year, Richard wrote and produced `N SYNC's current hit, "This I Promise You," as well as songs for Sarah Brightman, Kenny Rogers, 98 degrees, SheDaisy, the Tubes, Natalie Cole, and a duet by Barbara Streisand and Vince Gill.

Bobby Colomby is Marx's partner in Signal 21. Colomby has held various positions in both the recording and television industry for more than two decades, most recently with Sony. He began his musical career as a founding member and drummer of the music group, Blood Sweat & Tears.

"My late brother Jules owned a jazz label in the 50's called Signal Records. Richard and his father used the number '21' as a signal to each other. Both my brother Jules and Richard's late father, Dick Marx, had profound musical influences on us; hence, Signal 21 Records," comments Colomby.

Navarre Corporation's major business groups are: Computer Products Division, which distributes quality consumer software to retailers nationwide; Independent Music Distribution, which distributes independent music labels in the United States and now Canada; Alternative Retail Markets, which distributes major label music to non-traditional retail outlets and also distributes DVD Home Video product. Navarre operates a "business to business" Internet E-Commerce web site www.navarre.com; eSplice is a breakthrough provider of business-to-business e-commerce services to packaged goods, service, media, membership and affinity organizations. Navarre has an ownership position in NetRadio Corporation featuring originally programmed audio content at www.netradio.com and its online store. For more information please visit www.navarre.com.