Toronto, Canada
Leading Canadian Digital Distribution Company Launches Into US Market
New York, NY (December 8, 2004) - Billboard Radio Monitor, the premier radio industry publication and online destination for timely news, charts and analysis, and sister company to Billboard, today announced an exclusive agreement with Musicrypt Inc., (TSX-V: MCT & OTCBB:MCYPF) the industry's leading enabler of user-friendly and secure music distribution.
This new partnership will provide Billboard Radio Monitor with the exclusive right to market Musicrypt's Digital Media Distribution System ("DMDS") in the United States and targets the implementation of DMDS to record labels, radio stations throughout the U.S. monitored by Nielsen BDS (Broadcast Data Systems) and remaining non-monitored new music oriented radio stations throughout the U.S. The partnership will promote and market DMDS, a web-based delivery system that pioneered secure digital file distribution by incorporating biometrics, high-value encryption and watermarking, to the radio and record industry throughout the United States.
"Musicrypt's DMDS is the dominant market leader in Canada in secure B2B delivery of digital files and we look forward to bringing this proven marketing solution to the music industry throughout the United States," said John Kilcullen, President and Publisher, Billboard and Billboard Radio Monitor. "This strategic partnership will also enable us to explore additional strategic market opportunities for DMDS beyond the music industry and in additional geographic markets while giving Billboard Radio Monitor yet another valuable digital tool to get more new music in front of key radio decision-makers."
Major Canadian broadcast chains representing 100% of all chart monitored radio stations now use DMDS, including Canada's three largest broadcasters, Standard Radio, Corus Radio and Rogers Media Broadcasting on an exclusive basis. Musicrypt's DMDS is currently used by over 85% of the Canadian music industry which includes leading record labels such as BMG Music, EMI Music, Universal Music and Warner Music.
"Based on the great success Musicrypt has had in Canada, we recognized the need to have a strong global partner to enter the US market," stated Cliff Hunt, Chairman and co-founder of Musicrypt. "Billboard has the world-wide reach and influence that can provide us with the strategic initiatives and opportunities to exploit DMDS both within the music industry and beyond."
About Musicrypt:
Musicrypt's patent pending Digital Media Distribution System (DMDS) is the leading secure B2B digital delivery solution for the music industry. DMDS is a web-based delivery system that pioneers secure digital file distribution by incorporating biometrics, high-value encryption and watermarking. The first application of DMDS replaces the physical distribution of new musical recordings by record companies from the studio, internally, and to radio stations with more secure, more effective and less costly digital distribution of broadcast quality media via the Internet. Musicrypt trades on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol MCT and on the OCTBB under MCYPF. Visit www.musicrypt.com
About Billboard Radio Monitor:
Billboard Radio Monitor is the premier radio industry publication and online destination for timely news, charts and analysis. Using the integrity, depth and probing journalism of Billboard magazine, coupled with the data of Nielsen BDS, the expanded Monitor covers every major format of music radio, including 24/7 reporting on the latest regulatory developments, news/talk radio, satellite radio and the people that make it happen. Billboard Radio Monitor is a flagship property for the Billboard Information Group, which also consists of BillboardRadioMonitor.com, Billboard magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard.com, Billboard Chart Alert, Billboard Information Network (BIN), Billboard Directories and Billboard Licensing & Events. The Group is a unit of VNU Business Media, a worldwide media company that provides specialized publications, electronically delivered data, expositions and marketing services and is owned by VNU Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Netherlands-based VNU, an international publishing and information company.
The statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause such statements to differ materially from actual future events or results. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.