DAVID BOWIE TO REVEAL ‘hours…’

DATE: AUGUST 6, 1999

FROM: TRESA REDBURN/MSO 818 380 0400 x 242
MITCH SCHNEIDER/SMO 818 380 0400 x 235
SUZANNE MacNARY/VIRGIN 212 253 3045
YON ELVIRA/VIRGIN 310 288 2419

DAVID BOWIE TO REVEAL 'hours…'

BOWIENET MEMBERS EXCLUSIVELY INVITED TO AFFECT TRACKLISTING,
VIEW ALBUM ARTWORK
AND PREVIEW NEW SONGS
OF FORTHCOMING ALBUM
DUE OUT OCTOBER 5 ON VIRGIN RECORDS

DAVID BOWIE has crafted yet another development in the way we access music by bringing an innovative concept to the marketplace. With a carefully planned sequenced musical "striptease," BOWIE will slowly reveal the look and sound of his new studio album, hours…, due for release October 5 on Virgin Records.

Through his award winning Internet Service Provider website, BowieNet, BOWIE gives members an exclusive chance to preview hours… Members who visit the "building hours…" page will be allowed to sneak preview each song on the new album. Beginning Friday, August 6 and each week thereafter, 45 seconds of a new song will be posted and available to listen to via RealAudio (users must have the RealPlayer G2 or RealPlayer Plus available at http://www.real.com).

In an unprecedented move, BowieNet members will also have the ability to take an exclusive first look at the startling album cover artwork at the "building hours…" page on BowieNet. Starting today, sections of the album cover artwork will be revealed bit by bit on a weekly basis, with the final cover in its entirety unveiled the week of release. Designed by NettMedia (http://www.nettmedia.com), the album cover artwork is a must see for all BOWIE fans.

In another inventive effort to involve his fans directly in the musical decision process, BOWIE has invited BowieNet members to affect the outcome of the final tracklisting on the first single from hours… Three radically different versions of "Thursday's Child" are posted on BowieNet and available for members to listen to via RealAudio. Members are asked to vote for the version they like most. The most popular mix will end up as the lead version of the commercial single to be released by Virgin Records in late September. Once again, BOWIE goes where others follow.

About BowieNet:

BowieNet was developed by UltraStar and is the first artist operated ISP on the web. BowieNet memberships can be obtained anywhere in the world for a monthly fee of $US5.95. The membership offers subscribers not only essential news pertaining to business, sports and finance, but also music and entertainment content exclusive to BowieNet. In effect, BowieNet offers members the combination of special access to DAVID BOWIE's visual artistry, words and music and BowieNet's unparalleled technical capabilities. UltraStar's BowieNet ISP is currently available throughout North America and in the UK. Users who sign on to have BowieNet as their ISP pay a fee of $US19.95 per month. There is also a globally accessible portion of BowieNet that is free and open to the general public. BowieNet can be accessed at http://www.davidbowie.com.

About UltraStar:

UltraStar Internet Services LLC is a management, technology partnership that specializes in the arena of internet services, bringing major entertainment, sports and fashion clients to the world in a community-based forum delivered over the Web. UltraStar's philosophy is simple — allow internet user's the opportunity to get "up close and personal" with their favorite personalities via the internet. Never before has there been a gateway where the private and public worlds of famous figures has been opened with the continued support, input and materials of each star.