NASHVILLE |DATE: AUGUST 28, 1998
FROM: TRESA REDBURN/MITCH SCHNEIDER
COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR DAVID BOWIE'S "BowieNet" INTERNET SERVICE AS HE'S SET TO LAUNCH HISTORIC INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER WITH ALL-OUT CYBERSPACE CELEBRATION BEGINNING 9PM (ET) ON AUGUST 31
THREE-HOUR WEBCAST FEATURES PERFORMANCES BY JESUS AND MARY CHAIN, THE SPECIALS, ANI DiFRANCO AND OTHERS.
BowieNet IS THE WORLD'S FIRST ARTIST-CREATED INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
World-renowned as a pioneer in music, performance, video, film and art, DAVID BOWIE will once again make history with the Tuesday, September 1st launch of BowieNet, the first artist-created Internet Service Provider. To commemorate this epic occasion, BOWIE has planned a special countdown Internet celebration. The festivities start at 9:00PM (ET) August 31, with webcast performances by Ani DiFranco, the Specials, the Jayhawks, Jesus and Mary Chain and Spacehog, plus a surprise performance by a special guest. In addition, the countdown will feature highlights from BOWIE's 50th Birthday Show from Madison Square Garden, featuring BOWIE and band with Billy Corgan and Lou Reed. Cybercast will be broadcast via the Rolling Stone Network and can be viewed at www.davidbowie.com
BowieNet then commences at 12:01AM (ET) September 1, 1998.
For BOWIE fans, the launch ends weeks of feverish anticipation. Initial plans called for the launch to coincide with the August 25 North American release of the Virgin Records America, Inc. compilation The Best of David Bowie 1969/1974, and The Best of David Bowie 1974/1979. However, the CDs, which contain details of the on-line service, were prematurely released by EMI-Canada. This prompted Canadian fans to search for the service. In response, a "pre-launch" site was posted on the www.davidbowie.com home page.
BowieNet will offer high-speed Internet service across North America and, by year end, throughout the world. In addition to full uncensored access to the Internet as well as traditional content (news, sports, finances, etc.), BowieNet will provide a community of music lovers the best access to music and entertainment content on the Web, as well as exclusive content available only through this service.
BowieNet will provide users access to David Bowie, his world, his friends, his fans, including live chats, live video feeds, chat rooms and bulletin boards. The live in-studio video feeds will be available thanks to FullViewƒ, a 360-degree panoramic Webcam designed by Bell Labs, the research and development of Lucent Technologies. Initial applications call for the camera to be used for in-studio question-and-answer sessions with Bowie, as well as live "you-are-there" rehearsal sessions with Bowie and his band.
BowieNet will feature text, audio and video messages from Bowie, uncensored access to the Internet, exclusive music content provided by the Rolling Stone Network (which includes JAMtv, tunes.com, The Virtual Venue, Video-on-demand), as well as all the latest music news. There will also be featured links recommended by Bowie and friends in a variety of categories. As a member of BowieNet, users will all receive exclusive access to Bowie materials, unreleased audio tracks and never before seen videos and photos. Thousands of album reviews, concert reviews and music articles along with a wide assortment of content updated daily. BowieNet promises numerous cybercasts (both live and archived) from BOWIE as well as other artists. There will also be Desktop themes including Bowie screensavers, wallpaper and icons.
BowieNet will offer users a fully customizable home page, davidbowie e-mail address (your name@davidbowie.com), news groups, chat rooms, online shareware, multi-player, gaming and much more with local access from over 2,000 cities in North America. The BowieNet will support both Microsoft and Netscape browsers. All users will be given the latest version of Internet Explorer, customized specifically for BowieNet. Highly rated live technical and customer support is available 24 hours/7 days a week by Concentric Network.
Music fans choosing full Internet service will receive a CD-ROM containing the customized browser along with two classic live Bowie audio and video tracks never before released to the public. As a special bonus, there will be an exclusive encrypted newly recorded audio track which will unlock via the Internet.
Users wishing to utilize BowieNet as their Internet service provider will pay a fee of $19.95/month. For a limited time one month's fee will be waived. Users wishing to remain with their current provider can sign up for Premium Service, bringing all the content of BowieNet, for a monthly fee of $5.95.
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COUNTDOWN BEGINS FOR DAVID BOWIE'S "BowieNet" INTERNET SERVICE AS HE'S SET TO LAUNCH HISTORIC INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER
