VH1 And VH1.com Launch “VH1 Hear Music First”

Unique, New Service That Offers Fans Exclusive Advance Online Access To The Newest Albums From Their Favorite Artists

VH1’s May Artist Of The Month Stevie Nicks To Debut Her Long-Awaited New CD “Trouble In Shangri-La” Beginning April 16, Only At VH1 Hear Music First

New York, NY (April 10, 2001) -- VH1 and VH1.com today announced the launch of “VH1 Hear Music First,” the first time ever that fans will be able to pre-purchase the CD and have exclusive advance access to the entire album online at VH1.com. Stevie Nicks will kick-off VH1 Hear Music First on Monday, April 16, when she unveils her newest album, “Trouble in Shangri-La,” and gives fans exclusive advance online access to the entire CD before it hits record stores on May 1.

The VH1 Hear Music First venture will allow users to listen to a CD instantly after pre-ordering it from VH1.com. In addition to getting a stream of the CD, users who pre-order will be able to get the album artwork, lyrics, liner notes, interviews and more. On the day of the album’s official release, fans will have the new CD sent to them directly by VH1.

“VH1’s audience trusts VH1 to connect them to music,” said Fred Graver, SVP and GM of the VH1 Interactive Group. “The VH1 Hear Music First service blends our relationship with artists, our connection to our audience, and state-of-the-art technology to allow us to get people closer to music than ever before.”

"VH1 Hear Music First is a great example of VH1.com's leadership role in innovative music content online," said MTVi Group President & CEO Nicholas Butterworth. "By combining television, the internet, and the strength of the VH1 brand, VH1 is truly bringing the benefits of convergence not only to consumers, but to great artists like Stevie Nicks."

“Trouble in Shangri-La” is Stevie Nicks first solo collection since 1994’s “Street Angel,” as well as her first release as part of Reprise Records. Already considered one of her most powerful recordings to date, “Trouble in Shangri-La” is brimming with rich prose and vibrant imagery that has inspired a veritable army of disciples. The album also features appearances from some of music’s most notable artists, including Sheryl Crow, Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Maines, and more. Critical acclaim has already come from Billboard magazine, which proclaimed that “ ‘Trouble in Shangri-La’ shows the sometime Fleetwood Mac siren in her finest musical form since her 1981 solo ‘Bella Donna.’ ”

VH1 will mark Stevie’s new release with “VH1 Artist of the Month” honors for May. This special month-long VH1 showcase of her work, both as a solo artist and with Fleetwood Mac, features encore presentations of “VH1 Storytellers: Stevie Nicks,” “Behind the Music: Stevie Nicks,” “Behind the Music: Fleetwood Mac,” and Fleetwood Mac’s live full-length reunion concert, “The Dance.” VH1 News will also go to the set of Stevie’s video “Every Day” (directed by Dean Carr), the first single from the album, for a behind-the-scenes exclusive.

For more information visit: http://www.vh1.com

VH1.com is a unit of the MTVi Group, the world's leading online music entertainment company featuring a comprehensive collection of music destinations on the Internet including MTV.com, VH1.com, and sonicnet.com. MTVi is a unit of MTV Networks, which is owned by Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B). Headquartered in downtown New York, MTVi has satellite offices in San Francisco, Miami, and London. Liberty Digital (Nasdaq: LDIG) holds a minority stake in MTVi. For more information on MTVi, please visit the MTVi corporate Web site (www.mtvi.com).