SONY/ATV MUSIC PUBLISHING AND SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE GROUND-BREAKING AGREEMENT FOR DIGITAL PRODUCTS IN ASIAN MARKET

April 11, 2008 -- Sony/ATV Music Publishing and SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT today announced that they have reached an agreement covering digital royalty collection for the music publisher across Asia. The agreement encompasses China, Hong Kong, India (extending to include a mechanical rate for physical goods there), Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand, but specifically excludes Japan and Korea where local deals are already in effect.

The new agreement is designed to expand legitimate digital activities across the region, while at the same time protecting the rights of artists, songwriters, record companies, music publishers, and collection societies.

Among the offerings incorporated under the arrangement are mobile products such as master ring tones, ring back tones and full track downloads, and online products such as audio and video downloads, as well as subscription and streaming services.

The agreement is designed to simplify current royalty collection arrangements and expand and develop online and mobile markets in the region. The agreement also calls for a single publishing royalty rate for the use of all underlying copyrights.

Guy Henderson, Senior Vice President International, Sony/ATV Music Publishing commented: "This is a great opportunity for all partners in this venture, to grow their businesses through cooperation. The digital business in the Asian region is so important, it is essential that all participants work with each other to ensure a legitimate, accurate and all encompassing licensing and collection process. The inclusion of India, both digitally and physically, is of particular importance as we look to develop new, legitimate, markets."

"This agreement represents another important step in our ongoing campaign to expand the legitimate digital market in the Asian region, and it underscores our determination to develop new opportunities for our artists and their fans," commented Kelvin Wadsworth, President, Asian Region, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. "We look forward to continuing to work closely with Sony/ATV, and all of our business partners in the region, as we build the market for digital entertainment."

"We are delighted to announce this agreement," commented Ruuben van den Heuvel, SONY BMG's Senior Vice President of Digital and New Business Development in Asia added, "This deal will further streamline the process of providing digital entertainment in the region, and in the process it will put consumers on a fast-track when it comes to accessing music and music videos in the digital arena. It's a winning proposition for all involved."

Sony/ATV Music Publishing and SONY BMG will work together with the performing rights society in each territory to implement this agreement for the benefit of authors, artists and other rights owners, digital service providers and consumers alike. This historic deal between two major rights holders will provide clarity regarding licensing procedure in many countries of the region for the first time, and will support the efforts of those organizations who want to provide legitimate digital music services. Sony/ATV and SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT invite all the relevant performing rights societies to join in their efforts to provide simple but effective licensing models throughout the region.

About Sony/ATV

bout Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Sony/ATV Music Publishing was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and trusts formed by Michael Jackson. Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers over 600,000 copyrights by such artists as The Beatles, Beck, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, The Everly Brothers, Fall Out Boy, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Mann, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Richie Sambora, Stephen Stills, KT Tunstall and Diane Warren, among others. Sony/ATV recently acquired both the Leiber Stoller and Famous catalogues. It is not part of the Sony BMG Music Entertainment venture.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

Contact:

John McKay
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
212.833.5520
John.mckay@sonybmg.com

Janice Brock
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
212.833.6928
Janice.brock@sonyatv.com