New World Music Digital Downloading Site to Be Presented at WOMEX

London, UK – In early 2006, World Music Network will be launching a
world music digital downloading website, offering a service similar to iTunes
but with a specific focus on world music. This will be tied in with a
synchronization rights website designed to promote music for use in film,
television and video games. the company is are inviting partners to sign up to
this service to have their catalogue made available to the increasing digital
downloading sector of the market.The music downloading website will be simple to use, straightforward and user
friendly. Pricing will be in line with industry standards and partners signing
up will do so on a non-exclusive basis (allowing digital sales via other digital
download services if desired). The World Music Network system will allow
partners who have joined the service to access their account (via a supplied
password to log directly into the system) and view their available catalogue and
sales history.
Due to incompatibilities with the various portable players in the market,
initially tracks will be encoded to MP3 format without DRM (Digital Rights
Management). This will allow tracks to be played on all portable players
including the iPod. This will be reviewed regularly.

The synchronization website will be on a non-exclusive basis and optional to
join. An advanced search facility will be available to help those looking for
particular types of music to find what they need for their project. Requests for
usage will be sent to World Music Network before rights are granted. Extensive
marketing campaigns will be employed to promote the service at launch and
ongoing.

World Music Network will be present at WOMEX Stand H21 to provide more
information and a demonstration of the new website. Alternatively, interested
parties not attending WOMEX can email the company at download@worldmusic.net
with enquiries and to sign up.

Over the last ten years, World Music Network has become one of the leading
forces on the world music scene, receiving numerous accolades and praise from
both the press and the public. Producing Rough Guide introductions to music from
around the world, fund-raising CDs for Amnesty, Oxfam and New Internationalist,
innovative and critically acclaimed single artist albums on the Riverboat
Records label and the new Introducing label, World Music Network continues to
bring world music to a wider audience.