e.Digital Corporation (fka EDIG)

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BW)(CA-MUSICMATCH) MUSICMATCH Doubles Market Share; Increases Lead as No. 1 Music Software Program At Retail

Business Editors and High-Tech Writers

SAN DIEGO & INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2001-- MUSICMATCH Inc., a recognized leader in developing personalized music software and services, and Pearson Education's (PSO) Macmillan Software, today announced that MUSICMATCH(R) Jukebox(TM) Deluxe was the most popular music software title at U.S. retail during the first half of 2001.
More than doubling its share of the music software category from the same period a year ago, MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe has remained the dominant music software title at U.S. retail for the past 18 months.
Recent reports from NPD Intelect (formerly PC Data) confirm that MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe, distributed by Macmillan Software, accounted for 14.5 percent of all retail music software titles sold in the U.S. between January and June 2001, up from 6 percent during the same period in 2000. The number of MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe units sold (Windows and Mac) exceeded that of the closest competing title in the music software category by more than 28,000 units at U.S. retail in the first half of 2001. MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe also captured more than 50 percent of the jukebox software market at Japanese retail in the first half of 2001, demonstrating MUSICMATCH's appeal to digital music consumers around the world.
"Macmillan Software is extremely pleased with the excellent sales MUSICMATCH has provided for the first half of 2001," said Mike Janssen, Director, Mass Market and General Manager, Macmillan Software. "MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe is a proven, top-notch performer and we look forward to continued strong results."
"MUSICMATCH has consistently been the usage leader among media players and the hands-down favorite in virtually all jukebox software reviews," said Bob Ohlweiler, senior vice president of business development for MUSICMATCH, Inc. "The combination of MUSICMATCH's product superiority and Macmillan Software's retail distribution strength has resulted in incredible market share growth over the past 18 months and we are excited about the prospects for continued success in the future."
Offering the freedom of MP3, with powerful features to play, organize, find and record complete personal music collections, music fans have come to trust MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe for Windows and Mac as their favorite personal music system. MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe comes with 65 free MP3s from eMusic, Epitonic and Vitaminic, a stereo-to-PC connector cable and a blank CD-R disk from Verbatim -- everything music fans need to jump start their digital music collections.

Retail Pricing and Availability

MUSICMATCH Jukebox Deluxe for Windows and Mac (MSRP of U.S. $29.95) are currently available at all Wal-Mart, BestBuy, Circuit City, Target and CompUSA stores nationwide wherever software is sold.

About MUSICMATCH, Inc.

MUSICMATCH Inc., founded in 1997 and based in San Diego, is a recognized leader in developing personalized music software and services that let people find and listen to the music that best matches their unique tastes. The company invented the digital music jukebox in 1997, and since then has registered more than 22 million users of its MUSICMATCH Jukebox software program. MUSICMATCH Jukebox is the world's most popular jukebox software program, used each month by more than four million people in the U.S. and more than nine million people worldwide. MUSICMATCH is a privately held company with significant investment from Intel Capital, Redpoint Ventures and Thomson Multimedia. For additional information on MUSICMATCH, visit http://www.musicmatch.com.

About Macmillan Software

Macmillan Software is a world leader in delivering quality, innovative Linux, Audio, Programming, Internet Security, Reference and Gaming software to our consumers. Distributing leading brands like MUSICMATCH, Encyclopaedia Britannica and Linux-Mandrake we bring innovative software to market all over the world. Macmillan Software acquires, creates, develops, and packages tools and resources to fulfill market needs through the broadest range of distribution vehicles, including brick-and-mortar retail, on-line retail, and direct sales through our Web site (www.macmillansoftware.com). Macmillan Software is an imprint of Pearson Technology Group (PTG), the world's largest provider of consumer and professional computer, information technology, engineering and reference content. Pearson Technology Group is an operating unit of Pearson Education, the world's leading education and professional publisher.

(R) MUSICMATCH is a registered trademark of MUSICMATCH Inc.
(TM) MUSICMATCH Jukebox is a trademark of MUSICMATCH Inc.
Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.


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CONTACT: MUSICMATCH Inc., San Diego
Allison Jones, 858/485-4327
[e-mail]
or
Macmillan Software
Jeannie McKay, 317/581-5856
[e-mail]

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA INDIANA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS SOFTWARE ENTERTAINMENT
MUSIC
SOURCE: MUSICMATCH Inc.