BitPass expands Online Music efforts with CD Baby partnership

PALO ALTO, CA. (BitPass, Inc/ www.bitpass.com) - BitPass, Inc., one of the leading Internet payments companies enabling digital content sales, today extended its reach in digital music by entering into a partnership with CD Baby, the largest seller of independent CDs on the Web, to distribute the retailer's complete collection of original music.

Under the agreement, BitPass will make the 300,000+ tracks in CD Baby's digital distribution library available at BitPass' online music store, Mperia (https://www.mperia.com). In addition to providing valuable new exposure for CD Baby's 76,000 independent artists, the partnership lets those artists earn far higher returns on their music when sold on Mperia.
"BitPass' goal aligns nicely with CD Baby's in that we are both working to offer independent artists distribution options while giving them the highest possible return for their work," said CD Baby President Derek Sivers.

Already attracting thousands of unsigned musicians and independent labels, Mperia is recognized for breaking new ground by providing musicians with worldwide distribution and grassroots marketing tools, including the ability to upload, preview and sell individual songs and albums with no setup or monthly fees. Artists also benefit from Mperia's extensive networking functionality that makes it easy for consumers to discover, sample, share, and buy new music.
"We're excited to be working with CD Baby to expand their distribution and introduce their massive collection of digital music from some of the most interesting artists available," said Michael O'Donnell, BitPass' Chief Executive Officer. "BitPass offers a complete solution for these artists, from the technology needed to easily distribute their digital music to a profitable business model that puts money in their pockets."
The CD Baby library will be fully integrated into Mperia by early Q1 of 2005.