TORNADO VIRTUE PLC HELP POWER SONY MUSIC ARTIST SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

Tornado Virtue plc provides Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd with the technology infrastructure for a1 VIP, a subscription service for premier pop act, a1

17th July 2002

Tornado Virtue plc ("LSE: TDO"), Europe's leading Digital Service Provider, and Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd announce the launch of a subscription service for one of the UK's premier pop acts, a1. The new service called a1 VIP is Sony Music UK's first move into subscription-based websites.

a1 has seen success in the UK market with significant accomplishments including a Best Newcomer BRIT, two platinum albums and nine hit singles. Instrumental in this success has been their website, a1-online.com. The website, which has brought their fans cutting-edge content, deluxe design and technical advancements, has been one of Sony UK's most visited artist website since its 1999 launch. a1 VIP is a subscription-based area of this website which allows the group's fans to get closer to the band by offering ongoing premium content including online exclusives, interviews and behind-the-scenes features, competitions and online games, the chance to buy a1 tickets in advance, discounts in the a1-online.com store and exclusive mobile ring tones and icons.

Tornado Virtue is providing the technical infrastructure to support the a1 VIP service and is the Primary Project Partner for the venture. In addition to Project Management Services, Tornado Virtue is providing Digital Rights Management Services (including the provision of a remote content wrapping tool to enable Sony to apply, upload and manage protected content on the site and all activity and reconciliation reporting) and Authentication services which allows third parties supplying services to the a1 site (ring tones, concert tickets, etc) to authenticate member requests for VIP services. Tornado Virtue will also be providing front line Customer Services for the project.

Tony Martin, VP, eMedia Europe and UK says, "This is the first time we've given full rein to our subscription and mobile aspirations, and signals where some of our future priorities lie. It's an exciting 'next step' for eMedia in the process of integrated marketing and the establishment of new revenue streams."

"The decision to launch a1 VIP followed an overwhelmingly positive response from an online survey for which we received thousands of replies from fans demanding even more from the website," Says Neil Cartwright, New Media Manager of Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd. "The VIP area of the site is a collaborative effort between Sony and leading companies in this field including Tornado Virtue and it will really ensure fans get even closer to the band".

"a1 VIP is an extremely exciting project for Tornado Virtue," commented Neil Ferris, Chief Executive Officer of Tornado Virtue plc. "It is a great addition to the other subscription services we offer and reinforces our position as the leading provider of resilient technology solutions for online services."