LADYDRAGON.COM - Sting to Broadcast Live on Vizzavi

Monday September 10, 2001

Sting to Broadcast Live on Vizzavi

Vizzavi's "Message in a bottle" - an audience with Sting

Sting, the Grammy award-winning Universal Music artist and performer, has partnered with Vizzavi for its first music European-wide webcast.

Vizzavi is the rapidly growing internet portal formed by Vodafone Group plc, the world's largest mobile network operator, and Vivendi Universal, one of the world's leading media companies.

As the official Internet partner, Vizzavi is offering its users in the UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Greece:

a FREE webcast to the Sting concert taking place on 11th September 2001 in Tuscany, Italy
a fabulous competition to win exclusive tickets to attend the gig and an all-expenses paid trip and
a live webchat with Sting in early November 2001 where he'll answer fans' questions!

The concert is the actual recording of Sting's much anticipated new album due for release later this year. This is no ordinary event - the recording will be Sting's first "live" album since 1986's Bring on the Night and will be comprised of both his solo work, as well as the hits from his formative years with The Police. Even the venue is special - taking place on 11th September 2001, this gig will take place in Tuscany, Italy.

To have a chance of winning one of the sought-after tickets simply visit your nearest Vizzavi website and register or just enter your user name if you are already a Vizzavi member.

The FREE webcast of the concert will be broadcast live and will be available at four download speeds: 28.8, 56, 125 and 300 kbps plus audio-only to ensure the widest possible access. You're away during that time? No worries, because the webcast will be archived between 11th - 25th September and again from 22nd October - 5th November 2001.

www.vizzavi.co.uk - UK/8pm London time
www.vizzavi.fr - France/9pm Paris time
www.vizzavi.nl - Netherlands/9pm Amsterdam time
www.vizzavi.it - Italy/9pm Rome time
www.vizzavi.de - Germany/9pm Berlin time
www.vizzavi.es - Spain/9pm Madrid time
www.vizzavi.gr - Greece/10pm Athens time

Either way, with Vizzavi you will see the gig 6-weeks ahead of the pack as the "live" album doesn't get released until 5th November 2001!!

To 'meet' Sting in person all you have to do is tune into the live webchat on Vizzavi happening early November 2001 to ask Sting some questions.

Get all the latest information on this innovative partnership by visiting Vizzavi. Listen to a recorded message from Sting, send a Sting e-card and play audio and video clips.

Guy Laurence, Chief Marketing Officer at Vizzavi Europe, said: "This is the first of many webcast events for Vizzavi as we work toward making our brand synonymous with entertainment and social content. We are proud to be able to present the Sting event as it's a perfect fit for one of Vizzavi's core audiences. "

Max Hole, Senior Vice President of Marketing and A&R for Universal Music International commented: "This is a unique event in that we are recording one of our most important releases for 2001, whilst simultaneously webcasting the performance around the world. The transmission will give Sting's fans an amazing opportunity as they find themselves immersed in the atmosphere of this ground breaking concert-cum-recording in Tuscany.

"We are very pleased that we have been able to work with our colleagues at Vizzavi, and we hope this is the first of many such ventures."

About Vizzavi

Vizzavi is a 50/50 joint venture between Vodafone Group, the world's leading mobile communications company and Vivendi Universal, Europe's leading media company. Vizzavi is a multi-access portal designed to provide services to customers in a consistent format, throughout Europe, across different platforms, including mobile handsets, personal computers, television and personal digital assistants. Vizzavi was established in July 2000 and currently operates PC and mobile Internet sites in the UK, France, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Greece and Portugal. For more information on Vizzavi please go to http://www.vizzavi.net

About Universal Music

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly-owned record operations or licensees in 63 countries around the world. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels A&M Records, Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Jimmy and Doug's Farmclub.com, MCA Nashville, MCA Records, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Phillips, Polydor, Universal Records, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and UM3 (outside the U.S.).

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, the world's preferred creator and provider of entertainment, education and personalized services to consumers anywhere, at any time, and across all distribution platforms and devices.