PlayStation®2 Teams Up With the Summer's Hottest Music Acts as Sponsor Of Area2 Music Festival With Moby, David Bowie, Busta Ryhmes and More

Playstation 2 Increases Its Summer Concert Presence Offering Area2

PRNewswire
FOSTER CITY, Calif.
08/13/2002

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. announced today that its PlayStation®2 brand is a sponsor of Area2, a summer music festival produced by Moby, his American managers, Marci Weber and Barry Taylor, and Clear Channel Entertainment, which brings together the best in music, combining contemporary, cutting edge and electronic genres. As an Area2 sponsor, the company will host the PlayStation 2 Dance Tent where consumers have the opportunity to play the hottest titles for PlayStation 2 before they are available to the general public. In addition, the company will offer opportunities to win a "meet and greet" with the festival's acclaimed artists.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000510/SFW104-a )

Sony Computer Entertainment America's sponsorship of the Area2 music festival expands the company's summer concert presence, which includes a previously announced title sponsorship of Ozzfest 2002, also produced and promoted by Clear Channel Entertainment.

"We are excited to increase our PlayStation 2 summer concert presence as a major sponsor of the Area2 festival," said Sharon Shapiro, director, promotions, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We know that the Area2 audience comprises many videogame fans and we see this festival as a unique opportunity to expose the latest software titles to both fans of the platform and new consumers."

The Area2 music festival will travel to a total of 12 North American cities, showcasing top artists representing various musical styles and genres, including Moby, David Bowie, Busta Rhymes, Ash, Blue Man Group, Carl Cox, John Digweed, DJ Dan, Diesel Boy and more.

The PlayStation 2 Dance Tent at Area2 features an air-conditioned dance area with a dynamic sound system, lounge and high-tech light show highlighting music being spun by some of the best DJs in the world including Carl Cox, John Digweed, DJ Tiesto, DJ Dan, Avalanches, Diesel Boy and DJ Tim Skinner. The PlayStation 2 Dance Tent will also showcase the hottest new games on PlayStation 2 including sneak peeks of yet-to-be-released titles including SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs, ATV Offroad Fury™2 and Jet X2O™. Festival attendees can register to compete in a gaming tournament at the PlayStation 2 Dance Tent to win a "meet and greet" with some of the festival's acclaimed artists.

"It's great that PlayStation 2 has signed on as a sponsor of Area2 and Ozzfest -- two of Clear Channel Entertainment's biggest, most successful summer music concert events," said Bruce Eskowitz, President, National Sales and Marketing, Clear Channel Entertainment. "As a sponsor of Area2, we provide PlayStation 2 with the opportunity to tie its brand and newest software titles to the festival's unique music and atmosphere, mainly in the Dance Tent where consumers can play unreleased software titles and compete to win amazing prizes including meeting an Area2 performer."

   Area2 Music Festival Schedule*:

   Date      Where                         Venue
   July 28   Washington, DC                Nissan Pavilion
   July 30   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania    Tweeter Center
   July 31   Holmdel, New Jersey PNC       Bank Arts Center
   August 2  Wantaugh, New York            Jones Beach
   August 3  Boston, Massachusetts         Tweeter Center
   August 5  Toronto, Ontario              Molson Amphitheatre
   August 6  Detroit, Michigan             DTE Energy Music Center
   August 8  Chicago, Illinois             Tweeter Center
   August 10 Denver, Colorado              Pepsi Arena
   August 13 Los Angeles, California       Verizon Amphitheater
   August 14 San Francisco, California     Shoreline Amphitheater
   August 16 Seattle, Washington           The Gorge

   * All dates subject to change

  About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one™ game console, and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system is set to revolutionize the home entertainment market, offering the most compelling interactive content and the capability to be used as a network terminal in the coming broadband era.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets and distributes software for the PS one game console and the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

About Clear Channel Entertainment

Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of live entertainment events, is a subsidiary of Clear Channel Worldwide (NYSE: CCU), a global leader in the out-of-home advertising industry. Clear Channel Entertainment currently owns, operates and/or exclusively books approximately 135 live entertainment venues, including more than 100 in North America and 30 in Europe. In 2001, more than 66 million people attended approximately 26,000 events promoted and/or produced by the company, including: Live music events; Broadway, West End and touring theatrical shows; family entertainment shows; and specialized sports and motor sports events. The company, which operates throughout North America, Europe, South America and Australia, also owns independently operated athlete representation businesses, which provide management, marketing and financial consulting services to many of the world's top professional athletes. More information may be found by visiting http://www.cc.com/ and http://www.clearchannel.com/.

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SOURCE: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

CONTACT: Teresa Weaver, +1-650-655-5324, or
teresa_weaver@playstation.sony.com, or Monica Wik, +1-650-655-5394, or
monica_wik@playstation.sony.com, both of Sony Computer Entertainment America
Inc.; or Laura Schooler of Clear Channel Entertainment, +1-917-421-5365

Web site: http://www.cc.com/

Web site: http://www.clearchannel.com/

Web site: http://www.playstation.com/