ARTISTDIRECT'S GETS SWINDEL-ED

Jim "Pearls Before" Swindel is named Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing for ArtistDirect Records by CEO Ted "Playing The" Field.

In this capacity, Swindel will oversee all aspects of the sales and marketing efforts of the label and its roster, beginning with upcoming releases by Custom and hip-hop trio NAAM Brigade. He'll also work closely with Field and Marc Geiger on the development of other digital music ventures.

Swindel comes to ArtistDirect from the presidency of Amplified, a company he helped build into the industry leader in the delivery of streamed and downloaded promotional music content. He also spent three years, from 1996-99, as Sr. VP Sales and Joint Venture Operations at Arista Records. In 1992, he was named President of Qwest Records, where he worked with Quincy Jones and Mo Ostin. He joined Virgin Records in 1987 as Vice President Sales before being upped to Sr. VP/GM. He was named VP Marketing and Sales at Island Records in 1984. Prior to that, he spent seven years with A&M Records as Marketing Manager starting in 1977. Swindel began his career in the mid-70s at MCA before becoming a Seattle sales rep for Phonodisc.

Commented Field: "I have admired Jim's work for many years and am very excited to have him join ArtistDirect. His expertise in not only sales and marketing but in many aspects of the record industry will make him a valuable addition to our staff. And I got him real cheap."

Added Swindel: I was attracted to the artist-oriented, entrepreneurial spirit of both Ted and Marc. This is an exciting team at an exciting time with exciting prospects, and I'm looking forward to being a part of that. And they promised to pay me in valuable stock options, too."