SBC Introduces "Blue Room" Online Music Industry Content

Innovative online experience brings consumers exclusive musical content; Builds on company's growing entertainment marketing portfolio

Forget the velvet rope. No talkin' your way onto the VIP list. In fact, leave the guest passes at the door. Backstage access to today's hottest artists isn't invite-only anymore.

Striking a harmonious chord with music enthusiasts, SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) today announced the debut of the SBC Blue Room, the company's Web site featuring exclusive musical content, in-studio interviews, live performances and unedited commentary of chart-topping artists. Visitors to the site, http://blueroom.sbc.com, will be treated to fresh new content each week of the biggest names in rock, alternative rock, country, and hot adult contemporary.

The site gives fans a backstage pass to musical content, such as:

-- Audio files and streaming video of acoustic and behind-the-scenes performances

-- Interviews from studios and inside musicians' homes

-- Never-released footage from music video shoots and concerts

-- Sound bites from red carpet events

-- Profiles of cutting edge up-and-comers

Features for the SBC Blue Room will be culled from various SBC music sponsorships - most of it exclusive to SBC Blue Room. Each week, visitors will be treated to new content.

In addition, consumers can quickly link to complementary SBC Yahoo! DSL services such as Yahoo! Music(R) clips, information on the latest releases, and more from the featured SBC Blue Room artists. Consumers can also enter contests to win trips and tickets to shows, or spend time with featured artists.

"This is quite possibly the most innovative online initiative we've launched to date," Scott Helbing, senior vice president, SBC Consumer Marketing. "The SBC Blue Room experience is designed to feel like an 'unplugged' performance - intimate and engaging. We're treating music fans to rich, compelling content they haven't had access to before as we let our customers experience how SBC products and services help connect them, increasingly, to entertainment."

The company is taking the SBC Blue Room concept on the road beginning this month with its SBC Blue Room HOW2 Tour, which will set up shop at more than 140 community events throughout the SBC service region. Visitors to the SBC Blue Room HOW2 tents will have an opportunity to test drive SBC products and services, and receive tutorials on product features and product integration. The company will also promote the blue room through various marketing vehicles, partners and other promotional campaigns.

Soon, Spanish speaking consumers will have access to in-language content within the SBC Blue Room.

The project builds on the SBC strategy to win customers and fuel sales through campaigns featuring hit movies and music. As they access SBC Blue Room's musical content, visitors will also have chances to take advantage of special offers for SBC products and services that meet their communications and entertainment demands, such as SBC Yahoo! DSL, SBC│DISH Network satellite TV and Cingular Wireless.

The SBC portfolio of out-of-the-box entertainment marketing initiatives include an ongoing alliance with legendary artist Eric Clapton, which includes featuring his classics "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight," and his images in current SBC advertising. The company was also the presenting sponsor of last summer's Crossroads Guitar Festival featuring Clapton, Jeff Beck, James Taylor, B.B. King and others, which raised money for the alcohol and drug treatment and education organization founded by Clapton in 1997 through a three-day concert series, displays and a Christie's auction. Performances were made exclusively available online to SBC Yahoo! DSL members through a live Webcast.

SBC companies recently wrapped up a successful marketing alliance with Disney, and its Oscar winning motion picture presentation of the Pixar animated film, The Incredibles.

SBC Communications Inc. is a Fortune 50 company whose subsidiaries, operating under the SBC brand, provide a full range of voice, data, networking, e-business, directory publishing and advertising, and related services to businesses, consumers and other telecommunications providers. SBC holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which serves 50.4 million wireless customers. SBC companies provide high-speed DSL Internet access lines to more American consumers than any other provider and are among the nation's leading providers of Internet services. SBC companies also offer satellite TV service. Additional information about SBC and SBC products and services is available at www.sbc.com. SBC is a registered trademark of SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (C) 2004 SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P. All rights reserved.