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destra technology enables Resource Christian Music to move into digital download era

Announcement posted by Destra Corporation 17 Dec 2004

destra Corporation Limited (ASX:DES) (destra), a leading provider of internet business and consumer entertainment solutions, has signed an agreement with Resource Christian Music (RCM) to provide digitised online music through its website, www.resource.com.au.
We launched the service today and expect to experience a strong demand for downloads in Christian music, said Dennis Prince, founder and Managing Director of Resource Christian Music.
Prince states recent studies reveal that Evangelical and Pentecostal churches, which use a cross-section of congregational music in all services, are among the fastest growing churches (many with a growth rate in double figures over the past decade). Christian music is often misunderstood by the media. It is contemporary music with a strong message delivered in a variety of music styles. The younger set is increasingly embracing this music, Prince said.
RCM distributes its own music CDs as well as the best songs from Australia and worldwide. The company supplies 200 retailers directly as well as consumers through its website. destras division destramusic.com has currently digitised over 500 of RCMs tracks. Music will be available through a host of online websites connected to destramusic.com (Sanity, Dick Smith Powerhouse and Chaosmusic,com to name a few).
destra CEO, Domenic Carosa, said that the launch of the new service for accessing music is groundbreaking for this segment of the multibillion dollar music industry. .Few people realise that Christian and congregational music generates twice as many sales as Country and Western music, Carosa said.
The songs are encoded in Windows Media Audio (WMA), a format, which has built-in technology allowing customers to not only copy purchased songs onto a CD multiple times, but also transfer to portable media players. Advanced technology also prevents the tracks from being transferred to pirated music websites.
We see a real competitive edge in making digital downloads available to our customers. As mp3 players continue to come down in price, coupled with consumers understanding their responsibility and the availability of digitised music, we will have our entire infrastructure and processes in place to take advantage of download sales demand, said Prince. www.resource.com.au is providing our listeners with a safe, reliable and comprehensive source for all their digital Christian music needs today at $1.99 per track.
Three years ago, RCM launched its website (www.resource.com.au), with a major conversion from catalogue to true e-commerce design two years later. Now RCM is able to offer digital music downloads, using an intuitive interface designed for the consumer.
Prince is promoting the new music medium to the companys existing end-user customers via email, advertising and Simcast broadcasting alert messages which keep the recipient instantly updated with the latest news from Resource Music through alerts appearing on the desktop.
About destra Corporation Limited
destra Corporation (ASX:DES) is a leading internet and e-commerce company delivering internet business and consumer entertainment solutions. destras strategy is focused on high growth internet hosting and digital media markets and the development of proprietary intellectual property.
SME and corporate enterprise offerings are delivered through the following divisions ozHosting.com Priority One, Yahoo Web Hosting (by ozHosting.com), ozHostingAdvanced, TPP Internet, Techex Communications.
destra Entertainments business interests include destraMusic, facilitators of digital music distribution, MP3.com.au, Australias leading digital download site for independent artists; MusicPoint, digital music distribution for radio stations; and Games-On-Demand technology.
Visit www.destra.com.