NEW YORK, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine "virtually attending" an awards after-party, or an intimate record release party, or a private meet and greet with your favorite artist. Now, there is no need to imagine this because it is a reality. The Universal Motown Records Group is excited to announce two first-ever virtual artist meet and greets which fans from all over the world can experience in real time.

Working in conjunction with InWorld Studios on a landmark new music experience, Universal Motown Records and Universal Republic Records are unveiling "Soundscape," the first virtual music performance center for major recording artists in the Massively Multiuser Virtual Reality (MMOVR) 'Second Life.' "Soundscape" is a VR venue, showcase, and store, but most of all it is a place for music lovers to meet and chat in 3D. It combines all the trends on the web -- multimedia, personalization, social networking -- with the experience and synthetic animation of gaming.

This innovative online VR breakthrough will enhance the listening and visual experience of music fans throughout the online community, creating a 3-dimensional virtual reality synthetic world which allows online users to pro-actively interact with their favorite artists and music in ways never before imagined.

Among the first artists to be featured in the launch of "Soundscape" are Universal Motown's platinum-selling hip hop star Chamillionaire, whose debut album The Sound Of Revenge has hit platinum, and Universal Republic's acclaimed Oklahoma rock fivesome Hinder. Fans utilizing their 'Second Life' avatars can access "Soundscape" and immerse themselves in an exciting new 3D VR experience (via technology created by cutting edge Linden Lab, a 3D graphics and networking company) and enjoy music, videos, photos and other never-before-experienced content celebrating the respective artists, all of it enhanced by an unprecedented 3D VR makeover.

A user signs up to 'Second Life,' creates an 'avatar' or a 3D image of him/herself, dresses the avatar, establishes an identity, and then begins to live and interact within the world of Second Life. "Soundscape," the first virtual music performance center/venue custom built for a major recording artist within Second Life, creates an exciting new music destination for fans of Universal Motown Records Group recording artists.

"Soundscape" is like a super-amped 3D website or webmall where a virtual 3D visitor can experience all the music, video, info, and swag shopping he wants, unattended, and without interruption or time constraints. But when Universal Motown and Universal Republic Records plan an event at "Soundscape," the virtual venue then kicks into "attended" mode. Label and venue staffers close the doors and prep "Soundscape" for the event. The first two historic events are scheduled for later this month. Chamillionaire will appear at "Soundscape" for an hour-long meet and greet on June 25th and the very next day June 26th, the rock band Hinder will also appear to greet fans. Then on July 15th, music fans will have the opportunity to see never-seen-before, behind-the-scenes footage for Hinder's new video for "Lips Of An Angel." And on July 29th, visitors to "Soundscape" will be able to watch the full-length "Lips Of An Angel" video.

For more information about this breakthrough venture with the Universal Motown Records Group and InWorld Studios, please contact InWorld Studios or visit their website at http://www.inworldstudios.com/ . For more information about 'Second Life' and Linden Lab please contact Linden Lab or visit the Second Life web site at http://www.secondlife.com/ .

CONTACT: Wendy Washington of Universal Motown Records, +1-212-373-0702,
Wendy.washington@umusic.com; Serena Gallagher of Universal Republic Records,
+1-212-841-8201, Serena.Gallagher@umusic.com; Jordan Bigel of InWorld Studios,
Inc., jordanb@inworldstudios.com, http://www.inworldstudios.com/

Web site: http://www.universalrecords.com/
http://www.inworldstudios.com/
http://www.secondlife.com/