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In a continuing trend to exploit the Net's open-ended "get a hit record" potential, both Amazon.com Inc. and Liquid Audio Inc. this week expanded the promotion of independent musicians on their sites.

Amazon.com Thursday opened a new section of its site, New Music Spotlight, devoted to promoting independent artists' music. The section will feature free MP3 downloads of songs from independent artists, bands, and labels participating in Amazon.com Advantage, the free program that enables independent artists to sell their CDs on Amazon.com and gain worldwide distribution. The New Music Spotlight features free MP3 downloads from more than 30 of the top Amazon.com Advantage artists in every genre from hip-hop to classical to alternative. All songs featured in this new area are also available for purchase on CD at Amazon.com.

"We know from experience that the combination of editorial coverage and free MP3 downloads is a powerful sales propellant," said Jennifer Cast, general manager of Amazon.com's music store. "New Music Spotlight gives our top-selling Amazon.com Advantage artists a very effective way to promote and sell their music to millions of musicfans."

Liquid Audio Inc. Wednesday added significant independent labels for digital distribution. Aware Records, Chesky Records, Drive Entertainment, The Music Co., The Orchard and Smithsonian Folkways Records are among the additional labels now selling their artists' music using Liquid Audio software and services.

In addition, existing independent label customers Alligator Records, The Beggars Banquet Group, Mammoth Records, Rounder Records and Sub Pop Records have added more music for digital distribution.

"Our goal is to enable labels and retailers to create a new sales channel on the Internet and sell the largest collection of downloadable music to consumers worldwide," said Dick Wingate, vice president of content development and label relations at Liquid Audio. "To that end, we have built the Liquid Music Network, a broad distribution network that labels and musicians can use to sell music through 200 online retail sites including Tower Records, J&R Music and Yahoo!"