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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.45



               FORM OF SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         THIS SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made as of the
___th day of December 1999, by and between ARTISTdirect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") and _______________________ ("the "Investor").


                  THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

         1. Purchase and Sale of Stock.

            1.1 Restated Certificate. The Company has adopted and filed with the
Secretary of the State of Delaware the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Restated
Certificate"). The Company's stockholders have approved the Restated
Certificate.

            1.2 Sale and Issuance of Series C Preferred Stock. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Investor agrees to purchase at the
Closing (as defined below), and the Company agrees to sell and issue to the
Investor at the Closing, _________ shares of the Company's Series C Preferred
Stock (or, if all of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock has been
automatically converted to Common Stock in connection with the Company's initial
public offering, the same number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of such Series C Preferred Stock) at a purchase price of $3.482 per
share and an aggregate purchase price of $______________.

            1.3 Closing. The purchase and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock
(or Common Stock, if all of the Company's Series C Preferred Stock has been
automatically converted into Common Stock in connection with the Company's
initial public offering) (the "Closing") shall take place at the offices of
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP ("BPH"), 38 Technology Drive, Irvine,
California, at 10:00 a.m., on ___________________, or at such other time and
place as the Company and the Investor mutually agree upon orally or in writing
(the "Closing Date"). At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to the Investor
a certificate representing shares of fully paid, nonassessable, validly issued
and authorized shares of Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if
applicable) that the Investor is purchasing at the Closing against payment of
the purchase price therefor by check or wire transfer.

         2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby
represents and warrants to the Investor that, except as set forth on a Schedule
of Exceptions (the "Schedule of Exceptions") previously furnished to the
Investor and counsel for the Investor, specifically identifying the relevant
subparagraph hereof, which exceptions shall be deemed to be representations and
warranties as if made hereunder:

            2.1 Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. The Company is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The
Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a material adverse
effect on the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or



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otherwise) or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below),
taken as a whole (a "Material Adverse Effect").

            2.2 Capitalization and Voting Rights.

                (a) The authorized capital of the Company consists, or will
consist immediately prior to the Closing, of:

                    (1) Preferred Stock. Seventy-Five Million (75,000,000)
shares of Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), of which (A) Fifteen Million
(15,000,000) shares have been designated Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A
Preferred Stock"), of which Twelve Million Eight Hundred Thirty-One Thousand Two
Hundred Sixty-One (12,831,261) shares are issued and outstanding; (B) Fifteen
Million (15,000,000) shares have been designated Series B Preferred Stock (the
"Series B Preferred Stock"), of which Fifteen Million (15,000,000) shares are
issued and outstanding; and (C) Thirty-Four Million Two Hundred Thousand
(34,200,000) shares have been designated Series C Preferred Stock (the "Series C
Preferred Stock"), of which no shares are issued and outstanding and of which
____________________________ shares may be issued pursuant to this Agreement.
The rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of the Series C Preferred
Stock are as stated in the Company's Restated Certificate.

                    (2) Common Stock. Two Hundred Million (200,000,000) shares
of common stock ("Common Stock"), of which _____________________________ shares
are issued and outstanding as of _____________________.

                (b) Stockholders. All of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
and Preferred Stock are owned by the stockholders and in the numbers specified
in Exhibit E hereto.

                (c) Valid Issuance. The shares of Common Stock and Preferred
Stock outstanding on the date hereof and as of the Closing are all duly and
validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and were issued in
accordance with the registration or qualification provisions of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and any relevant state securities laws or
pursuant to valid exemptions therefrom.

                (d) Except for (i) the conversion privileges of the Series A
Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock,
(ii) the rights provided in the Stockholders Agreement (as defined in Section
2.4 below), as amended, (iii) an aggregate of twenty-one million (21,000,000)
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company's Stock Option
Plan (the "Employee Plan"), of which _______________ shares are subject to
outstanding options as of _____________________, (iv) an aggregate of sixteen
million (16,000,000) shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Company's Artist Option Plan (the "Artist Plan"), of which __________________
shares are subject to outstanding options as of ___________________, (v) an
aggregate of five million (5,000,000) shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance under the Company's Artist and Artist Advisors Option Plan (the
"Advisor Plan"), of which ______________ shares are subject to outstanding
options as of __________________, (vi) outstanding warrants to purchase
___________________________________ shares of Common Stock, (vii) dividends on



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Preferred Stock which, as of __________________________, are payable as
_________________________________________ shares of Common Stock, and (viii)
options granted to William Elson to purchase the lesser of (A) 100,000 shares of
Common Stock and (B) 2.5% of the shares offered in the Company's initial public
offering, there are not outstanding any options, warrants, rights (including
conversion, exchange or preemptive rights) or agreements for the purchase or
acquisition from the Company of any shares of its capital stock. Except for the
Stockholders Agreement (as defined below), the Company is not a party or subject
to any agreement or understanding and, to the Company's knowledge, there is no
agreement or understanding between any persons and/or entities, which affects or
relates to the ownership, transfer, voting or giving of written consents with
respect to any Company security or by a director of the Company.

            2.3 Subsidiaries. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries
(collectively "Subsidiaries") are listed on Schedule 2.3 of the Schedule of
Exceptions. Each of such subsidiaries is duly incorporated or organized, as the
case may be, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state
of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and as
proposed to be conducted. Each Company is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify
would have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.3, the
Company does not have any direct or indirect ownership or other interest in any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity.

            2.4 Authorization. All corporate action on the part of the Company,
its board of directors, officers, directors and stockholders necessary for (a)
the authorization, execution and delivery of (i) this Agreement, (ii) Amendment
No. 1 to that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated
as of November 12, 1999 (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), among the Company
and certain of its stockholders, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the
"Registration Rights Agreement Amendment"), and (iii) Amendment No. 1 to that
certain Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated as of November 12,
1999 (the "Stockholders Agreement") in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D
(the "Stockholders Agreement Amendment") (collectively, the "Transaction
Agreements"), (b) the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder
and thereunder, and (c) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the
Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if applicable) being sold hereunder
has been taken and the Transaction Agreements constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms, except (x) as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally, (y) as limited by laws relating to
the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable
remedies, and (z) to the extent the indemnification provisions contained in the
Amended Registration Rights Agreement may be limited by applicable federal or
state securities laws.

            2.5 Valid Issuance of Preferred and Common Stock. The Series C
Preferred Stock (or the Common Stock, if applicable) that is being purchased by
the Investor hereunder, when issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement for the consideration expressed herein, will be duly and
validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and will be free of any
preemptive or similar rights and of restrictions on transfer other than



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restrictions on transfer under the Transaction Agreements and under applicable
state and federal securities laws. The Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Series C Preferred Stock purchased under this Agreement has been duly and
validly reserved for issuance and, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of
the Restated Certificate, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable and will be free of any preemptive or similar rights and of
restrictions on transfer other than restrictions on transfer under the
Transaction Agreements and under applicable state and federal securities laws.

            2.6 Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, qualification, designation, declaration or
filing with, any federal, state or local or foreign governmental authority on
the part of the Company is required in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.

            2.7 Offering. Subject in part to the truth and accuracy of the
Investor's representations set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, the offer,
sale and issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if
applicable) as contemplated by this Agreement and the conversion into Common
Stock in accordance with the Restated Certificate are exempt from the
registration requirements of the Act.

            2.8 Compliance with Law. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries
have conducted their respective businesses so as to comply with, and are in
compliance with, all requirements of law applicable to such entity, except where
the failure to be in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect. No
notices or warnings from any federal, state, local or foreign governmental
authority with respect to any failure or alleged failure of the Company or any
Subsidiary to comply with any requirements of law have been received by the
Company or any Subsidiary nor, to the Company's knowledge, are any such notices
threatened.

            2.9 Litigation. There is no action, suit, proceeding or
investigation pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries that questions the validity of the
Transaction Agreements or the right of the Company to enter into such
agreements, or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or
that might result, either individually or in the aggregate, in a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
subject to the provisions of any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree of
any court or government agency or instrumentality. There is no action, suit,
proceeding or investigation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or
that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries intends to initiate.

            2.10 Patents and Trademarks. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any patents or pending patent applications. To the Company's
knowledge, and without having consulted any intellectual property counsel or
performed any technical docket search, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or
have a license or otherwise have the right to use, all patents, trademarks,
trade names, copyrights, know-how and trade secrets which are used in their
respective businesses as currently conducted without violating or conflicting in
any respect with the rights of others. There are no outstanding options,
licenses, or agreements of any kind relating to the foregoing, nor is the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries bound by or a party to any options, licenses
or agreements of any kind with respect to the patents, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, licenses, information,
proprietary rights and



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processes of any other person or entity. Except as disclosed in the Schedule of
Exceptions, and without having consulted any intellectual property counsel or
performed any technical docket search, the Company is not aware of any violation
or infringement by a third party of any of the Company's or its Subsidiaries'
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets,
licenses or other proprietary rights in a manner that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company's knowledge, and
without having consulted any intellectual property counsel or performed any
technical docket search, the Company's and its Subsidiaries businesses as now
conducted and as proposed to be conducted do not and will not infringe or
conflict with the rights of others, including rights under patents, trademarks,
service marks, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade
secrets, licenses and other proprietary rights, in any manner that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any communications alleging that the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has violated or, by conducting its business
as proposed, would violate any of the patents, trademarks, service marks, trade
names, copyrights or trade secrets or other proprietary rights of any other
person or entity. The Company is not aware that any of its or its Subsidiaries'
employees is obligated under any contract (including licenses, covenants or
commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or administrative agency, that would interfere with
the use of his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Company or
its Subsidiaries or that would conflict with the Company's or its Subsidiaries'
businesses as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Neither the
execution nor delivery of the Transaction Agreements nor performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder, nor the carrying on of the Company's or
its Subsidiaries' businesses by the employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, will conflict with or result in a breach of
the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
contract, covenant or instrument under which any of such employees is now
obligated, except for such breaches or defaults which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.

            2.11 Compliance with Other Instruments. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is in violation or default of any provision of its charter
documents, or in any material respect of any instrument, judgment, order, writ,
decree, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, agreement or contract to which it is
a party or by which it or its property is bound, of any material provision of
any material federal or state statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. The execution, delivery
and performance of the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby will not result in any such violation or be in
conflict with or constitute, with or without the passage of time and/or giving
of notice or both, either a default under any such provision, instrument,
judgment, order, writ, decree, mortgage, indebtedness, indenture, agreement or
contract or an event that results in the creation of any mortgage, pledge, lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture, or nonrenewal of any
material permit, license, authorization, or approval applicable to the Company
or its Subsidiaries, or any of their businesses or operations or any of their
assets or properties.




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            2.12 Agreements; Action.

                 (a) Other than the Transaction Agreements and the Strategic
Licensing Agreement, there are no agreements, instruments, contracts, judgments,
orders, writs or decrees to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or by which any such entity is bound that may involve (i) obligations
(contingent or otherwise) of, or payments to the Company or its Subsidiaries in
excess of, $250,000, or (ii) the license of any material patent, copyright,
trade secret or other proprietary right or intellectual property to or from the
Company or its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
received any written notice of an intention to terminate any of its material
contracts or agreements from any of the other parties to such contracts and
agreements.

                 (b) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i)
declared or paid any dividends or authorized or made any distribution upon or
with respect to any class or series of its capital stock, (ii) incurred any
indebtedness for money borrowed individually in excess of $100,000 or in the
aggregate in excess of $1,000,000, (iii) made any loans or advances to any
person, other than ordinary advances for travel expenses, or (iv) sold,
exchanged or otherwise disposed of any of its assets or rights in any material
respect.

                 (c) For the purposes of subsections (a) and (b) above, all
indebtedness, liabilities, agreements, understandings, instruments, contracts
and proposed transactions involving the same person or entity (including persons
or entities the Company has reason to believe are affiliated therewith) shall be
aggregated for the purpose of meeting the individual minimum dollar amounts of
such subsections.

                 (d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
to or is bound by any contract, agreement or instrument, or subject to any
restriction under charter documents that is reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

            2.13 Related-Party Transactions. No employee, officer, or director
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or member of his or her immediate
family is indebted to the Company in an amount greater than $100,000, nor is the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries indebted (or committed to make loans or
extend or guarantee credit) to any of them in an amount greater than $100,000.
Except pursuant to employment agreements in the ordinary course, there are no
contracts or agreements between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any
such individual involving an amount greater than $100,000 (in the aggregate,
with respect to any such individual). To the Company's knowledge, no employee or
officer has any direct or indirect ownership interest in any firm or corporation
with which the Company or any Subsidiary thereof is affiliated or with which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a business relationship, or any firm or
corporation that competes with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except
that employees and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and members of
their immediate families may own stock in publicly traded companies that may
compete with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries.

            2.14 Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have all
franchises, permits, licenses, and any similar authority necessary for the
conduct of its business as now being conducted by them, the lack of which could
have a Material Adverse Effect, and the



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Company and each of its Subsidiaries believe they can obtain, without undue
burden or expense, any similar authority for the conduct of its business as
planned to be conducted. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in
default in any material respect under any of such franchises, permits, licenses,
or other similar authority.

            2.15 Environmental and Safety Laws. Neither the Company nor its
Subsidiaries is in violation of any applicable statute, law or regulation
relating to the environment or occupational health and safety, and to its
knowledge, no material expenditures are or will be required in order to comply
with any such existing statute, law or regulation.

            2.16 Registration Rights. Except as provided in the Registration
Rights Agreement (as amended), the Company has not granted or agreed to grant
any registration rights, including piggyback rights, to any person or entity.

            2.17 Corporate Documents. The Restated Certificate and Bylaws of the
Company are in the form previously provided to counsel for the Investor.

            2.18 Title to Property and Assets. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries owns any real property. With respect to the property and assets
it leases, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with such
leases ("Leases") and, to the Company's knowledge, hold a valid leasehold
interest free of any liens, claims or encumbrances. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has committed a breach of, or is in default under, any
Lease, which breach or default would result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor,
to the Company's knowledge, has there occurred any event that with the passage
of time or the giving of notice or both, would result in a Material Adverse
Effect.

            2.19 Liabilities. The Company has made available to the Investor its
audited consolidated financial statements (balance sheet, income statement and
statement of cash flows) at and for the 12 months ended December 31, 1998, and
its unaudited consolidated financial statements at and for the nine months ended
September 30, 1999 (collectively, the "Financial Statements"). Such Financial
Statements have been prepared in good faith in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and with the books and records of the
Company and fairly present the financial position of the Company as of such date
and the financial results of the Company for such period, subject to, in the
case of the September 30, 1999 Financial Statements, normal year end
adjustments. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements, the Company has no
material liabilities, contingent or otherwise, other than liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business subsequent to December 31, 1998 which are not
materially adverse to the financial condition or operating results of the
Company.

            2.20 Changes. Since December 31, 1998, there has not been:

                 (a) any change in the assets, liabilities, financial condition
or operating results of the Company from that reflected in the Financial
Statements, except changes in the ordinary course of business, which
individually or in the aggregate, would not constitute a Material Adverse
Effect;

                 (b) any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by
insurance, which has a Material Adverse Effect;




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                 (c) any waiver or forgiveness by the Company of a valuable
right or of a material debt owed to it;

                 (d) any satisfaction or discharge of any lien, claim or
encumbrance or payment of any obligation by the Company, except in the ordinary
course of business and that would not have a Material Adverse Effect;

                 (e) any material change in any compensation arrangement or
agreement or equity plan with any employee;

                 (f) any sale, assignment or transfer of any patents,
trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets or other intangible assets;

                 (g) any resignation or termination of employment of any key
officer of the Company; and the Company, to its knowledge, does not know of the
impending resignation or termination of employment of any such officer;

                 (h) any material acquisitions or dispositions or business
combinations;

                 (i) any material tax election or material change in tax or
accounting methods;

                 (j) any material suits, actions, claims, tax audits or
settlements thereof;

                 (k) any termination or amendment of any material contract which
has or would have a Material Adverse Effect;

                 (l) any agreement or commitment by the Company to do any of the
things described in this Section 2.20; or

                 (m) to the Company's knowledge, any other event or condition of
any character that is likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

            2.21 Employee Benefit Plans. Section 2.21 of the Schedule of
Exceptions identifies each employee benefit plan that is intended to be a
"qualified plan" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code ("Qualified
Plans"). The Internal Revenue Service has issued a favorable determination
letter with respect to each Qualified Plan and the related trust that has not
been revoked, and no circumstances exist and no events have occurred that would
adversely affect the qualified status of any Qualified Plan or the related
trust. With respect to each employee benefit plan, the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has complied, and are now in compliance, in all material respects,
with all provisions of ERISA, the Code and all laws and regulations applicable
to such employee benefit plan, and each employee benefit plan has been
administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms, except where
failure to so comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            2.22 Tax Returns, Payments and Elections. The Company and each of
its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns and reports as required by law.
These returns and reports


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are true and correct in all material respects. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has paid all taxes and other assessments due, except those
contested by it in good faith by appropriate proceedings that are listed in the
Schedule of Exceptions, and have been reserved against in accordance with GAAP.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has elected pursuant to the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), to be treated as a
Subchapter S corporation or a collapsible corporation pursuant to Section
1362(a) or Section 341(f) of the Code, respectively, nor has it made any other
elections pursuant to the Code (other than elections that relate solely to
methods of accounting, depreciation or amortization) that would have a Material
Adverse Effect.

            2.23 Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have in
full force and effect insurance of a type and in amounts customarily covered by
persons conducting business similar to those conducted by the Company.

            2.24 Labor Agreements and Actions. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is bound by or subject to (and none of its assets or properties
is bound by or subject to) any written or oral, express or implied, contract,
commitment or arrangement with any labor union, and no labor union has requested
or, to the Company's knowledge, has sought to represent any of the employees,
representatives or agents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no
strike or other labor dispute involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
pending, or to the Company's knowledge, threatened, that is likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect, nor is the Company aware of any labor organization
activity involving its or any of its Subsidiaries' employees. The Company is not
aware that any officer or key employee, or that any group of key employees,
intends to terminate their employment with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, nor does the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have a present
intention to terminate the employment of any of the foregoing. The employment of
each officer and employee of the Company and its Subsidiaries is terminable at
the will of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be. The Company and
each of its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all
applicable state and federal equal employment opportunity and other laws related
to employment, except where the failure to so comply would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.

            2.25 Takeover Laws. The execution of this Agreement and each other
Transaction Agreement, the sales and purchases of the Company's Series C
Preferred Stock or Common Stock, if applicable) contemplated hereby and the
other transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Agreements
are exempt from or inapplicable under any state takeover law or state law that
purports to limit or restrict business combinations or the ability to acquire or
vote shares, including without limitation Section 203 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.

            2.26 Disclosure. No representations or warranties made by the
Company in this Agreement contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit
or will omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements herein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
Originals or true and complete copies of all documents or other written
materials underlying items listed in the Schedule of Exceptions have heretofore
been made available to the Investor for inspection on request, in the form in
which each of such documents is in effect.


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            Except with respect to (i) the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) and the Transaction Agreements, (iii) the transaction
contemplated by that certain Series C Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated
as of November 12, 1999, (the "Prior Series C Agreement"), among the Company and
the investors identified therein, and (iv) the transactions contemplated by the
MOU and the Marketing Agreement referred to in the Prior Series C Agreement, the
most current draft of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1
(initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 22,
1999) which is provided to the counsel for the Investor and attached hereto as
Exhibit H) does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and complies as to
form with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in all
material respects.

            2.27 Year 2000. The internal information systems and business
systems (collectively, the "Systems") of the Company and its Subsidiaries are
Y2K Compliant and if such systems fail to be Y2K Compliant, such failure will
not have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Section 2.27:

                 (a) "Y2K Compliant" shall mean that (i) all Calendar-Related
processing of Date Data or of any System Date will not cause the Systems to
cease to operate substantially in accordance with their specifications, (ii) all
data fields for the Date Data contained in the Systems are four-digit fields
(other than month and date fields which are at least two-digit fields) capable
of indicating century and millennium, and (iii) the Company has verified through
its testing procedures that no change in the System Date (including the change
from the year 1999 to the year 2000) will cause the Systems to cease to operate
substantially in accordance with their specifications;

                 (b) "Calendar-Related" refers to date values based on the
Gregorian calendar as defined in Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition, 1982,
page 602.

                 (c) "Date Data" means any Calendar-Related data in the
inclusive range January 1, 1985 through December 31, 2035 that the Systems use
in any manner.

                 (d) "System Date" means any Calendar-Related date value in the
inclusive range from January 1, 1985 through December 31, 2035 (including the
transition between such values) that the Systems will be able to use as their
current date while operating.

        Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement, Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to its
Systems operating in conjunction with any computer software, computer firmware,
computer hardware, or any combination of the foregoing supplied by third
parties. The Company represents and warrants to the Investor that it has made
inquiry to each of its material third party service providers and none of such
providers has notified the Company that it does not believe that it will be Y2K
compliant prior to December 31, 1999.




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            2.28 Books and Records. The books and records of the Company,
including the minutes of director and stockholder meetings, actions and
consents, are accurate, current and complete in all material respects.

        3. Representations and Warranties of the Investor. The Investor hereby
represents and warrants that:

            3.1 Authorization. The Investor has full power and authority to
enter into the Transaction Agreements, and each such agreement constitutes its
valid and legally binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

            3.2 Purchase Entirely for Own Account. This Agreement is made with
the Investor in reliance upon the Investor's representation to the Company,
which by the Investor's execution of this Agreement the Investor hereby
confirms, that the Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if applicable) to
be received by the Investor and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof (collectively, the "Securities") will be acquired for investment for the
Investor's own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the
resale or distribution of any part thereof, and that the Investor has no present
intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing
the same. By executing this Agreement, the Investor further represents that the
Investor does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with
any person to sell, transfer or grant participations to such person or to any
third person, with respect to any of the Securities.

            3.3 Disclosure of Information. The Investor represents that it has
had an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from the Company
regarding the terms and conditions of the offering of the Series C Preferred
Stock (or Common Stock, if applicable) and the business, properties, prospects
and financial condition of the Company.

            3.4 Investment Experience. The Investor is an investor in securities
of companies in the development stage and acknowledges that it is able to fend
for itself, can bear the economic risk of its investment, and has such knowledge
and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating
the merits and risks of the investment in the Series C Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock, if applicable).

            3.5 Accredited Investor. The Investor is an "accredited investor"
within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Rule 501 of
Regulation D, as presently in effect.

            3.6 Restricted Securities. The Investor understands that the
Securities it is purchasing are characterized as "restricted securities" under
the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company
in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and
applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, only in certain limited circumstances.
In this connection, the Investor represents that it is familiar with Rule 144
promulgated under the Act, as presently in effect, and understands the resale
limitations imposed thereby and by the Act.



                                       11
<PAGE>   12

            3.7 Legends. It is understood that the certificates evidencing the
Securities may bear one or all of the following legends:

                (a) Any legend required under the Stockholders Agreement (as
amended); and

                (b) Any legend required by the laws of the State of California,
including any legend required by the California Department of Corporations and
Sections 417 and 418 of the California Corporations Code.

        4. California Commissioner of Corporations.

           4.1 Corporate Securities Law. THE SALE OF THE SECURITIES THAT ARE THE
SUBJECT OF THIS AGREEMENT HAS NOT BEEN QUALIFIED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF
CORPORATIONS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH SECURITIES OR
THE PAYMENT OR RECEIPT OF ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERATION FOR SUCH SECURITIES
PRIOR TO SUCH QUALIFICATION IS UNLAWFUL, UNLESS THE SALE OF SECURITIES IS EXEMPT
FROM QUALIFICATION BY SECTION 25100, 25102 OR 25105 OF THE CALIFORNIA
CORPORATIONS CODE. THE RIGHTS OF ALL PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE EXPRESSLY
CONDITIONED UPON SUCH QUALIFICATION BEING OBTAINED, UNLESS THE SALE IS SO
EXEMPT.

        5. Covenants.

           5.1 The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to (a) obtain
such written consents, approvals, waivers and clearances as are necessary to be
obtained by it to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(b) prepare all documentation, effect all filings, obtain all permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations of all third parties and governmental authorities
necessary to be obtained by it to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, and (c) take all such other actions necessary on its part to
cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated by the
Closing Date.

           5.2 Each party hereto will give prompt written notice to the other
parties of any material development affecting the ability of such party to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. No disclosure by any party
pursuant to this Section 5.2, however, shall be deemed to amend or supplement
any schedule hereto or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of
warranty or breach of covenant.

           5.3 The Company and the Investor hereby agree with each other, that
at any time and from time to time it will promptly execute and deliver or cause
its Affiliates to execute and deliver to the other such further assurances,
instruments and documents as the other party may reasonably request in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and take such further action as
the other parties may reasonably request in order to carry out the full intent
and purpose of this Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.

           5.4 The Company agrees that prior to disclosing the existence of or
the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any
filing with the Securities and



                                       12
<PAGE>   13

Exchange Commission, it shall provide a copy of such disclosure to the Investor
and shall use reasonable efforts to take into consideration any comments by the
Investor to such disclosure. In addition, the Company shall from time to time
keep the Investor reasonably informed as to the status of the Company's
registration process currently ongoing.

           5.5 The Company agrees that it shall not issue any shares of its
Series C Preferred Stock, including to Sony Music Entertainment Inc.,
Bertelsmann Music Group, Universal Music Group, Inc., Time Warner Inc., Yahoo!
Inc. or any of their respective Affiliates, unless such issuances are on
substantively identical terms; provided, that the terms of any strategic
arrangement entered into between the Company and any of such investors in
connection with such investment shall not be taken into consideration for
purposes of such determination.

        6. Conditions of Investor's Obligations at the Closing.

           6.1 Closing. The obligation of the Investor to purchase and pay for
the Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if applicable) which the Investor
has agreed to purchase at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment on or before
the Closing, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived in
whole or in part by the Investor:

               (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 shall be true on and as of the
Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had
been made on and as of the date of the Closing, unless the representations
contained in Section 2 are made as of a specific date, in which case they shall
be true on and as of such date.

               (b) Performance. The Company shall have performed and complied
with all agreements, obligations and conditions contained in this Agreement that
are required to be performed or complied with by it on or before the Closing.

               (c) Compliance Certificate. The Chief Executive Officer of the
Company shall deliver to the Investor at the Closing a certificate stating that
the conditions specified in Section 6.1(a) and 6.1(b) have been fulfilled and
stating that there shall have been no Material Averse Effect since the date of
the Financial Statements.

               (d) Qualifications. All authorizations, approvals, or permits, if
any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the United States or of
any state that are required in connection with the lawful issuance and sale of
the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be duly obtained and effective
as of the Closing.

               (e) Proceedings and Documents. All corporate and other
proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closing and
all documents incident thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Investor, and they shall have received all such counterpart
original and certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably
request.

               (f) Opinion of Company Counsel. The Investor shall have received
from Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, counsel for the Company, an opinion, dated
as of the Closing, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.



                                       13
<PAGE>   14

               (g) Transaction Agreements. The Company, the Investor and each of
the other parties necessary to make the Transaction Agreements effective shall
have entered into the Transaction Agreements.

               (h) Stock Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to the
Investor a stock certificate representing the shares of Series C Preferred Stock
(or Common Stock, if applicable) that the Investor is purchasing at the Closing.

               (i) Strategic Agreement. The Company and each of the other
parties (other than the Investor or any of its Affiliates) necessary to make the
Strategic Agreement (the "Strategic Agreement"), a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit F, effective, shall have entered into the Strategic Agreement.

        7. Conditions of the Company's Obligations at the Closing.

           7.1 Closing. The obligation of the Company to sell and issue the
Series C Preferred Stock (or Common Stock, if applicable) which the Company has
agreed to issue on the date of the Closing is subject to the fulfillment on or
before the Closing of each of the following conditions, any of which may be
waived in whole or in part by the Company.

               (a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Investor contained in Section 3 shall be true on and as of the
Closing with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had
been made on and as of the Closing, unless the representations contained in
Section 3 are made as of a specific date.

               (b) Payment of Purchase Price. The Investor shall have delivered
the purchase price specified in Section 1.2.

               (c) Qualifications. All authorizations, approvals, or permits, if
any, of any governmental authority or regulatory body of the United States or of
any state that are required in connection with the lawful issuance and sale of
the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be duly obtained and effective
as of the Closing.

               (d) Strategic Agreement. Each of the parties (other than the
Company) necessary to make the Strategic Licensing Agreement effective shall
have entered into the Strategic Agreement.

        8. Miscellaneous.

           8.1 Survival of Warranties. The warranties, representations and
covenants of the Company and the Investor contained in or made pursuant to this
Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Closing for a period ending thirty days after the Company's audited financial
statements for the fiscal year 2000 have been delivered or made available to the
Investor and shall in no way be affected by any investigation of the subject
matter thereof made by or on behalf of the Investor or the Company.

           8.2 Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the respective



                                       14
<PAGE>   15

successors and assigns of the parties (including transferees of any Securities).
Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns
any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this
Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the Investor shall be entitled to assign its
rights under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates, which shall, on and after
the date of such assignment, be the "Investor" hereunder to the extent of such
assignments. As used in this Section 8.2, an "Affiliate" of a party shall mean
any entity which directly or indirectly wholly-owns the Investor, is
wholly-owned by the Investor, or is under the common ownership of all of the
entity owning, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the interests of each of
the Investor and such first entity.

           8.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of California as applied to agreements among
California residents entered into and to be performed entirely within
California.

           8.4 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

           8.5 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this
Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in
construing or interpreting this Agreement.

           8.6 Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or
permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed
effectively given upon personal delivery to the party to be notified or upon
deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified at the address
indicated for such party on the signature page hereof, or at such other address
as such party may designate by ten (10) days' advance written notice to the
other parties.

           8.7 Finder's Fee. Each party represents that it neither is nor will
be obligated for any finders' fee or commission in connection with this
transaction. The Investor agrees to indemnify and to hold harmless the Company
from any liability for any commission or compensation in the nature of a
finders' fee (and the costs and expenses of defending against such liability or
asserted liability) for which the Investor or any of its officers, partners,
employees, or representatives is responsible and the Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Investor from any liability for any commission or
compensation in the nature of a finders' fee (and the costs and expenses of
defending against such liability or asserted liability) for which the Company or
any of its officers, employees or representatives is responsible.

           8.8 Expenses. The Company shall pay all costs and expenses that it
incurs with respect to the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement. In addition, upon the consummation of the Closing, the Company
shall pay the Investor's reasonable legal fees in connection with the review,
negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the Transaction Agreements and
related agreements. If any action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or
interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be



                                       15
<PAGE>   16

entitled to reasonable attorney's fees, costs and necessary disbursements in
addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled.

           8.9 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended
and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally
or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only
with the written consent of the Company and the Investor. Any amendment or
waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon each
holder of any securities purchased under this Agreement at the time outstanding
(including securities into which such securities are convertible), each future
holder of all such securities, and the Company.

           8.10 Consent to Jurisdiction. In any action or proceeding arising out
of, related to, or in connection with this Agreement, the parties consent to be
subject to the jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of
Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Each
of the parties consents to the service of process in any action commenced
hereunder by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or by any
other method or service acceptable under federal law or the laws of the State of
Delaware. AS TO ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO OR IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES HEREBY AGREE TO WAIVE THEIR RIGHTS
TO A TRIAL BY JURY.

           8.11 Severability. If one or more provisions of this Agreement are
held to be unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be excluded
from this Agreement and the balance of the Agreement shall be interpreted as if
such provision were so excluded and shall be enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

           8.12 Aggregation of Stock. All shares of Series C Preferred Stock (or
Common Stock, if applicable) held or acquired by affiliated entities or persons
shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of
any rights under this Agreement.

           8.13 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to
herein constitute the entire agreement among the parties and no party shall be
liable or bound to any other party in any manner by any warranties,
representations, or covenants except as specifically set forth herein or
therein.

           8.14 Termination. In the event the Closing has not occurred within
sixty (60) days of the execution of this Agreement, the Company (provided the
Company is not in breach of this Agreement at such time) may terminate this
Agreement and no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities
hereunder. In the event the Closing has not occurred within sixty (60) days of
the execution of this Agreement, the Investor (provided the Investor is not in
breach of this Agreement at such time) may terminate this Agreement with respect
to the Investor and the Company and such parties shall not have any further
obligations or liabilities with respect to each other.


                                       16
<PAGE>   17

                        SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK PURCHASE
                            AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE



        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.



                                         COMPANY:

                                         ARTISTdirect, Inc.

                                         By:
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Marc P. Geiger,
                                             Chief Executive Officer

                             Address:    17835 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 310
                                         Encino, California  91316



                                         INVESTOR:



                                         By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                               --------------------------------
                                         Its:
                                               --------------------------------

                                         Address: