Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.15

                            NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

      THIS NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of July 28,
2005 (the "Effective Date") by and among ARTISTDIRECT, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), WNT07 HOLDINGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company ("Advisor"), ERIC PULIER ("Pulier"), and TEYMOUR BOUTROS-GHALI
("Boutros-Ghali", and together with Pulier, the "Managers", and each a
"Manager").

                                    RECITALS

      A. The Company has engaged Advisor to provide the services of the Managers
with respect to the Company's business activities on an advisory basis to
advise, aid and assist the Company.

      B. In consideration of Advisor making the services of the Managers
available to the Company, the Company has issued to Advisor shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company that will be subject to certain
restrictions as set forth herein (the "Restricted Shares").

      C. The Managers are the managers of Advisor.

      D. As a condition to the Company issuing the Restricted Shares to Advisor,
the Company requires that Advisor and the Managers to enter into this Agreement.

                                    AGREEMENT

      In consideration of the above recitals and of the mutual covenants and
conditions contained in this Agreement, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby
agree as follows:

1. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE OR SOLICIT.

      (a) Non-Competition. Beginning on the Effective Date and ending on the
earlier of: (i) April 1, 2007, or (ii) the date of termination of Advisor's
services with the Company by the Company (the "Non-Competition Period"), Advisor
and Managers shall not (other than on behalf of the Company), without the prior
written consent of the Company, engage in a Competitive Business Activity (as
defined below) anywhere in the Restricted Territory (as defined below). For all
purposes hereof, the term "Competitive Business Activity" shall mean: (i)
engaging in, or managing or directing persons engaged in any business in
competition with the Company's Media Defender business of on-line piracy
protection for music and/or movies; (ii) acquiring or having an ownership
interest in any entity that derives revenues from any business in competition
with the Competitive

                                       -1-

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Business Activity (except for passive ownership of three percent (3%) or less of
any entity whose securities are publicly traded on a national securities
exchange or market or five percent (5%) or less of any entity whose securities
are not publicly traded on a national securities exchange or market); or (iii)
participating in the operation or control of any firm, partnership, corporation,
entity or business (each, an "Entity") described in clause (ii) of this
sentence; provided, however, that Advisor or the Managers shall not be deemed to
be engaging in a Competitive Business Activity solely because Advisor or a
Manager is employed by, serves as an independent contractor to, is a partner of
a venture capital fund, or is otherwise associated with an Entity that engages
in a Competitive Business Activity if (i) Advisor or a Manager is employed in,
serves as an independent contractor to or is otherwise associated with a
division of such Entity other than the division engaged in a Competitive
Business Activity (a "Competing Division"), (ii) the Advisor or a Manager does
not provide technical, marketing or other assistance to a Competing Division, or
(iii) a Manager is a partner of a venture capital fund that may invest in an
Entity engaged in a Competitive Business Activity (although a Manager shall not,
individually, participate in the management of such investment on behalf of the
venture fund (such as, by way of example, serving as a director or manager of
the entity in which the venture fund invested). For all purposes hereof, the
term "Restricted Territory" shall mean in any State of the United States of
America, or in any foreign country in which the Company or an affiliate or
subsidiary of the Company is conducting such Competitive Business Activity.

      (b) Non-Solicitation. During the Non-Competition Period, neither Advisor
nor the Managers shall solicit, encourage or take any other action which is
intended to induce or encourage, or could reasonably be expected to have the
effect of inducing or encouraging, any employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries to terminate his or her employment with the Company or its
subsidiaries; provided, however, that any general solicitation of employees not
specifically targeted to the Company's employees shall not be deemed a violation
of this Section 1(b).

      (c) Scope/Severabilty. The covenants contained in Section 1(a) hereof
shall be construed as a series of separate covenants, one for each country,
province, state, city or other political subdivision of the Restricted
Territory. The parties acknowledge that the Competitive Business Activity is and
will be national and international in scope and thus the covenants in this
Section 1 would be particularly ineffective if the covenants were to be limited
to a particular geographic area of the United States. If any court of competent
jurisdiction at any time deems the Non-Competition Term unreasonably lengthy, or
the Restricted Territory unreasonably extensive, or any of the covenants set
forth in Section 1 not fully enforceable, the other provisions of Section 1, and
this Agreement in general, will nevertheless stand and to the fullest extent
consistent with law continue in full force and effect, and it is the intention
and desire of the parties that the court treat any provisions of this Agreement
which are not fully enforceable as having been modified to the extent deemed
necessary by the court to render them reasonable and enforceable and that the
court enforce them to such extent (for example, that the Restricted Term be
deemed to be the longest period permissible by law, but not in excess of the
length provided for in Section 1(a), and the Restricted Territory be deemed to
comprise the
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largest territory permissible by law under the circumstances, but not in excess
of the territory provided for in Section 1(a)).

2. FORFEITURE RESTRICTIONS. Advisor agrees it may not sell, transfer, pledge,
exchange, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of any of the Restricted Shares
(collectively, the "Forfeiture Restrictions"), before the termination or lapse
of the Non-Competition Period.

3. REMEDIES. Advisor agrees that if either Advisor or a Manager were to breach
any provisions of this Agreement, the Company would suffer damages that are not
readily ascertainable. Accordingly, in addition to and without limiting any
remedies in law or in equity that may be available to the Company for the breach
of this Agreement, including, but not limited to, injunctive and other equitable
relief, Advisor agrees that in the event of a material breach of this Agreement
by Advisor or a Manager, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors of
the Company, the Company shall have, on the date of such breach of any material
provisions of this Agreement (the "Termination Date"), an irrevocable, exclusive
option (the "Forfeiture Repurchase Option"), for a period of ninety (90) days
from the Termination Date (the "Forfeiture Repurchase Period"), to repurchase up
to all of the Restricted Shares on the Termination Date at the original purchase
price per share (the "Repurchase Price"). The Forfeiture Repurchase Option shall
be exercisable by written notice delivered to Advisor before the expiration of
the Forfeiture Repurchase Period. The notice shall indicate the number of the
Restricted Shares to be repurchased and the date on which the repurchase is to
be effected, such date to be not later than fifteen (15) days after the
expiration of the Forfeiture Repurchase Period. On the date of the repurchase,
the Company shall pay to Advisor by a certified check of the Company, an amount
equal to the Repurchase Price for each of the Restricted Shares that is to be
repurchased from Advisor. Upon such payment to Advisor, the Company shall become
the legal and beneficial owner of the Restricted Shares being repurchased and
all rights and interests therein or related thereto, and the Company shall have
the right to transfer to its own name the Restricted Shares being forfeited and
repurchased without any further action of Advisor. The parties expressly agree
that these provisions governing the forfeiture and repurchase of the Restricted
Shares shall be specifically enforceable by the Company in a court of equity or
law. Advisor acknowledges and agrees that the exercise by the Company of the
Forfeiture Repurchase Option is a reasonable forecast of the damages likely to
result from such breach and is not a penalty of any kind.

4. TAX CONSEQUENCES. Advisor understands that Section 83 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (which, including any amendments and successor
provisions to any section referenced herein and any Treasury regulations
promulgated under such section, is hereinafter referred to as the "Code"), taxes
as ordinary income the difference between the purchase price for the Restricted
Shares and the fair market value of the Restricted Shares as of the date any
substantial risk of forfeiture imposed on the Restricted Shares terminates or
lapses or the Restricted Shares become transferable. Advisor understands that,
regardless of any substantial risk of forfeiture, it may elect to be taxed at
the time the Restricted Shares are granted, rather than when and as any
substantial risk of forfeiture terminates or lapses, by filing an election under
Section 83(b) of the Code with the Internal Revenue Service within thirty (30)
days from the

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Effective Date. Advisor acknowledges that it is its sole responsibility (and not
the Company's) to file timely the election under Section 83(b), even if Advisor
requests the Company or its representatives to make that filing on his behalf.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation that the
Restrictions constitute a substantial risk of forfeiture under Section 83 of the
Code.

5. MISCELLANEOUS.

      (a) Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of California without reference to rules of
conflicts of law. Advisor and the Managers hereby consent to the personal
jurisdiction of the state and Federal courts located in California for any
action or proceeding arising from or relating to this Agreement or relating to
any arbitration in which the parties are participants.

      (b) Specific Performance; Injunctive Relief. The parties acknowledge that
the Company will be irreparably harmed and that there will be no adequate remedy
at law for a violation of any of the covenants or agreements of Advisor and the
Managers set forth herein. Therefore, it is agreed that, in addition to any
other remedies that may be available to the Company upon any such violation, the
Company shall have the right to seek enforcement of such covenants and
agreements by specific performance, injunctive relief or by any other means
available to the Company at law or in equity.

      (c) Severability. If any portion of this Agreement is held by an
arbitrator or a court of competent jurisdiction to conflict with any Federal,
state or local law, or to be otherwise invalid or unenforceable, such portion of
this Agreement shall be of no force or effect and this Agreement shall otherwise
remain in full force and effect and be construed as if such portion had not been
included in this Agreement.

      (d) No Assignment. Because the nature of the Agreement is specific to the
actions of Advisor and the Managers, Advisor and the Managers may not assign
this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its
successors and assigns.

      (e) Notices. Any notices required or permitted to be sent hereunder shall
be delivered personally or mailed, certified mail, return receipt requested, or
delivered by overnight courier service, or delivered by telecopy (if a duplicate
copy is also contemporaneously sent by any other means of delivery provided
herein) to the following addresses, or such other address as any party hereto
designates by written notice to any other party hereto, and shall be deemed to
have been given upon delivery, if delivered personally, three days after
mailing, if mailed, one business day after delivery to the courier, if delivered
by overnight courier service, or on the date of delivery, if given by telecopy
prior to 12:00 p.m. (based on the local time of the recipient) and a duplicate
copy is sent by any other means of delivery as provided herein (or, if such
telecopy shall be delivered after 12:00 p.m., on the day after delivery
thereof):

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            (i) if to The Company, to:

                ARTISTdirect, Inc.
                10900 Wilshire Boulevard
                Suite 1400
                Los Angeles, CA 90024
                Telephone No.: (310) 443-5360
                Facsimile No.: (310) 443-5361

            (ii) if to Advisor or the Managers,  to:

                WNT07 Holdings, LLC
                c/o Larry Wayne, CPA
                Wayne, Gaynor, Umanoff & Pollack, LLP
                6100 Center Drive, Suite 950
                Los Angeles, CA 90045
                Telephone No. (310) 846-5770
                Facsimile No.:  (310) 846-5771

      (f) Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties and supersedes all prior discussions, agreements
and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not
be changed or modified, except by an agreement in writing executed by the
Company, Advisor and the Managers. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit, modify
or impair any statutory or common law duty or obligation that the Managers may
have to the Company, or any duty or obligation arising under any of the existing
policies and procedures of the Company that apply to its officers and/or
directors generally.

      (g) Waiver of Breach. The waiver of a breach of any term or provision of
this Agreement, which must be in writing, shall not operate as or be construed
to be a waiver of any other previous or subsequent breach of this Agreement.

      (h) Headings. All captions and section headings used in this Agreement are
for convenience only and do not form a part of this Agreement.

      (i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, and each
counterpart shall have the same force and effect as an original and shall
constitute an effective, binding agreement on the part of each of the parties.

      (j) Delivery by Facsimile. This Agreement,, and each other agreement or
instrument entered into in connection herewith or therewith or contemplated
hereby or thereby, and any amendments hereto or thereto, to the extent signed
and delivered by means of a facsimile machine, shall be treated in all manner
and respects and for all purposes as an original agreement or instrument and
shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it

                                       -5-

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were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of
any party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument, each other party hereto
or thereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to all other
parties. No party hereto or to any such agreement or instrument shall raise the
use of a facsimile machine to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature
or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a
facsimile machine as a defense to the formation or enforceability of a contract
and each such party forever waives any such defense.

                  [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
                            SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS.]

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
Effective Date.

                                     THE COMPANY:

                                     ARTISTDIRECT, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION

                                     By: /s/ Robert Weingarten
                                         ------------------------
                                     Name: Robert Weingarten
                                     Its: Chief Financial Officer

                                     ADVISOR:

                                     WNT07 HOLDINGS, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED
                                     LIABILITY COMPANY

                                     By: /s/ Eric Pulier
                                         ---------------
                                     Name: Eric Pulier
                                     Its: Manager

                                     By: /s/Teymour Boutros-Ghali
                                         -----------------------------
                                     Name: Teymour Boutros-Ghali
                                     Its: Manager

                                     MANAGERS:

                                     /s/ Eric Pulier
                                     ---------------
                                     ERIC PULIER

                                     /s/ Teymour Boutros-Ghali
                                     -------------------------
                                     TEYMOUR BOUTROS-GHALI

                                      -7-<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

      THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated July 28, 2005, (the
"EFFECTIVE DATE") is entered into between ARTISTdirect, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and Jon Diamond ("EMPLOYEE").

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Employee to serve the Company and
its subsidiaries and Employee desires to be so employed by the Company, on the
terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

                                    AGREEMENT

      NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby mutually
agree, as follows:

      1. EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES. Subject to the other terms and conditions set
forth herein, the Company hereby employs Employee, and Employee agrees to be
employed by the Company, as President and Chief Executive Officer. Employee
shall have the duties, responsibilities and authority customarily associated
with the position of president and chief executive officer of a publicly held
corporation and shall report to the Company's Board of Directors. Employee shall
be nominated by the Company for election, and shall serve, as a member of the
Company's Board of Directors (the "BOARD").

      2. DEVOTION TO DUTIES. During the Term (as defined herein), Employee shall
faithfully perform to the best of his ability all services and acts necessary or
advisable as both (a) are consistent with his title and position and (b) may
reasonably be assigned to him by the Board (but he shall not be assigned any
duties or responsibilities that, in the aggregate, would represent a material
diminution in, or would be materially inconsistent with, his duties and
responsibilities as President and Chief Executive Officer). During the Term,
Employee shall devote his business time, skill and energies to the business of
the Company and each of its "Subsidiaries" (as defined below); provided,
however, that Employee may devote a limited amount of time to other business
activities (including service on boards of directors), so long as (a) such
activities are not competitive with the Company's business, (b) Employee's so
doing does not interfere with his performance of his duties to the Company and
(c) from and after March 1, 2006, such service does not involve Employee acting
in the capacity as an executive officer or employee of another public company.
For purposes of this Agreement, "SUBSIDIARIES" shall mean those entities whose
affairs the Company has, now or in the future, the power to direct by reason of
ownership of securities, by contract, or otherwise. Without limiting the
preceding sentence, any person or entity owning directly or indirectly 50% or
more of the voting securities of another entity shall be deemed to have the
power to direct the affairs of such other entity.

      3. PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT. During the Term, Employee's principal places of
employment shall be at the offices of the Company in the Los Angeles, CA area
and in New York City, NY.

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      4.    TERM. The term of Employee's employment hereunder shall be deemed to
have commenced on the date hereof and shall continue through December 31, 2008
(the "TERM"), unless terminated sooner as provided in Section 7 below. In the
event Employee continues in the employ of the Company after December 31, 2008,
such employment shall be solely on an at-will basis. Accordingly, after December
31, 2008, Employee may resign or the Company may terminate Employee with or
without Cause (as defined herein) and with or without advance notice. During any
such period of at-will employment, Employee will be paid at the monthly base
salary rate for the last regular pay period of the scheduled Term.

      5.    COMPENSATION. For all services to be rendered by Employee hereunder,
Employee shall be paid by the Company the amounts set forth in this Section 5.
Employee shall not be entitled to additional compensation for performing any
services consistent with his duties hereunder for any Subsidiary of the Company.

            (a)   Base Salary. During the Term, the Company shall pay Employee a
base salary at the annual rate of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($350,000) (the "BASE SALARY"), payable in accordance with the Company's
standard payment schedule for executive employees.

            (b)   Bonuses. Employee shall be eligible to receive the following
bonuses:

                  (i) Discretionary Bonus. Employee shall be eligible to receive
a discretionary bonus of up to 100% of Base Salary with respect to each fiscal
year of the Term, pro-rated for any portion thereof. The amount of such
discretionary bonus, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee
of the Board or, if none, the Board (the "COMMITTEE").

                  (ii) Formula Bonus. Employee shall be entitled to receive a
formula bonus (as more fully described on Schedule 5(b)) with respect to each
fiscal year of the Term in an amount equal to the maximum amount that the
Company could pay to Employee during the applicable fiscal year without causing
the Company to either (A) have negative, or increased negative, earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in such fiscal year, or (B)
violate any financial covenants made in favor of the Company's lenders.

            (c)   Stock Option. Within 10 days following execution of this
Agreement, the Company shall grant Employee an option to acquire shares of the
Company's Common Stock (the "STOCK OPTION") which options shall vest in
accordance with the formula set forth on Schedule 5(c).

      Amounts payable to Employee pursuant to this Section 5 shall be subject to
required withholdings and shall be pro-rated for partial years. Employee hereby
acknowledges and agrees that he shall not be eligible to participate in any
employee bonus plans of the Company other than as may be provided for in this
Agreement.

      6.    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS; REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES.

            (a)   Participation in Employee Benefit Plans. Employee shall be
entitled to participate in such Company retirement, profit sharing and pension
plans and life and other

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<PAGE>

insurance programs, as well as other benefit programs, as are available to other
senior executive employees of the Company, subject to the terms of those plans
and programs; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to institute or maintain any
particular benefit or insurance program or plan or aspect thereof.

            (b) Car Allowance. Employee shall be entitled to a car allowance at
the rate of $800 a month.

            (c) Vacation. Employee shall be entitled to not less than four (4)
weeks vacation during each year of the Term hereof to be scheduled at mutually
agreeable times and accrued and taken in accordance with Company policy.
Employee may not accrue more than a maximum of forty (40) days of unused
vacation time and, accordingly, vacation time will cease to accrue during any
period in which Employee has forty (40) days of accrued vacation time.

            (d) Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company agrees to reimburse
Employee for all reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
Employee during his employment in performing of services for the Company,
including but not limited to expenses for business-related travel, hotel, meals,
telephone calls and entertainment. As a condition to the reimbursement of such
expenses by the Company to Employee, Employee shall provide the Company with
copies of invoices, receipts or other satisfactory documentation in sufficient
detail to allow the Company to confirm the business nature of the expenses and
to claim an income tax deduction for such paid items, if such items are
deductible. The obligations of the Company to make the reimbursements specified
hereunder for expenses accrued prior to the effective date of termination of
employment shall survive any termination of the Term.

      7.    TERMINATION. Employee and the Company hereby agree and acknowledge
that the Company shall have the right to terminate Employee's employment for any
reason whatsoever; provided, however, that if the Company terminates Employee's
employment other than pursuant to Sections 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) below, it shall be
obligated to make the payment described in Section 7(f)(ii) below, and the stock
options theretofore granted to Employee shall be subject to accelerated vesting
(as more fully described below).

            (a) Disability. The Company may terminate Employee's employment
hereunder after the occurrence, and during the continuance, of any Disability of
Employee, upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to Employee. For purposes
of this Agreement, "DISABILITY" means Employee's incapacity to perform
substantially all of his then current duties as required hereunder for one
hundred eighty (180) days or more within any period of three hundred sixty-five
(365) consecutive days because of mental or physical condition, illness or
injury, consistent with applicable state and federal law. In the event of any
dispute regarding the existence of Employee's Disability, the matter shall be
resolved by the determination of a physician qualified to practice medicine in
the State of California, selected by the Company and reasonably approved by
Employee. For this purpose, Employee will submit to appropriate medical
examinations.

            (b) Cause. The Company may terminate Employee's employment hereunder
for Cause. For the purposes of this Agreement, "CAUSE" shall mean Employee shall
have (i)

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been convicted of, or pleaded nolo contendere to, any felony or lesser crime
involving fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation of the property of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) engaged in gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the performance of Employee's duties hereunder that has resulted
in material injury to the Company; (iii) materially and willfully breached any
material provision hereof; or (iv) misappropriated for his own purpose and
benefit any material property of Company or any Subsidiary or misappropriated
for his own purpose and benefit, in violation of his fiduciary obligation to the
Company, any material opportunity of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, none of the events or
circumstances described in clauses (ii), (iii) or (iv) above shall constitute
"Cause" for purposes of this Agreement unless the Company gives Employee written
notice delineating the claimed event or circumstance and setting forth the
Company's intention to terminate Employee's employment if such claimed event or
circumstance is not capable of remedy or is not duly remedied within thirty (30)
days following such notice, if capable of remedy, and Employee fails to remedy
such event or circumstance within such thirty (30)-day period.

            (c) Death. The employment of Employee hereunder shall be
automatically terminated on the date of Employee's death.

            (d) Good Reason. Employee may terminate his employment hereunder
forthwith at any time for Good Reason upon written notice to the Company. For
purposes of this Agreement, "GOOD REASON" shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following: (i) a material and substantial reduction in Employee's title,
responsibilities or duties (including, but not limited to, any such reduction
following a change in control of the Company); (ii) a reassignment of Employee
to a geographic location in excess of thirty-five (35) miles from the Company's
current principal offices; or (iii) a material breach by the Company of any of
its obligations to Employee hereunder, including, but not limited to, the
Company's failure to timely make any payment due to Employee hereunder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, none of the foregoing
events or circumstances shall constitute "Good Reason" for purposes of this
Agreement unless Employee gives the Company written notice delineating the
claimed event or circumstance and setting forth Employee's intention to
terminate his employment if such claimed event or circumstance is not capable of
remedy or is not duly remedied within a reasonable period following such notice
(not to exceed thirty (30) days), if capable of remedy, and the Company fails to
remedy such event or circumstance within such reasonable period.

            (e) Company's Obligations upon Termination. If Employee's employment
is terminated pursuant to this Section 7, Employee shall be entitled to, and the
Company's obligation hereunder shall be limited to: (i) the payment of any
unpaid compensation accrued under Section 5(a) above through the effective date
of such termination; (ii) any unreimbursed expenses incurred, and other accrued
employee benefits (as described above) accrued, through the date of termination;
(iii) retain any stock options that are vested pursuant to and in accordance
with the terms of any stock option plan or agreement under which such stock
options were granted by the Company to Employee; and (iv) the additional
compensation provided in Section 7(f) below, if any.

            (f) If Employee's employment is terminated:

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                  (i) by the Company pursuant to Section 7(a) above, Employee
will receive the benefit of any Company disability plans; or

                  (ii) (A) by the Company other than pursuant to Sections 7(a),
7(b) or 7(c) above, or (B) by Employee pursuant to Section 7(d) above, the
Company shall pay Employee the Severance Amount as hereinafter defined, less
required withholdings, in twelve (12) equal semi-monthly installments over the
six (6) month period immediately following such termination. The "SEVERANCE
AMOUNT" shall mean the sum of (a) one (1) year worth of Base Salary, and (b) the
Performance Bonus due for the year in which the termination occurs. Furthermore,
all stock options granted to Employee on or prior June 30, 2005 shall be deemed
fully "vested" and otherwise exercisable in accordance with their terms and,
with respect to any stock options granted after June 30, 2005 (the "NEW
OPTIONS"), all Time Vesting Options (as set forth in Schedule 5(c)) shall be
deemed fully vested and otherwise exercisable in accordance with their terms.
The parties hereto agree that the consideration set forth in Section 7(e) above
and this Section 7(f)(ii) constitutes fair compensation and the sole remedy for
damages for any termination by the Company other than pursuant to Sections 7(a),
7(b) or 7(c) above, or by Employee pursuant to Section 7(d) above.

            (g)   None of the payments provided for in Sections 7(e) or 7(f)
shall be reduced by any amounts earned or received by Employee from any third
party at any time.

            (h)   Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed a release or waiver
of right to any medical or other employee benefits available to Employee on or
after the effective date of termination of the executive's employment by the
Company under any federal, state or local law that provides for the continuation
of any medical or other employee benefits after employment.

      8.    RIGHTS TO WORKS. In return for the consideration described herein,
Employee agrees as follows:

            (a)   All inventions, trade secrets, ideas, recordings, original
works of authorship or other work product of any kind that Employee conceives,
develops, discovers or makes in whole or in part pursuant to this Agreement or
in the scope of Employee's employment and Employee's contributions thereto
(hereinafter referred to as "WORKS") shall belong solely and exclusively to the
Company. The Company shall have the perpetual and exclusive right to use,
exhibit, distribute, or license throughout the universe, any Work or part
thereof in which Employee's services for the Company are utilized by all forms
of audio, visual, textual, digital, electronic or other distribution that are
now known or may hereafter exist, and otherwise exploit such Works in such
media, forums and for such uses throughout the universe as it deems appropriate;
provided, however, that no likeness or quote of Employee shall be used after the
Term without Employee's written consent. All revenues derived by the Company
from the use, exhibition, distribution, licensing, or other exploitation of such
Works shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company.

            (b)   To the extent that the Works are considered: (i) contributions
to collective works and/or (ii) as parts or components of audiovisual works, the
parties hereby expressly agree that the Works shall be considered "works made
for hire" under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, as amended (17 U.S.C.
Section 101 et seq.). In accordance therewith, the sole right of

                                      -5-
<PAGE>

copyright in and to the Works shall belong exclusively to the Company in
perpetuity. To the extent that the Works are deemed works other than
contributions to collective works and/or parts or components of audiovisual
works, Employee hereby irrevocably assigns and transfers to the Company to the
maximum extent permitted by law all right, title and interest in the Works,
including but not limited to all copyrights, patents, trade secret rights, and
other proprietary rights in or relating to the Works. At the Company's
reasonable written request and sole expense, Employee shall execute, verify,
acknowledge, deliver and file any and all formal assignments, recordations and
any and all other documents that the Company may prepare and reasonably call for
to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement. If Employee fails to execute
any such document or instrument, or perform any such act, within ten (10)
business days, Employee shall be deemed to have irrevocably constituted and
appointed the Company, with full power of substitution, to be Employee's true
and lawful attorney, in Employee's name, place, and stead, to execute,
acknowledge, swear to, and file all instruments, conveyances, certificates,
agreements, and other documents, and to take any action which may be necessary
or appropriate to effect the provisions of this Section 8. The powers of
attorney granted herein shall be deemed to be coupled with an interest and shall
be irrevocable.

            (c) It is understood that the rights granted to the Company in this
Section 8 shall continue in effect after the termination or expiration of this
Agreement to the extent necessary for the Company's full enjoyment of such
rights.

            (d) All provisions of this Agreement relating to the assignment by
Employee of any invention or innovation are subject to the provisions of
California Labor Code Sections 2870, 2871 and 2872. In accordance with Section
2870 of the California Labor Code, the obligation to assign as provided in this
Agreement does not apply to an invention or innovation that Employee developed
entirely on his own time without using the Company's equipment, supplies,
facilities, or trade secret information except for those inventions that either:
(i) relate to either (A) the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
at the time of conception or reduction to practice of the invention, or (B)
actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) result from any work performed by Employee for the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. A copy of California Labor Code Sections
2870, 2871 and 2872 is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1.

            (e) Employee shall disclose all inventions and innovations to the
Company, even if Employee does not believe that he or she is required under this
Agreement, or pursuant to California Labor Code Section 2870, to assign his
interest in such invention or innovation to the Company. If the Company and
Employee disagree as to whether or not an invention or innovation is included
within the terms of this Agreement, it will be the responsibility of Employee to
prove that it is not included.

      9.    RESTRICTIONS. In recognition of the considerations described herein,
Employee agrees that:

            (a) Without limiting the generality of Section 2 above, Employee
acknowledges and agrees that given the extent and nature of the confidential and
proprietary information he will obtain during the course of his employment with
the Company, it would be inevitable that such confidential information would be
disclosed or utilized by Employee should

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

he obtain employment from or otherwise become associated with any person or
entity engaged in any activity directly competitive with any business then
carried on by, or anticipated to be carried on by, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (a "COMPETITOR"). Consequently, prior to the termination of
Employee's services under this Agreement, Employee shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly, own, manage, operate,
join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control
of, or be employed by or connected in any manner with, any Competitor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee may acquire or hold, solely for
investment, publicly traded securities of any corporation, so long as such
securities, in the aggregate, constitute less than five percent (5%) of any
class or series of outstanding securities of such corporation.

            (b) During the term of Employee's employment and at all times
thereafter, Employee shall hold in secrecy all trade secrets and confidential
information relating to the Company's (and its Subsidiaries') business and
affairs that come to his knowledge while employed by the Company (excluding
information that is or becomes publicly known or available for use through no
fault of Employee), including but not limited to: (i) matters of a business
nature, such as information about costs, profits, markets, sales, lists of
customers, lists of clients and other information of a similar nature, (ii)
plans or strategies for development of the business of the Company and (iii)
matters of a technical nature. Except as required in the performance of
Employee's duties to the Company under this Agreement, Employee shall not use
for his own benefit or disclose to any person (except as required by law or
legal process, provided Employee shall undertake to give the Company notice
prior to such disclosure and shall comply with any applicable protective order
or equivalent), directly or indirectly, such matters unless such use or
disclosure has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in
advance.

            (c) Until termination of Employee's services under this Agreement
and for a period of one (1) year thereafter, Employee shall not, directly or
indirectly, hire, offer to hire, entice away, or in any other manner persuade or
attempt to persuade any officer, employee, agent, representative, customer,
client, performer or songwriter of the Company or any Subsidiaries, to
discontinue his or her relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company. This provision shall not apply, however, after termination of
Employee's services if his employment is terminated by the Company other than
pursuant to Sections 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c) above or if Employee's employment is
terminated by Employee pursuant to Section 7(d) above.

      10.   EMPLOYEE'S REPRESENTATIONS. Employee hereby represents and warrants
that: (a) he has the right to enter into this Agreement and to grant the rights
granted by him herein, (b) the provisions of this Agreement do not violate any
other contracts or agreements to which he is a party and that would adversely
affect his ability to perform his obligations hereunder, and (c) he will comply
with all policies of the Company of which he has notice, provided they are
consistent with applicable laws.

      11.   THE COMPANY'S REPRESENTATIONS. The Company hereby represents and
warrants that: (a) it has the right, power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to incur the obligations incurred by it herein, (b) this Agreement
has been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and (c) the provisions of
this Agreement do not violate any other contracts or

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

agreements to which it is a party that would adversely affect its ability to
perform its obligations hereunder.

      12. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the internal substantive laws (and not the laws of
choice of laws) of the State of California.

      13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement constitutes the whole agreement of
the parties hereto in reference to any employment of Employee by the Company and
in reference to the subject matter hereof, and all prior agreements, promises,
representations and understandings relative thereto are merged herein.

      14. ASSIGNABILITY. The services to be performed by Employee hereunder are
personal in nature and, accordingly, Employee may not, without the prior express
written consent of Company in each instance, assign or transfer this Agreement
or any rights or obligations hereunder. Nothing expressed or implied herein is
intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, other than
the parties hereto, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement or of any term, covenant or condition hereof.

      15. NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Nothing expressed or implied herein is
intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, other than
the parties hereto, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement or of any term, covenant or condition hereof.

      16. REMEDIES. Any material breach or violation by Employee of the terms of
Section 8 or 9 above would result in immediate and irreparable injury and harm
to the Company, and would cause damage to the Company in amounts difficult to
ascertain and for which the Company's remedies and defenses at law would be
inadequate. Accordingly, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach,
the Company shall be entitled to, and Employee hereby consents to the entry of,
the remedy of injunction, without any requirement that the Company post a bond,
as well as all other remedies to which the Company may be entitled, at law, in
equity or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee shall be entitled
to dispute the factual basis of any breach asserted by the Company.

      17. COVENANTS REASONABLE AS TO TIME AND TERRITORY. Employee and the
Company have considered carefully the nature and extent of the restrictions set
forth in this Agreement and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Company
under this Agreement, and hereby acknowledge and agree that: (i) such
restrictions are reasonable in time and territory; and (ii) the consideration
provided and to be provided to Employee is sufficient to compensate Employee for
such restrictions.

      18. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS. This Agreement may be amended, modified,
superseded, canceled, renewed or extended and the terms or covenants hereof may
be waived only by a written instrument executed by the parties hereto or, in the
case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of any party at
any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no
manner affect the right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by any
party of the breach of any term or provision contained in this Agreement,
whether

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or
construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a waiver of
the breach of any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement.

      19. NOTICES. All notices, consents, requests and other communications
hereunder shall be in writing and, if given by personal delivery, shall be
deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered upon actual delivery and,
if mailed or delivered by overnight courier, shall be deemed to have been
validly served, given or delivered when deposited in the United States mail, as
registered or certified mail, with proper postage prepaid, or when deposited
with the courier service, and addressed to the party or parties to be notified,
at the following addresses (or such other addresses) as a party may designate
for itself by like notice):

      If to Employee:      Jon Diamond

      With a copy to:      Proskauer Rose LLP
                           1585 Broadway, 22nd Floor
                           New York, NY 10036
                           Attention: Bert Abrams, Esq.

      If to the Company:   ARTISTdirect, Inc.
                           10900 Wilshire Boulevard
                           Suite 1400
                           Los Angeles, CA 90024
                           Attention: Chairman

      With copies to:      VP of Business and Legal Affairs

                           and

                           Lenard, Brisbin & Klotz LLP
                           1100 Glendon Avenue
                           Suite 1650
                           Los Angeles, CA 90024
                           Attention: Allen D. Lenard, Esq.

      20. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective
only to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating
or affecting the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or
unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render
unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent that a
restrictive covenant contained herein may, at any time, be more restrictive than
permitted under the laws of any jurisdiction where this Agreement may be subject
to review and interpretation, the terms of such restrictive covenant shall be
those allowed by law and the covenant shall be deemed to have been revised
accordingly. Each and every term of this Agreement shall be enforced to the
fullest extent permitted by law.

      21. SECTION HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are used solely for
convenience and shall not be used in the interpretation or construction of this
Agreement.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

      22. COUNTERPARTS; FACSIMILE. This Agreement may be executed in two (2)
counterparts and by facsimile, each of which shall be deemed an original and
both of which together shall be deemed one (1) Agreement.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.

"EMPLOYEE"                                   "COMPANY"

JON DIAMOND                                  ARTISTDIRECT, INC.

/s/ Jon Diamond                              By:     /s/ Frederick W. Field
---------------------------                      -----------------------------
Jon Diamond                                      Frederick W. Field
                                             Its: Chairman

                                      -11-
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 1

               CALIFORNIA LABOR CODE SECTIONS 2870, 2871 AND 2872

SECTION 2870

            (a)   Any provision in an employment agreement which provides that
an employee shall assign, or offer to assign, any of his or her rights in an
invention to his or her employer shall not apply to an invention that the
employee developed entirely on his or her own time without using the employer's
equipment, supplies, facilities, or trade secret information except for those
inventions that either:

                  (i) Relate at the time of conception or reduction to practice
of the invention to the employer's business, or actual or demonstrably
anticipated research or development of the employer; or

                  (ii) Result from any work performed by the employee for the
employer.

            (b)   To the extent a provision in an employment agreement purports
to require an employee to assign an invention otherwise excluded from being
required to be assigned under subdivision (a), the provision is against the
public policy of this state and is unenforceable.

SECTION 2871

No employer shall require a provision made void and unenforceable by Section
2870 as a condition of employment or continued employment. Nothing in this
article shall be construed to forbid or restrict the right of an employer to
provide in contracts of employment for disclosure, provided that any such
disclosures be received in confidence, of all of the employee's inventions made
solely or jointly with others during the term of his or her employment, a review
process by the employer to determine such issues as may arise, and for full
title to certain patents and inventions to be in the United States, as required
by contracts between the employer and the United States or any of its agencies.

SECTION 2872

If an employment agreement entered into after January 1, 1980, contains a
provision requiring the employee to assign or offer to assign any of his or her
rights in any invention to his or her employer, the employer must also, at the
time the agreement is made, provide a written notification to the employee that
the agreement does not apply to an invention which qualifies fully under the
provisions of Section 2870. In any suit or action arising thereunder, the burden
of proof shall be on the employee claiming the benefits of its provisions.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 5(b)

                                  BONUS FORMULA

      Employee shall be entitled to receive an annual performance bonus (the
"PERFORMANCE BONUS") of up to one hundred percent (100%) of Employee's Base
Salary upon achievement of the following financial milestones by the Company:

      (a) Threshold No. 1 EBITDA. If the Company achieves Threshold No. 1
EBITDA, Employee shall be entitled to a bonus amount equal to fifty percent
(50%) of Base Salary; and

      (b) Threshold No. 2 EBITDA. If the Company achieves Threshold No. 2
EBITDA, Employee shall be entitled to an additional bonus amount equal to fifty
percent (50%) of Base Salary.

      For purposes of this Schedule 5(b), the following definitions shall apply:

      "EBITDA" shall mean for the Company and its subsidiaries, an amount equal
to (a) the sum (without duplication) of (i) annual consolidated net income plus
(ii) to the extent deducted in determining annual consolidated net income, (A)
consolidated interest expenses, (B) income tax expenses, (C) depreciation and
amortization, (D) net losses on assets sales for such period and (E) other
non-cash charges for such period (excluding any such non-cash charge to the
extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any
future period) minus (b) to the extent included in determining annual
consolidated net income, (i) net gains on asset sales for such period, (ii)
other non-cash items increasing annual consolidated net income (excluding any
non-cash gains for such period resulting from the reversal of an accrual or
reduction or elimination of a reserve established in a prior period to the
extent the related non-cash charge was excluded in accordance with clause
(a)(ii)(E) above (and after taking any Performance Bonus earned by the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer). EBITDA shall be
calculated by the Company in accordance with GAAP, and on the basis of the year
end audited financial statements of the Company.

      "THRESHOLD NO. 1 EBITDA" shall mean an amount equal to (i) $9 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006, (ii) $12 million for the year ended December
31, 2007 and (iii) $15 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

      "THRESHOLD NO. 2 EBITDA" shall mean an amount equal to (i) $10.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006, (ii) $14.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 and (iii) $18.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.

      The Performance Bonus shall be payable not later than 120 days following
the end of each fiscal year of the Company; provided that the Company, in its
discretion and based upon interim financial results, may advance a portion of
the Performance Bonus that may become due for any particular fiscal year.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 5(c)

                                 VESTING FORMULA

      New Options granted pursuant to the Agreement shall vest in accordance
with the following schedules:

      (a)   Time Vesting Options. Fifty percent (50%) of New Options will vest
at the rate of 1/3 per year over a three (3) year period. Vesting will occur 1/3
on July 28, 2006 and the balance will vest in quarterly installments over the
following two (2) year period.

      (b)   Performance Vesting Options. Fifty percent (50%) of New Options will
vest on achievement of the following financial milestones by the Company:

            (i) Fifty percent (50%) of Performance Vesting Options upon the
Company reaching EBITDA of $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, $12
million for the year ended December 31, 2007 or $15 million for the year ended
December 31, 2008. One hundred percent (100%) of Performance Vesting Options
shall vest if EBITDA targets are satisfied in any two (2) of the three (3)
fiscal years referenced in the preceding sentence;

            (ii) One hundred percent (100%) of Performance Vesting Options will
vest upon the Company reaching EBITDA of $21 million in aggregate for the years
ended December 31, 2006 and 2007, $27 million in aggregate for the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2008 or $36 million in aggregate for the years ended
December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008;

            (iii) One hundred percent (100%) of Performance Vesting Options will
vest upon a sale, merger or other "change of control" transaction at or above a
price of $3.10 per share (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or the like), and in any transaction which the Company's
outstanding convertible subordinated debt (the "SUBORDINATED DEBT"), which was
issued pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement dated
as of July 28, 2005 entered into by and between the Company and the investors
indicated on the signature page thereto (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT"),
is redeemed in full together with payment in full of any applicable redemption
premium in accordance with the terms set forth in the Convertible Subordinated
Notes issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase
Agreement (collectively, the "SUBORDINATED NOTES"); or

            (iv) One hundred percent (100%) of any unvested Performance Vesting
Options will only be subject to three (3) year time vesting (which period will
begin on July 28, 2006), upon completion of a financing by the Company (in
either one or a series of related transactions) resulting in aggregate gross
proceeds of $20 million or more in which the Company issues equity at or above a
price of $3.10 per share (as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or the like).

      For purposes of this Schedule 5(c), "EBITDA" shall mean for the Company
and its subsidiaries, an amount equal to (a) the sum (without duplication) of
(i) annual consolidated net income plus (ii) to the extent deducted in
determining annual consolidated net income, (A) consolidated interest expenses,
(B) income tax expenses, (C) depreciation and amortization, (D)

                                      -14-
<PAGE>

net losses on assets sales for such period and (E) other non-cash charges for
such period (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents
an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period) minus (b)
to the extent included in determining annual consolidated net income, (i) net
gains on asset sales for such period, (ii) other non-cash items increasing
annual consolidated net income (excluding any non-cash gains for such period
resulting from the reversal of an accrual or reduction or elimination of a
reserve established in a prior period to the extent the related non-cash charge
was excluded in accordance with clause (a)(ii)(E) above (and after taking any
Performance Bonus earned by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief
Financial Officer). EBITDA shall be calculated by the Company in accordance with
GAAP, and on the basis of the year end audited financial statements of the
Company.

                                      -15-

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