Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.38

                                                                        12.10.99

                          STRATEGIC MARKETING AGREEMENT

         THIS STRATEGIC MARKETING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of
December 20, 1999, is being entered into by and between Warner Music Group Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("Group") and ARTISTdirect, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Company"), in light of the following:

         Whereas, as of the date hereof, Group (together with its Affiliates) is
a significant company in the music industry;

         Whereas, there are synergies between Group's business and that of
Company;

         Whereas, Time Warner Inc. (of which Group is an Affiliate) has become a
significant equity owner in Company, and

         Whereas, in connection with the foregoing, Group and Company deem it to
be in their respective best interests to set forth certain understandings
between them with respect to strategic marketing and other commitments which
each believes will advantage its business.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, mutual covenants and
obligations hereinafter set forth, Company and Group hereby agree as follows.

         1. Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:

                  (a) "Affiliate" of an entity shall mean another entity
controlled by, under common control with, or controlling such entity.

                  (b) "Commencement Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 2 below.

                  (c) "Company Contact Person" shall have the meaning set forth
in paragraph 4(c) below.

                  (d) "Group Artist" is a recording artist who is then subject
to an exclusive recording agreement with an Affiliate of Group.

                  (e) "Group Contact Person" shall have the meaning set forth in
paragraph 3(b) below.

                  (f) "Term" shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph 2
below.

         2. Term. The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall commence on the
date of this Agreement (the "Commencement Date") and end on the earlier of (i)
the second anniversary of the Commencement Date and (ii) the termination of the
Agreement pursuant to paragraph 6 below.

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         3. Group Obligations.

                  (a) Search Engine. Commencing with Group's new web
architecture, currently expected to be launched in mid-2000, Group shall make,
and cause its US-based Affiliates to make, the UBL.com search engine the
preferred non-commerce music search engine on the web sites of such Affiliates.
Such search engine shall be incorporated so as to permit vistors to such sites
to access the UBL.com's searchable database of bands, record labels, concerts,
tour information, ticket sales and such other information as may be part of such
database, and the search results shall appear on the Company's UBL.com site as
described in paragraph 4(b) below.

                  (b) Group Contact Person. Group shall promptly after the
execution hereof appoint (and shall maintain throughout the Term) one person to
be the primary contact person on behalf of Group and its Affiliates (the "Group
Contact Person"), which person may change from time to time as designated by
Group in its sole discretion. The Group Contact Person shall coordinate with the
Company Contact Person with respect to all operational and similar purposes
under this Agreement.

         4. Company Obligations.

                  (a) Site Links. During the Term, Company agrees that, with
respect to all searches relating to Group Artists by means of UBL.com's search
engine, Group and its Affiliates' websites relating to such artists shall be
listed first and shall otherwise be highlighted for maximum impact on the user.

                  (b) Certain Elements of Search Design. Company agrees that all
searches initiated from any of Group's or its Affiliates' websites shall result
in a new window which shall: (i) contain the search results of UBL.com hosted by
Company; (ii) contain a co-branded logo of either Group or its Affiliates, as
applicable and UBL.com's logos; (iii) contain ad banner(s) which shall be solely
controlled by Group or its Affiliates, as applicable and all income from which
shall belong to Group or its Affiliates, as applicable; and (iv) contain an
easily identifiable back path to Group or its Affiliates' webpage, as
applicable, from which such search was initiated. Company hereby warrants and
represents that Group and its Affiliates, as applicable, shall be able to update
the specific ads to be included among the ad banners referred to in the previous
sentence no less frequently than [***]* and that such banners shall be able to
"rotate" no less frequently than [***]*.

                  (c) Company Contact Person. Company shall promptly after the
execution hereof appoint (and shall maintain throughout the Term) one person to
be the primary contact person on behalf of Company and its Affiliates (the
"Company Contact Person"), which person may change from time to time as
designated by Company in its sole discretion. The Company Contact Person shall
coordinate with the Group Contact Person with respect to all operational and
similar purposes under this Agreement.

                  (d) [***]*

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* Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

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         5. Other Cross-Marketing and Promotion. References are made to the
Internet Video License Agreement, the Webcasting Transmission License Agreement
and the Audio Sample License Agreement, each between Group and Company and of
even date herewith. At the request of either party hereto, the parties shall
discuss in good faith entering into further arrangements on a case-by-case basis
for the licensing of other material owned or controlled by Group or an Affiliate
thereof and in connection with the specific promotions of Group Artists
conducted by Company or its Affiliates on the web sites operated by Company or
an Affiliate thereof.

         6. Termination for Breach. Without waiving any right or remedy
otherwise available to a party hereunder, either party hereto may terminate the
Term due to the material breach of this Agreement by the other party or its
Affiliates, subject to notice and a reasonable period to cure (not to exceed
thirty days), or on the occurrence of an insolvency event with respect to the
other party.

         7. Miscellaneous.

                  (a) Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be
signed in multiple counterparts. Each counterpart will be considered an
original, but all of them in the aggregate shall constitute one agreement. This
Agreement and any amendments hereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means
of a facsimile machine, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an
original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same
binding effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in
person.

                  (b) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may be assigned to
any Affiliate of the assigning party or to any person or entity who purchases
all of substantially all of the stock or assets of the assigning party, provided
that the assigning party shall remain primarily liable under this Agreement for
its obligations hereunder. In all other respects, this Agreement shall not be
assigned, in whole or in part, whether voluntarily or by operation of law,
without the consent of the other party hereto, and any such purported assignment
shall be deemed null and void and without force or effect.

                  (c) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the
parties as a final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a
complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the
parties hereto in respect of the subject matter hereof. This Agreement
supersedes all prior letters of intent, agreements and understandings between
the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  (d) Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only in a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

                  (e) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first class
mail or overnight courier, shall be deemed given on the date received, if
delivered by hand or courier, and four days after deposit into the United States
mail, if mailed, and shall be delivered to the addresses for notice indicated on
the signature pages hereof, or at such other addresses as a party may hereafter
designate by notice delivered pursuant to this paragraph 7(e).

                  (f) Relationship of the Parties. Notwithstanding any other
relationship between the parties hereto, or between or among them and their
respective Affiliates, nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute the parties
a partnership or joint venture.

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                  (g) Governing Law. This Agreement and all matters or issues
related thereto or arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State
of California without regard to the application of principles of conflicts of
laws.

                  (h) Headings and Examples. The headings in this Agreement are
for the convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect
the meaning hereof. Whenever examples are used in this Agreement with the words
"including," "for example," "e.g.," "such as," "etc." or any derivation thereof,
such examples are intended to be illustrative and not in limitation thereof.

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

ARTISTdirect, INC.                           WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

By: /s/ MARC P. GEIGER                       By: /s/ PAUL VIDICH
   ------------------------------               ---------------------------

       Marc P. Geiger                               Paul Vidich
       ARTISTdirect, Inc.                           Warner Music Group Inc.
       17835 Ventura Boulevard                      75 Rockefeller Plaza
       Suite 310                                    30th Floor
       Encino, CA 91316                             New York, New York 10019
       Attn: Chief Executive Officer

       With a copy to:                              With a copy to:

       Lenard & Gonzalez LLP                        Warner Music Group Inc.
       25th Floor                                   75 Rockefeller Plaza
       1900 Ave. Of the Stars                       30th Floor
       Los Angeles, CA 90067                        New York, New York 10019
       Attn: Allen D. Lenard                        Attn: EVP & General Counsel

                                       4<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.39

                          STRATEGIC MARKETING AGREEMENT

         THIS STRATEGIC MARKETING AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of the
first Closing Date under the Stock Purchase Agreement, 1999 by and between
Universal Music Group, Inc., a California corporation ("UMG") and ARTISTdirect,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

         Whereas, as of the date hereof, UMG (together with its Affiliates) is a
significant company in the music industry, and

         Whereas, there are synergies between UMG's business and that of the
Company, and

         Whereas, UMG (or one of its Affiliates) has become a significant equity
owner in the Company, and

         Whereas, in connection with the foregoing, UMG and the Company deem it
to be in their respective best interests to set forth certain understandings
between them with respect to strategic marketing and other commitments which
each believes will advantage its business.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
and obligations hereinafter set forth, the Company and UMG hereby agree as
follows.

         1. DEFINITIONS.

                  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings.

                  "Affiliate" of an entity shall mean another entity controlled
by, under common control with or controlling such entity.

                  "Availability Date" shall mean the date on which the UMG
Entity makes the relevant Content available to Company Entities, provided that
the Availability Date for any particular Content shall be no later than the
first date on which such Content is made available on a nonexclusive basis to
third parties. The parties acknowledge and agree that the Availability Date as
to any particular Content shall not occur if such Content is provided (i) only
to then-current Affiliates of UMG (including, without limitation, GetMusic LLC),
and/or (ii) exclusively as to any particular Content only to one or more third
parties prior to being made available generally to third parties (e.g., certain
Content may be provided to a third party providing special support to a
promotion or in connection with a third party specific promotion).

                  "Commencement Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2 hereof.

                  "Company Contact Person" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.E. hereof.

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                  "Company Entities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.A. hereof.

                  "Company Term Minimum Commitment" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 4.D. hereof.

                  "Company Yearly Minimum Commitment" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 4.D. hereof.

                  "Complying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.B. hereof.

                  "Content" shall mean music and music related content (i) made
available on a non-exclusive basis for marketing and promotional purposes by
labels to third parties (e.g., materials related to new artists and new
releases, music videos, music audio samples, cybercasts, photographs, album
covers, concert film clips, biographical information, promotional merchandise
and similar materials), or (ii) designated by a UMG Entity, in its sole
discretion, as Content for the purposes of this Agreement.

                  "Derived Analyses" shall mean analyses based upon or related
to data generated from web sites, if any, which analyses are created by or for a
UMG Entity or a Company Entity during the Term, (i) in the case of a UMG Entity,
primarily through the analysis of Other Data, and (ii) in the case of a Company
Entity, (A) primarily through the analysis of Other Data, or (B) provided by a
Company Entity to any unaffiliated third party, or (C) related solely to UMG
Data. Derived Analyses shall not include any individual level data (i.e. data
which would permit an entity to identify a single consumer by his or her name or
e-mail address).

                  "Generally Available Content" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3.A.i. hereof.

                  "Marketing Support" shall mean (i) advertising space, (ii)
marketing services, (iii) promotional products or services, (iv) Other Data or
Derived Analyses, and (v) other marketing or promotional products or services.

                  "Noncomplying Party" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.B. hereof.

                  "Other Data" shall mean any and all data owned or controlled
by a Company Entity and made available by a Company Entity to any unaffiliated
third party (other than (i) UMG Data, (ii) data owned by an unaffiliated third
party, and (iii) data as to a particular web site made available solely to the
person or entity controlling the rights to substantially all the content on
such web site (e.g., an artist, such artist's label or a branding entity
(e.g. [***]*))). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Other Data shall not include any
data which cannot be provided to UMG without such artists' or branding entity's
consent (unless such consent has been obtained) or consumer consent.

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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                  "Set-Off Right" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.A. hereof.

                  "Special Content" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.A.ii. hereof.

                  "Term" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2 hereof.

                  "Term Minimum Commitment" shall mean the UMG Term Minimum
Commitment or the Company Term Minimum Commitment, as applicable.

                  "Term Year" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.B.
hereof.

                  "Third Party Payments" shall mean any payments required by
contract or law to a person or entity other than UMG or one of its Affiliates.
For purposes of clarity, a payment made to UMG or one of its Affiliates in its
capacity as an agent of a third party shall be a Third Party Payment (e.g., a
payment made to a UMG Affiliate which is a music publishing company for the
benefit of an artist shall be a Third Party Payment hereunder).

                  "True Up Payment" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5.B. hereof.

                  "UMG Affiliates" shall mean UMG and its Affiliates including,
without limitation, the UMG Entities.

                  "UMG Artist Site" shall mean any web site (whether or not
located on the World Wide Web) owned or operated by a Company Entity that (i)
uses the name of, or predominantly features one or more artists under contract
to a UMG Entity, and (ii) Company Entity institutes, operates or continues to
operate during the Term at least in material part as the result of the efforts
of one or more UMG Entities, including through an introduction or recommendation
by a UMG Affiliate to such artist (or such artist's management), or other
arrangement entered into between a UMG Affiliate and such artist. For purposes
of clarity, web sites existing or in development pursuant to an agreement
existing as of the Commencement Date shall not be UMG Artist Sites unless and
until the agreement or other arrangement pursuant to which the relevant Company
Entity acquired the rights to institute or operate such web site would have
expired or terminated but for the material contributing efforts of a UMG
Affiliate in causing the relevant artist to continue such site (whether on the
same or different terms). [***]*

                  "UMG Contact Person" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.D. hereof.

                  "UMG Data" shall mean any and all data collected by a Company
Entity [***]* Notwithstanding the foregoing, UMG Data shall not include any data
which cannot be provided to UMG without artists' consent (unless such consent
has been obtained) or consumer consent.

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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                  "UMG Entities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.A. hereof.

                  "UMG Term Minimum Commitment" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 3.B. hereof.

                  "UMG Yearly Minimum Commitment" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 3.B. hereof.

                  "Yearly Compliance Notice" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 5.B. hereof.

                  "Yearly Minimum Commitment" shall mean the UMG Yearly Minimum
Commitment or the Company Yearly Minimum Commitment, as applicable.

         2. TERM.

                  The "Term" of this Agreement shall commence on the date first
set forth above (the "Commencement Date") and end on the earlier of: (i) the
third anniversary of the Commencement Date and (ii) the termination of the
Agreement pursuant to Section 6.A. hereof.

         3. UMG OBLIGATIONS.

                  A. Availability of Content. During the Term, UMG shall, and
shall cause those entities over which it exercises actual control regularly to
(UMG and such entities, for the period that such actual control exists,
collectively and individually the "UMG Entities"), make Content available to the
Company at the times and on the terms as set forth herein.

                           i. Generally Available Content. "Generally Available
Content" is Content which the UMG Entities make available to unaffiliated third
parties for use on web sites. The UMG Entities shall regularly provide to the
Company the right to use Generally Available Content, and may provide additional
Content on a non-exclusive basis, all of which may be used by Company solely on
one or more web sites owned by Company Entities and web sites operated by the
Company as part of a joint venture in which the Company owns fifty percent (50%)
or more of the economic interest, and solely for the promotion and marketing of
UMG Entity artists (it being understood and agreed that the Company Entities
acquire no right, title or interest in such Content other than the same rights
to use such Content generally provided by the relevant UMG Entity to other
unaffiliated web sites) and shall be provided by the relevant UMG Entity on the
Availability Date for such Content. [***]*

                           ii. Special Content. "Special Content" is content
which the UMG Entities make available only to one or more Company Entities, or
only to one or more Company Entities and a limited number of other unaffiliated
third parties. The UMG Entities shall

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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regularly provide to the Company Entities the right to license Special Content
(i) for an exclusive period prior to the Availability Date, or (ii) exclusively,
or (iii) on a limited non-exclusive basis (i.e., such Special Content shall be
available for some period of time only to the Company Entities and a limited
number of other third parties). The parties acknowledge and agree that Special
Content may be made available only on the payment by the Company Entities of a
(x) license or similar fee, or (y) in return for the cost of developing and
creating such Special Content, or (z) on payment of the UMG Entities costs for
such Special Content. All financial terms and other terms and conditions
applicable to any particular Special Content shall be negotiated in good faith
by the parties, [***]* Examples of Special Content might be instances where a
UMG Entity has the right to license or provide: (A) a cybercast, made available
first and exclusively to the Company for a limited period of time or a limited
number of broadcasts, and for which Company would pay a fee and any required
Third Party Payments; (B) an exclusive chat with a UMG artist on terms which may
or may not include a fee; and (C) prizes or promotional items provided at the
UMG Entities' cost. The UMG Entities, collectively, shall in each Term Year
offer sufficient Special Content to the Company Entities so that the Company
Entities could, if they choose to license such Special Content, meet the Company
Yearly Minimum Commitment and assuming the Agreement is not terminated pursuant
to Section 6.A.(ii), the Company Term Minimum Commitment.

                           iii. For purposes of clarity, the UMG Entities'
obligation hereunder is to make Content available to the Company; subject to
Section 4.D. hereof, the Company shall have no obligation to license, acquire or
use such Content. On each license or purchase by a Company Entity of Content
(i.e., where a Company Entity will be required to pay for such Content), the
parties shall promptly memorialize the financial and all other terms applicable
to such purchase and promptly provide a copy of such memorialization to each of
the Company Contact Person and the UMG Contact Person (it being acknowledged and
agreed that failure so to provide such a copy shall not invalidate or otherwise
affect such license or purchase or the terms applicable thereto).

                  B. Minimum Purchase Commitment. Subject to the further terms
and provisions of this Agreement, (i) in each twelve month period commencing on
the Commencement Date or the first or second anniversary thereof and ending on
the day immediately preceding the next such anniversary of the Commencement Date
(each such period, a "Term Year"), UMG and its Affiliates shall purchase, in the
aggregate, not less than [***]* of Marketing Support from the Company Entities
(the "UMG Yearly Minimum Commitment"), and (ii) during the Term, the UMG
Affiliates shall purchase not less than [***]* of Marketing Support from the
Company Entities (the "UMG Term Minimum Commitment"). If, as a result of a
termination of the Agreement by UMG pursuant to Section 6.A. hereof the Term of
this Agreement terminates prior to the third anniversary of the Commencement
Date, the obligations under this Section 3.B. shall be pro rated to take into
account such early termination.

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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                  C. Derived Analyses. Each UMG Entity shall promptly after its
completion make each Derived Analysis available to the Company, at no charge,
provided the Company shall not transfer, assign, sell or disclose such Derived
Analyses to any unaffiliated third party without UMG's consent, provided a
Derived Analysis related to a particular artist or entity controlling the rights
to substantially all the content underlying such Derived Analysis may be made
available (without rights to further assign, sell or disclose) to the applicable
artist or entity. The parties shall hereafter agree on the form and media in
which such Derived Analyses shall be provided to the Company.

                  D. Contact Person. The UMG Entities, collectively, shall
promptly hereafter appoint (and shall maintain throughout the Term) at least one
person to be the primary contact person (the "UMG Contact Person") who shall
coordinate with the Company Contact Person with respect to all operational and
similar purposes under this Agreement, which person may change from time to time
as designated by UMG in its sole discretion.

         4. COMPANY OBLIGATIONS.

                  A. Availability of Marketing Support. During the Term and
subject to the further provisions of this Section 4, the Company shall, and
shall cause entities over which it exercises actual control to (the Company and
such entities, collectively and individually, the "Company Entities"), make any
Marketing Support the Company Entities make available to third parties available
to the UMG Affiliates, [***].* For purposes of clarity, the Company Entities'
obligation hereunder is to make Marketing Support available to UMG Affiliates;
subject to Section 3.B. hereof, the UMG Affiliates shall have no obligation to
acquire or use any particular Marketing Support product or service. The parties
shall promptly memorialize the financial and all other terms applicable to the
provision of such marketing support and promptly provide a copy of such
memorialization to each of the UMG Contact Person and the Company Contact Person
(it being acknowledged and agreed that the failure so to provide such a copy
shall not invalidate or otherwise affect such transaction or the terms
applicable thereto).

                  B. Provision of UMG Data. The Company shall, and shall cause
each Company Entity to provide to UMG copies of all UMG Data from time to time
as requested by UMG, but not less frequently than monthly. The parties shall
hereafter agree on the form and media in which such data shall be provided to
UMG, it being understood and agreed that UMG shall be entitled to the UMG Data
in digital format, and that the Company shall reasonably cooperate with UMG in
creating data collection fields for UMG Artist Sites. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the parties acknowledge and agree that the provision of UMG Data to
UMG may be subject to artist consent.

                  C. Provision of Other Data, Derived Analyses. During the Term,
the Company shall, and shall cause each Company Entity to, notify UMG promptly
after the date on which such Company Entity makes any Other Data or Derived
Analyses available to any unaffiliated third party, identifying in reasonable
detail: (i) the nature of such Other Data or

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Derived Analyses, and (ii) the financial and other terms applicable to such
Other Data or Derived Analyses [***.]* Notwithstanding anything contained in
this Agreement to the contrary, no Company Entity shall be obligated under this
Agreement to provide any UMG Entity with any data (x) if the artist has the
right to approve the dissemination of such data to a UMG Entity and has not give
such approval, (y) subject to Section 4.F. hereof, the dissemination of such
data would violate the privacy policy of the applicable Company Entity, or (z)
the dissemination of such data would violate any law, statute or regulation then
in effect including if applicable The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
and any regulation promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission or any other
governmental entity (whether United States or foreign) and, in the case of (y)
and (z), such data is not being provided to other unaffiliated third parties.
Without the relevant Company Entity's prior written consent, or as permitted by
the terms applicable to such Other Data or Derived Analyses consistent with
clause (ii)(b) of the first sentence of this Section 4.C., UMG shall not be
entitled to transfer, assign, sell or disclose such Other Data or Derived
Analyses other than to UMG Entities, and shall (and shall permit the UMG
Entities to) use such Other Data or Derived Analyses solely for internal
marketing research and analysis. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, Other Data or a Derived Analysis related to a particular artist may be
made available (without rights to further assign, sell or disclose) to the
applicable artist.

                  D. Minimum Purchase Commitment. Subject to the further terms
and provisions of this Agreement, (i) in each Term Year the Company Entities
shall purchase, in the aggregate, not less than [***]* of Content from the UMG
Entities (the "Company Yearly Minimum Commitment"), and (ii) during the Term,
the Company Entities shall purchase not less than [***]* of Content from the UMG
Entities (the "Company Term Minimum Commitment"). If as a result of a
termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 6.A. hereof the
Term of this Agreement terminates prior to the third anniversary of the
Commencement Date, the obligations under this Section 4.D. shall be pro rated to
take into account such early termination.

                  E. Contact Person. The Company Entities, collectively, shall
promptly hereafter appoint (and shall maintain throughout the Term) at least one
person to be the primary contact person (the "Company Contact Person") to
coordinate with the UMG Contact Person with respect to operational and similar
purposes under this Agreement, which person may change from time to time as
designated by the Company in its sole discretion.

                  F. Efforts to Obtain Consents; Anti-Discrimination. The
Company Entities shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to seek and
obtain each and every consent, waiver, agreement or other action necessary to
afford UMG the rights to data set forth in this Section 4, including, without
limitation, artists' and consumer consents. The Company and UMG shall consult
with one another as to the actions to be taken to obtain necessary consents, and
the Company shall promptly notify UMG if it has been unable to obtain an artist
consent necessary to afford UMG the rights set forth in this Section 4.

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*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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[***]*

         5. SET-OFF AND TERM YEAR PAYMENTS.

                  A. Set-Off Right. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement to the contrary, the Company Entities shall be entitled to set-off all
amounts owed by them to any UMG Entity under this Agreement against all amounts
owed to any of them by any UMG Affiliate under this Agreement, and the UMG
Affiliates shall be entitled to set-off all amounts owed by them to any Company
Entity under this Agreement against all amounts owed to any of them by any
Company Entity under this Agreement (the "Set-Off Right"). Not later than 30
days after the end of each Term Year, each of UMG and the Company shall provide
to the other a schedule listing in sufficient detail to identify the
transaction, all purchases made by an entity from the other and for which UMG or
the Company, as the case may be, can and will set-off under this Agreement.

                  B. True Up Payments. Due to the availability of the Set-Off
Right, the parties acknowledge and agree that no payments shall be due from one
to the other hereunder with respect to any Term Year unless (i) at the end of
such Term Year, only one of UMG or the Company has met its Yearly Minimum
Commitment, and (ii) the entity meeting its Yearly Minimum Commitment (the
"Complying Party") notifies the other, within forty-five days of the end of such
Term Year that the Complying Party has met its Yearly Minimum Commitment, and
that the other party (the "Noncomplying Party") has not, demands that the
Noncomplying Party meet its Yearly Minimum Commitment for such Term Year, and
specifies the amount of the Yearly Minimum Commitment outstanding at the end of
the relevant Term Year (such notice, the "Yearly Compliance Notice"). If the
Noncomplying Party has not, within 60 days of such Yearly Compliance Notice (the
"Extension Period") purchased such amount of Marketing Support or Content, as
applicable, within such Extension Period as would (when aggregated whether with
the purchases made during the applicable Term Year) meet its Yearly Minimum
Commitment, it shall, not later than the 60th day after such Yearly Compliance
Notice pay such amount of the Yearly Minimum Commitment (the "True Up Payment")
which remains unmet as of the end of such 60 day period, in cash, to the
Complying Party. Purchases of Marketing Support or Content, as applicable, made
in the Extension Period after a Yearly Compliance notice and included in
calculating a True Up Payment may not be included for purposes of ascertaining
whether the Noncomplying Party has met its Yearly Minimum Commitment in any
other Term Year but (for purposes of clarity) shall be included in calculating
whether a party has made its Term Minimum Commitment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the UMG Entities have not made Special Content available to the
Company in the first or second Term Year in an amount sufficient for the Company
Entities to actually expend amounts sufficient to meet the Company Yearly
Minimum Commitment during the applicable Term Year (including the Extension
Period), the amount of such shortfall (the "Yearly Shortfall Amount") shall not
be required to be paid in cash by Company at the end of such Term Year, the
Yearly Shortfall Amount shall be deemed paid by the Company for purposes of
calculating whether the Company has met its Term Minimum Commitment, and UMG
shall pay the Company in cash the amount

--------

*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

by which (A) the lesser of (i) the aggregate amounts spent by the UMG Entities
in the aggregate for Marketing Support in such Term Year and (ii) [***,]* exceed
(B) the aggregate amounts spent by the Company Entities in such Term Year, for
Content. At the end of the Term, the parties' (and their Affiliates') respective
aggregate purchases of Marketing Support and Content, respectively, during the
entire Term shall be calculated. If, as of the end of the Term, either party has
failed to meet its Term Minimum Commitment, and has not, within 60 days of the
end of the Term, purchased such amount of Marketing Support or Content, as
applicable, within such 60 day period as would (when aggregated with all other
purchases made during the Term) meet its Term Minimum Commitment, such
non-complying party shall, not later than the 60th day after the end of the Term
pay to the other party the difference between the non-complying party's Term
Minimum Commitment and the amount actually spent by it during the Term and such
60 day post-Term period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the end of the
Term the UMG Entities have not made Special Content available to the Company
during the Term in an amount sufficient for the Company Entities to actually
expend amounts sufficient to meet the Company Term Minimum Commitment, the
amount of such shortfall (the "Term Shortfall Amount") shall not be required to
be paid in cash by Company at the end of the Term, and UMG shall pay the Company
in cash the amount by which (A) the lesser of (i) the aggregate amounts spent by
the UMG Entities in the aggregate for Marketing Support during the Term and (ii)
[***,]* exceed (B) the aggregate amounts spent by the Company Entities during
the Term for Content (taking into account the "deemed paid" amounts set forth
above). Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the
remedy provided for in this Section 5.B. shall be the sole and exclusive remedy
for any breach or alleged breach of the parties' respective obligations under
Sections 3.B. and 4.D.

                  C. Limitations on Set Off. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, a party which purchases Content or Marketing Support,
as the case may be, (i) in excess of [***]* in any Term Year, or (ii) in excess
of [***]* during the Term shall, for each and every purchase over either such
limit, pay cash for such purchase in accordance with the payment terms otherwise
applicable to such transaction. Unless and until the aggregate of all cash
payments made by a party (and its affiliates) hereunder exceeds (together with
all amounts set-off or eligible for set-off hereunder) [***]* such cash
payments shall be included in any calculation of whether such party has met its
Term Minimum Commitment.

                  D. Other Purchases. By mutual agreement of the parties, any
purchase made by one party (or its Affiliates) from the other (or its
Affiliates) which does not otherwise fall under the categories described in this
Agreement (e.g., a purchase by the Company of marketing or promotional services
or advertising from a UMG Entity or the provision of music digital downloads by
a UMG Entity to the Company) may be deemed to be "Content" or "Marketing
Support" for the purpose of calculating whether a party has met its Yearly
Minimum Commitment or Term Minimum Commitment hereunder.

         6. TERMINATION FOR BREACH.

--------

*  Confidential treatment has been requested for the bracketed portion. The
   confidential redacted portion has been omitted and filed separately with
   the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                  A. Early Termination. Either party may terminate this
Agreement (i) on the material breach of the other party, subject to notice and a
reasonable (not to exceed 30 days) period to cure, or on the occurrence of an
insolvency event with respect to the other party, or (ii) if the UMG Entities
fail to make sufficient Special Content available in the first two Term Years so
that the Company Entities fail to meet the Company Yearly Minimum Commitment
hereunder in each of such years.

         7. MISCELLANEOUS.

                  A. Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be
signed in multiple counterparts. Each counterpart will be considered an
original, but all of them in the aggregate shall constitute one agreement. This
Agreement and any amendments hereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means
of a facsimile machine, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an
original agreement or instrument and shall be considered to have the same
binding effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in
person.

                  B. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned,
in whole or in part, whether voluntarily or by operation of law without the
consent of the other party hereto.

                  C. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties
as a final expression of their agreement and is intended to be a complete and
exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in
respect of the subject matter hereof. This Agreement supersedes all prior
letters of intent, agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  D. Amendments. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only in a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.

                  E. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for
or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first class
mail or overnight courier, shall be deemed given on the date received, if
delivered by hand or courier, and four days after deposit into the United States
mail, if mailed, and shall be delivered to the addresses for notice indicated on
the signature pages hereof, or at such other addresses as a party may hereafter
designate by notice delivered pursuant to this Section 7.E.

                  F. Relationship of the Parties. Notwithstanding any other
relationship between the parties hereto, or between or among them and their
respective Affiliates, nothing herein shall be deemed to constitute the parties
a partnership or joint venture.

                  G. Governing Law. This Agreement and all matters or issues
related thereto or arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State
of California without regard to the application of principles of conflicts of
laws.

                  H. Headings and Examples. The headings in this Agreement are
for the convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect
the meaning hereof.

                                       10
<PAGE>   11

Whenever examples are used in this Agreement with the words "including," "for
example," "e.g.," "such as," "etc." or any derivation thereof, such examples are
intended to be illustrative and not in limitation thereof.

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

ARTISTdirect, INC.                        UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP, INC.

By: /s/ KEITH YOKOMOTO                    By: /s/ MICHAEL OSTROFF
    -------------------------------           --------------------------------
     Keith Yokomoto                           Senior Vice President
     ARTISTdirect, Inc.                       70 Universal City Plaza
     17835 Ventura Boulevard                  Universal City, CA 91608
     Suite 310                                Attn: President, Global E-Commerce
     Encino, CA 91316                         and Advanced Technology
     Attn: Chief Executive Officer            AND Attn: Senior Vice President,
                                              Business and Legal Affairs

     With a copy to:                          With a copy to:

     Lenard & Gonzalez LLP                    Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
     25th Floor                               35th Floor
     1900 Ave. Of the Stars                   355 S. Grand Ave.
     Los Angeles, CA 90067                    Los Angeles, CA 90071-1560
     Attn: Allen D. Lenard                    Attn: Ruth E. Fisher

                                       11

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