Document:

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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                                   SUBLEASE
                                   --------

     THIS SUBLEASE, made as of the 22/nd/ day of March, 1999, between EMI MUSIC,
INC., a Delaware corporation having an office at 1290 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, New York 10104 ("Landlord") and BRONNER SLOSBERG HUMPHREY, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company having an office at 800 Boylston Street,
Boston, MA 02199 ("Tenant").

                                   Recital:
                                   -------

A.   By Lease dated November 12, 1987, as amended by Lease Amendment Agreements
dated June 13, 1988 and November 22, 1994 (collectively, the "Overlease"), 810
Associates (together with its successors, the "Overlandlord") leased to
Landlord's predecessor in interest the entire 4th and 8th floors in the building
known as 810 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York (the "Building"). A copy of the
Overlease (with certain dollar figures deleted) has been delivered to Tenant and
Tenant, by its execution of this Sublease, acknowledges that it has received and
reviewed the Overlease.

B.   Tenant desires to sublease from Landlord, and Landlord is willing to
sublease to Tenant, a portion of the 8/th/ floor, consisting of approximately
11,703 square feet and located generally as outlined on Exhibit A annexed hereto
(the "Demised Premises") in the Building, on the terms and conditions set forth
in this sublease.
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                                   Agreement
                                   ---------

     1.   Landlord hereby subleases to Tenant, and Tenant hereby hires and takes
from Landlord, the Demised Premises, to be used and occupied by Tenant for
general and executive offices and for no other purpose, for a term (the "Term")
to commence (subject to the following sentence) ten (10) days after the later to
occur of (i) the date on which the Overlandlord's consent (as contemplated by
Section 9 hereof) is received by Tenant and (ii) Landlord's Work (as defined in
Section 4 hereof) has been substantially completed, as certified in writing by
Landlord to Tenant, and vacant possession of the Demised Premises has been
delivered to Tenant (the "Commencement Date") and to terminate at noon on
September 29, 2002 (the "Expiration Date"), unless sooner terminated as herein
provided, at an annual fixed rent (the "Fixed Rent") of Four Hundred Six
Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-Nine and 25/100 ($406,679.25) Dollars. Should
Tenant take possession of the Demised Premises during the ten (10) day period
specified in the preceding sentence, then the Commencement Date shall be
advanced to such date of possession. Tenant shall not be required to pay the
installments of Fixed Rent which would otherwise be due in respect of the first
two full calendar months of the Term. The Fixed Rent shall be payable in equal
monthly installments of Thirty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred Eighty-Nine and
94/100 ($33,889.94) Dollars each. All monthly installments of Fixed Rent shall
be payable to Landlord in advance on the first day of each and every calendar
month during the Term, except that the rent for the third full month of the Term
shall be paid upon the execution and delivery of this lease to Landlord. The
Fixed Rent for any fractional month at the beginning or end of the Term shall be
apportioned.

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     2.   This lease is a sublease, the Demised Premises being demised to
Landlord by the Overlease. This Sublease is subject and subordinate to the
Overlease, and to any matters to which the Overlease is or shall be subordinate
and, in the event of termination, reentry or dispossess by Overlandlord under
the Overlease, it may, at its option, take over all of the right, title and
interest of Landlord, as sublessor, under this Sublease, and in that case Tenant
shall, at Overlandlord's option, attorn to Overlandlord pursuant to the then
executory provisions of this Sublease, except that Overlandlord shall not
(except to the extent that Overlandlord was responsible for an obligation of
Landlord under this Sublease, pursuant to a similar provision of the Overlease
which is incorporated herein) be (i) liable for any previous act or omission of
Landlord under this Sublease, (ii) subject to any credit, offset, claim,
counterclaim, demand or defense which Tenant may have against Landlord, (iii)
bound by any previous modification of this Sublease (unless Overlandlord has
expressly consented thereto in writing) or by any previous prepayment of more
than one (1) month's rent, (iv) bound by any covenant of Landlord to undertake
or complete any construction of the Demised Premises or any portion thereof, (v)
required to account for any security deposit of the Tenant other than any
security deposit actually delivered to Overlandlord by Landlord, (vi) bound by
any obligation to make any payment to Tenant or grant any credits, except for
services, repairs, maintenance and restoration provided for under this Sublease
to be performed after the date of such attornment, (vii) responsible for any
monies owing by Landlord to the credit of Tenant or (viii) required to remove
any person occupying the Demised Premises or any part thereof. The foregoing
shall not release Landlord from any obligations to Tenant under this Sublease.
Tenant covenants that it shall so conduct itself and its operations in and about

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the Demised Premises as not to cause Landlord to be in default under the
Overlease; provided, however, that this sentence is not intended to deprive
Tenant of any grace period provided for in this Sublease for the curing of
Tenant's defaults. Landlord represents that: (i) the Overlease is in full force
and effect; (ii) a true and correct copy of the Overlease has been delivered to
Tenant; (iii) there are no outstanding notices of default or of termination
which have been received by Landlord from Overlandlord or sent by Landlord to
Overlandlord with respect to the Overlease; (iv) Landlord has not received
notice of any pending foreclosure of Overlandlord's mortgage, nor any official
notice that Tenant is illegally occupying the Demised Premises; (v) Landlord has
the full right and authority to enter into this Sublease and to sublet the
Demised Premises to Tenant as provided herein; (vi) Overlandlord has no right to
terminate the Overlease, other than as expressly provided therein; (vii)
Landlord shall not amend the Overlease so as to adversely affect the rights or
obligations of Tenant under this Sublease in any material respect; and (viii)
Landlord will not voluntarily terminate the Overlease unless, in connection
therewith, Overlandlord agrees to recognize Tenant as its direct tenant under
the terms of this Sublease. If Landlord receives any notice of default under the
Overlease which in Landlord's reasonable judgment is likely to result in the
termination of this Sublease, Landlord will promptly send a copy of such notice
to Tenant.

     3.   The terms, covenants, provisions and conditions of the Overlease are
hereby incorporated herein and shall be binding upon both parties hereto, those
applying to the landlord therein applying, in this Sublease, to the Landlord,
and those applying to the tenant therein applying, in this Sublease, to the
Tenant, with the following exceptions:

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               (a)  The Term, the Demised Premises, and fixed rent payable
          hereunder shall be as provided in Section 1 hereof, and not as
          provided in the Overlease. In addition to such fixed rent, Tenant
          shall pay as additional rent all other sums due under this Sublease,
          within 20 days after the submission of bills therefor (notwithstanding
          any different payment period specified in the Overlease), except that
          monthly estimated payments of Operating Expenses shall be payable with
          the fixed rent on the first day of each calendar month. Payments of
          additional rent may be made under protest, to the same extent
          permitted to Landlord under the Overlease.

               (b)  The permitted use of the Demised Premises shall be as
          provided in Section 1 hereof. Without limiting the foregoing, Tenant
          shall not use the Demised Premises or any part thereof for: (i) the
          preparation and/or sale of food for on- or off-premises consumption
          (other than a microwave oven or coffeemaker, as approved by
          Overlandlord, for employees of Tenant); or (ii) use by a foreign or
          domestic governmental agency.

               (c)  Article 5 of the Overlease shall not apply herein; but
          Tenant shall pay to Landlord 28.54% of all amounts billed to Landlord
          under Article 5 of the Overlease (as modified by the November 22, 1994
          Lease Amendment Agreement), except that for purposes of this Sublease
          the Base Tax shall be the Taxes payable by Overlandlord for the Tax
          Year 1999/2000, and the Base Operating Expenses shall be the average
          of the Operating Expenses incurred during the 1999 and 2000

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          Operational Years. Tenant shall not be responsible for any portion of
          the Operating Expenses for the 1999 Operational Year. Prior to or
          together with each billing under this Paragraph 3(c), Landlord shall
          furnish to Tenant a copy of the applicable statement received from the
          Overlandlord for Taxes or Operating Expenses (and, with respect to the
          first billing hereunder, also a copy of the statement for the Base Tax
          or Base Operating Expenses), as the case may be. Tenant recognizes
          that Operating Expenses may be billed on an estimated basis commencing
          in January, 2000, based on estimated billings received by Landlord
          under the Overlease. If Tenant advises Landlord, within thirty (30)
          days after Tenant's receipt of a Statement rendered by Overlandlord,
          that Tenant has a bona fide dispute with respect to a charge or
                            ---------
          charges thereon, Landlord will endeavor in good faith (but at Tenant's
          expense) to resolve such dispute under Section 5.10 of the Overlease;
          any costs incurred by Landlord in connection therewith and not
          reimbursed by Overlandlord may be billed to Tenant from time to time
          as additional rent.

               (d)  Tenant is to have the benefit of all repairs, restoration,
          materials and services to be provided to the Demised Premises by the
          Overlandlord, but Landlord herein shall not be obligated to make any
          repairs, alterations or restoration (whether required for compliance
          with any laws and requirements of any public authorities, compliance
          with any requirements of insurance bodies or otherwise), to supply any
          materials or services to the Demised Premises or to

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          maintain any insurance with respect to the Demised Premises, nor shall
          Landlord be liable for the failure of others so to do. Tenant
          recognizes that the foregoing does not create any direct obligation of
          Overlandlord to Tenant, but Landlord agrees, if so requested by
          Tenant, promptly to make appropriate demand on the Overlandlord to
          provide services and/or repairs to the Demised Premises as required by
          the Overlease. If, despite Landlord's demand therefor, Overlandlord
          fails or refuses to provide repairs, restoration, materials or
          services to the Demised Premises as required by the Overlease, Tenant
          may (on five business days' notice to Landlord) bring an appropriate
          action, in Landlord's name but at Tenant's expense, against
          Overlandlord to compel the same to be provided; and Landlord will
          cooperate with Tenant at Tenant's cost (the "Claim Assertion Right").

               (e)  Tenant may assign this Sublease or sublet the Demised
          Premises, subject to the following express conditions: (i) any
          assignment or subletting shall be subject to the consent of Landlord
          and Overlandlord, as provided in Article 9 of the Overlease; (ii) any
          subletting shall be subject to this Sublease and shall be in form
          reasonably satisfactory to Landlord and Overlandlord; (iii) any
          assignment or subletting shall comply with (and shall be subject to)
          the applicable provisions of Article 9 of the Overlease, including the
          rights reserved to the Overlandlord to terminate this Sublease or to
          require that this Sublease be assigned to it or that the Demised
          Premises be sublet to it. If Overlandlord consents to any assignment
          or subletting by Tenant, Landlord's consent thereto shall not be
          unreasonably

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          withheld or delayed. The transfer (by one or more transfers) of a
          majority of the ownership interests in Tenant shall be deemed to be an
          assignment of this Sublease.

               (f)  Wherever the Overlease provides for, or conditions any right
          upon, a consent or approval to be given by the landlord, or for some
          matter to be effected to the satisfaction of the landlord, the consent
          or approval or satisfaction of Landlord and of the Overlandlord shall
          be required hereunder. If such consent or approval or satisfaction has
          been obtained from the Overlandlord in any instance, Landlord shall
          not unreasonably withhold or delay the same on its part. Landlord
          shall not be liable to Tenant by reason of the failure of the
          Overlandlord to furnish any such consent or approval, for any reason
          whatsoever; however, Landlord will, at Tenant's request and at
          Tenant's expense, promptly apply to Overlandlord for such consent or
          approval and thereafter pursue such application with reasonable
          diligence.

               (g)  Tenant shall not make any alterations, additions,
          installations, substitutions, improvements or decorations in or to the
          Demised Premises without Landlord's prior, written approval, which may
          be withheld in Landlord's sole discretion. Notwithstanding the
          foregoing, Landlord agrees (subject to approval thereof by
          Overlandlord) not unreasonably to withhold or delay its consent to
          proposed interior, non-structural alterations (including, without
          limitation, the installation of new carpeting in, and the redecoration
          of, the elevator lobby and reception area). If Tenant is permitted to
          make improvements to the Demised

                                      -8-
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          Premises, and if the Overlandlord does not require such improvements
          to be removed at the expiration of the full term of this Sublease,
          then Landlord will not require Tenant to remove the same. Promptly
          after taking possession of the Demised Premises, Tenant shall install
          appropriate door hardware and exit signage, so as to provide emergency
          access from Landlord's adjoining premises to the fire stair located in
          the Demised Premises in accordance with applicable codes; Tenant
          recognizes that Landlord's employees and visitors must always have
          emergency access to such fire stair.

               (h)  For purposes of this Sublease, the Initial Electricity
          Factor shall be $32,183.25. The Initial Electricity Factor shall be
          subject to increase with respect to changes in the public utility rate
          schedule, surcharges (including a surcharge in the nature of a fuel or
          similar adjustment), and/or changes in the service classification of
          the Building only to the extent the same become effective after the
          Commencement Date of the Term; in support of any such increase,
          Landlord shall furnish to Tenant a copy of any documentation received
          from the Overlandlord to support a similar increase in the Electricity
          Factor under the Overlease. Any other increase in the Initial
          Electricity Factor shall be only as determined by Overlandlord in
          accordance with Article 16 of the Overlease (and only with respect to
          Tenant's utilization of electricity during the Term of this Sublease),
          taking into account the various activities of Landlord and Tenant
          which may cause either party to consume a disparate amount of the
          electricity furnished to the premises demised

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          pursuant to the Overlease. Tenant may contest any such increase (in
          Landlord's name but at Tenant's expense) in accordance with Section
          16.07 of the Overlease; Landlord will cooperate with Tenant, at
          Tenant's cost, in any such contest.

               (i)  The 30-day periods referred to in Section 25.02(b) of the
          Overlease shall be reduced to 20 days, for purposes of this Sublease.

               (j)  The term "Broker", as used in Section 31.01 of the Overlease
          shall mean Insignia/Edward S. Gordon Company Incorporated and CB
          Commercial Real Estate Group, Inc. Landlord similarly agrees to hold
          Tenant harmless against any claims for a brokerage commission arising
          out of any conversations or negotiations had by Landlord with any
          broker or finder except Broker.

               (k)  Notices to Tenant shall be addressed to the attention of
          Meryl Beckingham, Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to Goodwin,
          Procter & Hoar LLP, Exchange Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02109-2881,
          Attention Lawrence R. Cahill, P.C. Notwithstanding Article 32 of the
          Overlease, invoices for rent and other routine communications from
          Landlord to Tenant may be delivered in any commercially reasonable
          manner.

               Notices to Landlord under this Sublease shall be addressed to
          Landlord at:

               c/o Capitol Records, Inc.
               1750 North Vine Street
               Hollywood, CA 90028
               Attn: Chief Financial Officer

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          with a duplicate original to:

               EMI-Capitol Music Group, North America
               1290 Avenue of the Americas
               New York, NY 10104
               Attn: Senior Facilities Manager

               (l)  Wherever the Overlease, as incorporated herein, requires the
          tenant thereunder to provide insurance or to give an indemnity for the
          benefit of the landlord, the same shall be maintained or given, as the
          case may be, for the benefit of Landlord and of Overlandlord.

               (m)  The following provisions of the Overlease shall not apply
          herein: Sections 1.02, 1.03, 1.06, 1.07, 2.01 and 3.01, Article 4,
          except for the first two sentences of Section 4.01; Section 18.04, but
          Tenant shall be entitled to three (3) lines on the Building Directory;
          Article 35; Sections 2 through 9 and 11 through 14 of the Lease
          Amendment Agreement dated June 13, 1988; and Sections 6 through 8 of
          the Lease Amendment Agreement dated November 22, 1994.

     4.   Landlord shall cause the following work ("Landlord's Work") to be
performed, at Landlord's expense, so that the Demised Premises will be separated
from Landlord's other premises: (i) construct a code-compliant wall with proper
fire rating, wherever necessary, where existing walls form the demising line
between the Demised Premises and Landlord's retained premises and along
corridors within Landlord's retained premises; (ii) install a fire-rated
demising wall and door to close the corridor adjoining the lunchroom in
Landlord's retained premises, as shown on Exhibit A; (iii) if required for fire
code compliance, relocate the entrance door from the reception area to the
balance of the Demised Premises approximately 15 feet in a westerly

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direction, to a location approved by Tenant (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld); and (iv) install appropriate door hardware on the
entrance door to Landlord's retained premises and exit signage in the area of
such door, so as to provide emergency access from the Demised Premises to the
fire stair located in Landlord's adjoining premises in accordance with
applicable codes. Landlord recognizes that Tenant's employees and visitors must
always have emergency access to such fire stair. Any asbestos abatement required
in connection with the foregoing shall be a part of Landlord's Work. Landlord's
Work shall be commenced promptly after the execution and delivery of this
Sublease and continued to completion with reasonable promptness. Tenant has
advised Landlord that, in lieu of the demising wall and door to be constructed
by Landlord and described in clause (ii) above in this paragraph, Tenant prefers
to construct a code-compliant demising wall and door elsewhere in the Demised
Premises in the general vicinity of Landlord's proposed demising wall and door.
Provided (w) that Tenant gives written notice of its intention to do such work
within 10 days after the date of this Sublease and (x) such work is
substantially completed prior to Tenant's occupancy of the Demised Premises for
the conduct of its business, then (y) Landlord shall not perform the work
described in said clause (ii) and (z) Tenant shall be entitled to a credit
against the next rents payable under this Sublease in the amount of $1,000.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Sublease, if Tenant elects to
construct such demising wall and door, the following shall apply: the space on
Landlord's side of such wall and door shall be excluded from the Demised
Premises, but the rent and additional rent payable hereunder shall not be
adjusted by reason thereof; and Tenant shall not occupy the Demised

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Premises for the conduct of its business until the installation of such wall and
door has been substantially completed.

     5.  Tenant has inspected and examined all the premises herein demised and
is thoroughly acquainted and familiar with the physical condition thereof.
Landlord has not made and does not make any representations as to the physical
condition, expenses, operation or any other matter or thing affecting or related
to said premises. Tenant hereby expressly acknowledges that no such
representations have been made, and agrees to take the premises in their present
"as is" condition, except that (i) Landlord's telephones and other furniture and
furnishings (other than the reception desk and the table now located behind the
reception desk, located in the reception area, which are included as part of the
Demised Premises) shall be removed from the Demised Premises and (ii) Landlord
shall perform Landlord's Work and shall deliver the Demised Premises (with keys
to the front door lock(s)) vacant and in broom clean condition on the
Commencement Date. It is understood and agreed that all understandings and
agreements heretofore had between the parties hereto are merged into this
Sublease, which alone fully and completely expresses their agreement, and that
this Sublease is entered into after full investigation, neither party relying
upon any statement or representation, not embodied in this Sublease, made by the
other. This Sublease cannot be changed or terminated orally, but only by an
agreement in writing.

     6.   (a)  Tenant has deposited with Landlord the sum of One Hundred Thirty-
Five Thousand Five Hundred Fifty-Nine and 76/100 ($135,559.76) Dollars as
security for the faithful performance and observance by Tenant of the terms,
provisions, covenants and conditions of this Sublease, and it is agreed that in
the event Tenant defaults after notice and the expiration of

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applicable grace or cure periods in respect of any of the terms, provisions,
covenants and conditions of this Sublease, including, but not limited to, the
payment of fixed or additional rent, Landlord may use, apply or retain the whole
or any part of the security so deposited to the extent required for the payment
of any rental or any other sum as to which Tenant is in default or for any sum
which Landlord may expend by reason of Tenant's default after notice and the
expiration of applicable grace or cure periods in respect of any of the terms,
provisions, covenants and conditions of this Sublease, including, but not
limited to, any damages or deficiency accrued before or after summary
proceedings or other reentry by Landlord. In the event that Tenant shall fully
and faithfully comply with all of the terms, provisions, covenants and
conditions of this Sublease, the security shall be returned to Tenant not later
than thirty (30) days after the later to occur of the date fixed as the end of
the term of this Sublease and delivery of entire possession of the Demised
Premises to Landlord. One year after Tenant commences to be obligated for the
payment of Fixed Rent under this Sublease, the security deposit shall be reduced
to Sixty-Seven Thousand Seven Hundred Seventy-Nine and 88/100 ($67,779.88)
Dollars, and any cash security deposit in excess of such amount then held by
Landlord shall promptly be returned to Tenant. In the event of transfer of
Landlord's interest in the Overlease, Landlord shall transfer the security to
the transferee and upon written notice to Tenant of the name and address of such
transferee, and upon such transferee's acceptance of the security or assumption
of Landlord's obligations with respect thereto, Landlord shall thereupon be
released by Tenant from all liability for the return of such security (to the
extent so delivered), and Tenant agrees to look solely to the new landlord for
the return of said security (to the extent so delivered), and it is agreed that
the provisions

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hereof shall apply to every transfer or assignment made of the security to a new
landlord. Tenant further covenants and agrees that it will not assign or
encumber or attempt to assign or encumber the monies deposited herein as
security and that neither Landlord nor its successors or assigns shall be bound
by any such assignment, encumbrance, attempted assignment or attempted
encumbrance. In the event Landlord applies or retains any portion or all of the
security so deposited, Tenant shall, within twenty (20) days after demand
therefor, restore the amount so applied or retained so that at all times the
amount deposited shall be the full amount of the security deposit required under
this Sublease at the relevant time. The security shall be deposited in an
interest-bearing account in a bank located in New York City, selected by
Landlord, and interest earned on the account (less the one percent (1 %)
administrative fee allowed by law, which may be retained by Landlord) shall be
paid to Tenant annually. Landlord will advise Tenant of the name and address of
the bank where the security is deposited.

          (b) In lieu of the cash security deposit referred to in paragraph (a)
above, Tenant may deliver to Landlord, and shall maintain in effect at all times
during the term of this Sublease (and through the period which is thirty (30)
days following the later to occur of (i) the stated expiration date of this
Sublease and (ii) delivery of possession of the entire Demised Premises to
Landlord), a clean, unconditional and irrevocable letter of credit, in a form
reasonably acceptable to Landlord, naming Landlord as beneficiary, in the amount
of the cash security deposit required to be maintained under paragraph (a)
above, issued by a banking corporation ("Bank") which is a member of the New
York Clearing House Association or successor thereto and capable of presentment
at a bank office in Manhattan. Each of the following (whether or not a member

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of the New York Clearing House) shall constitute a Bank for the purposes of this
paragraph: Fleet National Bank. Such letter of credit shall have an expiration
date no earlier than the first anniversary of the date of issuance thereof and
it shall be automatically renewed from year-to-year unless terminated by the
Bank by notice to Landlord given not less than forty-five (45) days prior to the
then expiration date therefor; or, if such letter of credit is not automatically
renewable, Tenant shall furnish to Landlord a replacement letter of credit, with
an expiration date not earlier than the first anniversary of the expiration date
of the then-existing letter of credit (or October 29, 2002, if earlier). It is
agreed that in the event Tenant defaults in respect of any of the terms,
covenants or provisions of this Sublease, including, but not limited to, the
payment of any rental, and such default continues after notice and beyond the
applicable grace or cure period, if any, or if any letter of credit is
terminated by the Bank and/or is not replaced at least thirty (30) days prior to
its expiration that (i) Landlord shall have the right to require the Bank to
make payment to Landlord of so much of the entire proceeds of the letter of
credit as shall be appropriate, in Landlord's sole discretion, to cure the
default (or the entire proceeds if notice of termination is given as aforesaid
and/or the letter of credit is not replaced as aforesaid), and (ii) Landlord may
apply said sum so paid to it by the Bank to the extent required for the payment
of any rental or any other sum as to which Tenant is in default or for any sum
which Landlord may expend by reason of Tenant's default (and which Landlord
would be entitled to recover from Tenant pursuant to the terms of this Sublease)
in respect of any of the terms, covenants and conditions of this Sublease,
including, but not limited to, any damages or deficiency in the reletting of all
or a portion of the Demised Premises, whether such damages or deficiency accrue
before or after

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summary proceedings or other re-entry by Landlord, without thereby waiving any
other rights or remedies of Landlord with respect to such default. If Landlord
applies any part of the proceeds of a letter of credit, Tenant, upon demand,
shall deposit with Landlord, within twenty (20) days after demand therefor, the
amount so applied or retained (or increase the amount of the letter of credit)
so that the Landlord shall have the full deposit required under this Sublease on
hand at all times during the term of this Sublease. If, subsequent to a letter
of credit being drawn upon, a new letter of credit meeting all the requirements
set forth in this paragraph (b) is delivered to Landlord, any proceeds of the
former letter of credit then held by Landlord as a cash security deposit shall
be promptly returned to Tenant. If a letter of credit is drawn upon, any
proceeds received by Landlord which are not applied to the curing the default
shall be held by Landlord subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) above. In
the event of an assignment by Landlord of its interest under this Sublease,
Landlord shall transfer the security to the assignee, and upon written notice to
Tenant of the name and address of such assignee, and such assignee's acceptance
of the security, Tenant agrees to look solely to the new landlord for the return
of the security (to the extent so delivered); and it is agreed that the
provisions hereof shall apply to every transfer or assignment made of the
security to a new landlord, provided that the assignee acknowledges acceptance
of the security. Tenant shall have the right to substitute one letter of credit
for another, provided that at all times the letter of credit shall meet the
requirements of this paragraph (b).

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     7.  Terms (whether capitalized or not) which are used or incorporated in
this Sublease, which are not separately defined herein, and which are defined in
the Overlease, shall have the meanings given to them in the Overlease. In the
event of conflict or inconsistency between an express term of this Sublease
(i.e., a term set forth directly in this instrument and not a term incorporated
-----
herein) and an express term of the Overlease, this Sublease shall take
precedence and shall control.

     8.  Tenant recognizes that the principal access to Landlord's retained
premises on the 8th floor is through the elevator lobby and reception area which
are part of the Demised Premises, and Tenant agrees that Landlord or its
successor may use such areas (including the lavatories located therein) at all
times, in common with Tenant, for the limited purpose of gaining access to
Landlord's retained premises and for normal lavatory use; provided, however,
that the use of such areas shall be subject to the following restrictions: (i)
Landlord's employees and visitors shall not loiter in the reception area, the
elevator lobby or the lavatories; (ii) Landlord's employees and visitors shall
not keep any furniture in such areas, and shall not utilize either the reception
desk or other furniture of Tenant therein or the services of Tenant's
receptionist or other personnel ; and (iii) Landlord shall be responsible for,
and shall promptly repair, any damage caused by Landlord's employees or visitors
in such areas. Tenant also recognizes and agrees that Landlord may maintain the
access/security telephone and identification-card reader located adjacent to the
entry door to Landlord's retained premises. Tenant also recognizes that the
telephone closet located by the fire stair in the Demised Premises contains
wiring and equipment owned and/or serviced by the telephone company and
necessary for the operating of Landlord's telephone

                                      -18-
<PAGE>

system; Tenant also may utilize such telephone closet for same purpose. Landlord
and Tenant agree as follows with respect to such telephone closet: the closet
shall be kept locked at all times when not being serviced, and keys shall be
retained by authorized representatives of Landlord and Tenant; access to the
telephone closet shall be limited to telephone company personnel and to
authorized representatives of Landlord or Tenant; neither party shall disturb
the telephone wiring or equipment of the other party located therein.

     9.  This Sublease shall not take effect unless and until there has been
obtained the written consent hereto of the Overlandlord. Landlord shall not be
liable to Tenant by reason of the failure of the Overlandlord to furnish such
consent, for any reason whatsoever. Landlord will make application to
Overlandlord for such consent promptly after the execution and delivery of this
Sublease. If such consent has not been obtained and such delivery made within
forty-five (45) days after the date of delivery of this Sublease (signed by
Landlord and Tenant) to Tenant, this Sublease shall automatically be terminated,
Landlord shall return to Tenant all monies paid hereunder, and neither party
shall otherwise have any rights against or obligations to the other hereunder or
with respect to the Demised Premises. Tenant agrees that a consent substantially
in the form attached to this Sublease as Exhibit C is acceptable. If
Overlandlord's consent is in a different form and if such consent imposes
obligations on Tenant which are materially greater than Tenant's obligations
under this Sublease, then Tenant may terminate this Sublease by notice given
within two business days after Tenant has received a copy of such consent, with
the same effect as if this Sublease were automatically terminated as provided
above in this Section. Time shall be of the essence as to the giving of such
notice; and Overlandlord's consent shall

                                      -19-
<PAGE>

conclusively be deemed accepted unless Tenant is entitled to give a notice of
termination under this Section and does so within such two-day period.

     10.  The submission by Landlord of this Sublease shall have no binding
force or effect and shall confer no rights nor impose any obligations, including
brokerage obligations, on either party. Neither party shall be bound by this
Sublease unless and until both Landlord and Tenant shall have executed this
Sublease and originals thereof shall have been delivered to the respective
parties.

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

EMI MUSIC, INC.                      BRONNER SLOSBERG HUMPHREY, LLC

By: /s/ Justin Morris                By: /s/ M. K. Beckingham
   ------------------------------       ------------------------------
Printed Name: JUSTIN MORRIS          Printed Name: M. K. BECKINGHAM
             --------------------                 --------------------
Title: CFO CAPITOL RECORDS           Title: CFO
      ---------------------------          ---------------------------

By : /s/ Alasdair McMullan
    -----------------------------
Printed Name: ALASDAIR McMULLAN
             --------------------
Title: Secretary
      ---------------------------

                                      -20-
<PAGE>

                                   [DIAGRAM}

                                   Exhibit A

                               EMI-CAPITOL MUSIC
                             810 7th AVE/8TH FLOOR
                                    NY, NY
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT C
                                   ---------

                        [Form of Owner/Landlord Consent]

                                March ___, 1999

     Re:  Sublease dated March __, 1999 between EMI Music, Inc.
          (Sublessor) and Bronner Slosberg Humphrey, LLC
          (Sublessee) at 810 Seventh Avenue

In accordance with your request, Landlord hereby grants its consent (the
"Consent") to the execution and delivery of the sublease (the "Sublease") dated
March __, 1999, between EMI Music, Inc. (Tenant), as sublessor and Bronner
Slosberg Humphrey LLC (the "Subtenant") as sublessee, of a portion of the eighth
(8/th/) floor (the "Sublet Space"), subject to the following terms and
conditions:

1.   This Consent shall not be assignable.

2.   Nothing herein contained shall be deemed or construed to modify, waive,
     impair or affect any of the provisions, covenants, agreements, terms or
     conditions contained in the Lease (except as may be herein expressly
     provided), or to waive any breach thereof, or any right of Landlord against
     Tenant, or to enlarge or increase Landlord's obligations under the Lease,
     and all provisions, covenants, agreements, terms and conditions contained
     in the Lease, are (except as expressly herein modified, waived, impaired or
     affected) hereby ratified and confirmed as being in full force and effect.

3.   Notwithstanding any subletting provided for herein, Tenant shall be and
     remain fully liable for payment of the rent, additional rent due and all
     other sums to become due under the Lease and for the performance of all the
     covenants, agreements, terms, provisions and conditions contained in the
     Lease on the part of Tenant to be performed and all acts and omissions of
     Subtenant or anyone claiming under or through Subtenant which shall be in
     violation of any of the covenants, agreements, terms, provisions and
     conditions contained in the Lease, shall be deemed to be a violation by
     Tenant.

                                      C-1
<PAGE>

4.   The Sublease shall be subject and subordinate at all times to the Lease, to
     all of the provisions, covenants, agreements, terms and conditions
     contained in the Lease and in this Consent, and to the matters to which the
     Lease and this Consent are or shall be subject and subordinate, and
     Subtenant shall not do or permit anything to be done which may or shall
     violate any of said provisions, covenants, agreements, terms and conditions
     and matters.

5.   Notwithstanding anything contained in the Sublease to the contrary, this
     Consent shall not be deemed or construed as a consent by Landlord to, or as
     permitting, any other or further subletting by Tenant or anyone claiming
     under or through Tenant (including without limitation, Subtenant) , and no
     other or further sublease of the premises demised by the Lease or any part
     thereof or any assignment of the Lease or the Sublease shall be made by
     Tenant or anyone claiming under or through Tenant (including without
     limitation, Subtenant) without Landlord's prior written consent in each
     instance.

6.   In the event of termination, re-entry or dispossess by Landlord under the
     Lease, Landlord may, at its option, take over all of the right, title and
     interest of Tenant, as sublessor, and under the Sublease, and Subtenant
     shall, at Landlord's option, attorn to Landlord pursuant to the then
     executory provisions of the Sublease, except that Landlord shall not (i) be
     liable for any previous act of omission of Tenant under the Sublease, (ii)
     be subject to any offset which theretofore accrued or may thereafter accrue
     to Subtenant against Tenant, or (iii) be bound by any previous modification
     of the Sublease or by any previous prepayment of more than one (1) month's
     rent.

7.   INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

8.   Notwithstanding any provision of the Sublease to the contrary, the term of
     the Sublease (including any extension or renewal thereof, if any) shall
     expire and terminate at least one (1) day prior to the expiration date of
     the Lease.

9.   INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

10.  Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 5 of this consent, nothing
     contained herein or in the Sublease shall or shall be deemed to create any
     landlord-tenant relationship between Landlord and Subtenant.

11.  Tenant and Subtenant each warrant and represent to Landlord that it dealt
     with no other brokers in connection with this transaction, other than
     Insignia/Edward S. Gordon Company, Inc. and CB Commercial Real Estate
     Group, Inc. ("Brokers"). Tenant and Subtenant, jointly and severally, shall
     indemnify and hold Landlord harmless against any fees, charges or
     commissions whether due to Brokers or any other party and any and all
     losses, costs or damages arising out of or in connection with any claims of
     any other brokers or party by reason of said brokers or party, having had
     any conversations or dealings with Tenant and/or Subtenant in connection
     with this transaction and do hereby, jointly and severally, indemnify and
     hold Landlord harmless

                                      C-2
<PAGE>

     against the same and, jointly and severally, agree to reimburse Landlord
     for losses, costs or any damages arising out of or in connection with such
     claims, including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and
     disbursements and any other costs of defending against such claims.

12.  Tenant and Subtenant each acknowledge that they understand that there are
     general tenant guidelines for the Building covering construction,
     maintenance, repair or other work. Tenant and Subtenant each agree that all
     repairs , renovations , alterations , installations , additions and
     improvements and other activities within the scope of the general tenant
     guidelines for the Building (including, without limitation, electrical and
     communications systems and fireproofing) effected by or on behalf of Tenant
     and/or Subtenant in the Sublet Space shall be conducted in accordance with
     and pursuant to the aforesaid tenant guidelines, as well as any applicable
     governmental requirements and regulations. Tenant and Subtenant each agree
     that it is their responsibility to ensure that Tenant and Subtenant and
     those working for them and/or either of them comply with the aforesaid
     tenant guidelines as well as any other applicable governmental requirements
     and regulations.

13.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this
     Consent and the terms and conditions of the Sublease, the terms and
     conditions of this Consent shall govern.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Landlord's Consent to
the Sublease and any provisions contained herein shall not be deemed a waiver by
Landlord of any default by Tenant or any rights of Landlord in connection
therewith.

                                      C-3
<PAGE>

                           FIRST AMENDMENT OF LEASE
                           ------------------------

     Reference is made to a certain lease dated May 31, 1995 (the Lease) by and
between The Prudential Insurance Company of America as LANDLORD and Bronner
Slosberg Humphrey, Inc. as TENANT, leasing space at Prudential Tower (the
Building) in Boston, Massachusetts.

I.   Fifth Floor Expansion

     LANDLORD and TENANT mutually desire to amend the Lease to provide for the
expansion of the Premises leased to include three areas on the 5th Floor of the
Building. In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein, LANDLORD and
TENANT agree that the lease is hereby amended as follows:

     1.   First Amendment Spaces
          ----------------------

     Effective June 1, 1996, (i) the area on the 5th Floor of the Building
containing 2,734 rentable square feet (RSF) shown on Exhibit A attached as
"Vacant space" and hereinafter referred to as First Amendment Space A, (ii) the
area shown on Exhibit A as "New England Council" containing 2,624 RSF and
hereinafter referred to as First Amendment Space B and (iii) the area shown on
Exhibit A as "Vacant Space" containing 12,310 RSF and hereinafter referred to as
First Amendment Area C shall be added to the Premises. First Amendment Space A,
First Amendment Space B and First Amendment Space C (collectively, the First
Amendment Spaces) containing a total of 17,668 RSF, are all added to the
Premises subject to all the terms and conditions of the Lease except as
specifically provided in this First Amendment of Lease.

     2.   Rent
          ----

     The rent for the First Amendment Spaces shall be at the rate of $26.00 per
RSF. The TENANT'S obligation to pay for the First Amendment Space A will
commence on August 1, 1996. All rent shall be paid as provided in Section 3.1(a)
of the Lease and shall be in addition to amounts currently paid. The First
Amendment Space rent shall be as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            Commencement        Yearly               Monthly
     Space                      Date            Amount               Payment
     -----                  ------------        ------               -------
<S>                       <C>                 <C>                 <C>
First Amendment Space A    August 1, 1996    $ 71,084.00           4 5,923.67
First Amendment Space A    August 1, 1996      68,224.00             5,685.33
First Amendment Space A    August 1, 1996     320,060.00            26,671.67
                                             -----------           ----------
                           TOTAL:            $459,368.00           $38,280.67

</TABLE>

     3.   Operating Expenses and R.E. Taxes
          ---------------------------------

     Commencing on January 1, 1997, TENANT shall reimburse LANDLORD for
Increased Operating Expenses and increased Real Estate taxes for the First
Amendment Spaces in excess of the Operating Expenses incurred in 1996 and the
Real Estate taxes paid in 1996 as provided in Section 3.2 of the Lease as
modified herein and Exhibit F-1 attached. The budgeted Operating Expenses and
Real Estate taxes for 1996 are $8.60 per RSF and $4.60 Per RSF respectively.

     4.   Share
          -----

     TENANT'S share with respect to First Amendment Spaces consisting of a total
of 17,668 RSF will be 1.44%.

     5.   TENANT 5th Floor Option Rights
          ------------------------------

     TENANT shall have the following options subject to the rights of The
Gillette Company to add other space on the 5th Floor to the Premises, provided
it is not in default beyond any applicable grace and cure period at the time of
the exercise thereof.

     (a)  Space labeled "Westcon" on Exhibit A containing 3,298 RSF available on
June 30, 1999 if Westcon does not exercise its right to extend term otherwise,
on June 30, 2004.

     (b)  Space labeled "Pru Timber" on Exhibit A containing 2,020 RSF available
on December 31, 1998.

     (c)  Space labeled "Waterhouse" on Exhibit A containing 1,518 RSF available
on January 31, 2000.

     TENANT shall, in each instance, give LANDLORD nine (9) months advance
written notice of the exercise of any of its option rights hereunder, which
notice shall be measured from the date a particular space will be available.
LANDLORD agrees to advise TENANT in writing if Westcon exercises its right to
extend the term of the space described in (a) above within fourteen (14) days of
LANDLORD'S receipt of Westcon's notice of extension. Westcon is required to give
LANDLORD notice of the exercise of its option to extend by June 30, 1998.

     The rent and other economic terms with respect to the space to be added
pursuant to this Section 5 shall be 95% of the then fair market rental. If
LANDLORD and TENANT cannot agree on the rent and other economic terms to be
charged for space subject to this
<PAGE>

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
                                                                      __ OF 4

                              1290 PARTNERS, L.P.
                        c/o Victor Capital Group, L.P.
                               605 Third Avenue
                           New York, New York 10016

                                April __, 1999

Warner Music Group, Inc.
75 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10019

Bronner Slosberg Humphrey, LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York

RE:  CONSENT TO SUBLEASE

     "Building":       1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York

     "Premises":       Described on Exhibit A attached hereto

     "Sublet Space":   Portion of the fourth (4th) floor

     "Landlord":       1290 Partners, L.P.

     "Tenant":         Warner Music Group Inc.

     "Subtenant":      Bronner Slosberg Humphrey, LLC

     "Lease":          Agreement of Lease dated as of August 6, 1979, as amended
                       by a First Amendment of Lease dated as of March 17, 1981,
                       Second Amendment of Lease dated as of September 29, 1981,
                       Partial Surrender Agreement dated as of October 30, 1984,
                       Third Amendment of Lease dated as of April 19, 1989,
                       Fourth Amendment of Lease dated as of September 14, 1990,
                       and a Fifth Amendment of Lease dated as of July 28, 1998,
                       a Sixth Amendment of Lease dated as of September 23,
                       1998,
<PAGE>

                       and as same may be further amended, modified, extended or
                       restated from time to time

     "Sublease":       Sublease Agreement dated as of April __, 1999 and annexed
                       hereto, as same may be amended, modified, extended or
                       restated from time to time, as may be permitted hereunder

Gentlemen :

          You have requested our consent to the Sublease. Such consent is hereby
granted on the terms and conditions, and in reliance upon the representations
and warranties, set forth in this letter (this "Agreement").

          1.   Tenant represents and warrants that as of the date hereof (a) the
Lease is in full force and effect; (b) the Lease has not been assigned,
encumbered, modified, extended or supplemented; (c) Tenant knows of no defense
or counterclaim to the enforcement of the Lease; (d) Tenant is not entitled to
any reduction, offset or abatement of the rent payable under the Lease; and (e)
a true and complete copy of the Sublease is attached hereto, and the Sublease
constitutes the complete agreement between Tenant and Subtenant with respect to
the subject matter thereof.

          2.   The Sublease shall be subject and subordinate to the Lease and
all of its provisions. Neither Tenant nor Subtenant shall take, permit or suffer
any action which would violate the provisions of the Lease or this Agreement.

          3.   Landlord's obligations to Tenant are governed only by the Lease
and this Agreement and Landlord's obligations to Subtenant are only as set forth
in Paragraph 6 of this Agreement. Landlord shall not be bound or estopped by any
provision of the Sublease, including any provision purporting to impose any
obligations upon Landlord (except as provided in Paragraph 6 of this Agreement).
Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a consent to, approval of, or
ratification by Landlord of, any of the particular provisions of the Sublease or
any plan or drawing referred to or contained therein (except as may be expressly
provided herein). Landlord has not reviewed or approved any provision of the
Sublease.

          4.   If Tenant or Subtenant violates any of the terms of this
Agreement, or if any representation by Tenant or Subtenant in this Agreement is
untrue in any material respect, or if Subtenant takes any action which would
constitute a default under the Lease, then Landlord may declare the Lease to be
in default and avail itself of all remedies provided at law or equity or in the
Lease with respect to defaults.

                                       2
<PAGE>

          5.   Subject to the provisions of Paragraph 6 of this Agreement, if
the Lease is terminated prior to the stated expiration date provided in the
Lease, the Sublease shall likewise terminate on the date of such termination. In
connection with such termination, Subtenant, at its sole expense, shall
surrender the Sublet Space to Landlord in the manner provided for in the Lease,
including the removal of all its personal property from the Sublet Space and
from any part of the Building to which it is not otherwise entitled to
occupancy, and repair all resulting damage to the Sublet Space and the Building.
Except as otherwise provided in the Lease, Landlord shall have the right to
retain any property and personal effects which remain in the Sublet Space or the
Building on the date of termination of the Sublease, without any obligation or
liability to Tenant or Subtenant, and to retain any net proceeds realized from
the sale thereof, without waiving Landlord's rights with respect to any default
by Tenant under the Lease or Subtenant under the foregoing provisions of this
paragraph and the provisions of the Lease and Sublease. If Subtenant shall fail
to vacate and surrender the Sublet Space in accordance with the provisions of
this paragraph, Landlord shall be entitled to all of the rights and remedies
which are available to a landlord against a tenant holding over after the
expiration of a term, and any such holding over shall be deemed a default under
the Lease. In addition, Subtenant agrees that it will not seek, and it expressly
waives any right to seek, any stay of the prosecution of, or the execution of
any judgement awarded in, any action by Landlord to recover possession of the
Sublet Space. Subtenant may not vacate the Sublet Space on a Sunday or holiday.
If the Sublease terminates on a Sunday or holiday, Subtenant must comply with
this paragraph by the end of the preceding Saturday or business day. This
paragraph shall survive the earlier termination of the Lease and Sublease.

          6.   If the Lease is terminated before the stated expiration date of
the Sublease, and if Landlord or any other party then entitled to possession of
the Sublet Space so demands, Subtenant shall attorn to Landlord or any such
party upon the then executory terms of the Sublease for the remainder of the
stated term of the Sublease, provided that, so long as such attornment is
demanded, Landlord or such other party shall recognize Subtenant's occupancy
rights provided further that such party's obligations to Subtenant shall be
governed by the terms of the Lease and this Agreement. The party to whom
Subtenant attorns shall, under such circumstances, agree not to disturb
Subtenant in its use and enjoyment of the Sublet Space, provided Subtenant
performs all of its obligations under the Sublease. Such party shall not be
required to honor or credit Subtenant for (i) any payments of rent made to
Tenant for more than one month in advance or for any other payment owing by, or
on deposit with, Tenant for the credit of Subtenant, (ii) any obligation to
perform any work or make any payment to Subtenant pursuant to a work letter, the
Sublease or otherwise (other than repair or maintenance work with respect to the
Sublet Space required of the lessor under the Lease), (iii) any security
deposits not in Landlord's actual

                                       3
<PAGE>

possession, (iv) any obligation of, or liability resulting from any act or
omission of, Tenant, (v) any amendment of the Sublease not expressly consented
to by Landlord, or (vi) any defenses, abatements, reductions, counterclaims or
offsets assertable against Tenant. This provision is self-operative upon demand
for attornment, whether or not, as a matter of law, the Sublease may terminate
upon the expiration or termination of the term of the Lease. Subtenant, however,
agrees to give Landlord or such other party, on request, an instrument
acknowledging an attornment according to these terms. No attornment pursuant to
this paragraph shall be deemed a waiver or impairment of Landlord's rights under
the Lease to pursue any remedy not inconsistent with the attornment. In the
event of such election by Landlord or such other party, (i) Tenant shall deliver
to Landlord or such other party any security deposit which Tenant is then
holding under the Sublease and (ii) Subtenant shall reimburse Landlord or such
other party for any costs that may be incurred by it in connection with such
attornment, including reasonable legal fees and disbursements.

          7.  Tenant and Subtenant each agrees:

                   (i)   None of Landlord's shareholders, partners, directors,
officers, agents or employees, directly or indirectly, shall be liable for
Landlord's performance under the Lease or this Agreement;

                   (ii)  Landlord's liability with respect to this Agreement
shall be limited to the value of Landlord's interest in the Land and the
Building (as defined in the Lease);

                   (iii) it will not seek to satisfy any judgement against
Landlord out of the assets of any person or entity other than Landlord (but only
to the extent provided in clause (ii) above); and

                   (iv)  the obligations of Landlord under this Agreement and
the Lease shall not be binding upon Landlord after the sale, conveyance,
assignment or transfer by Landlord of its interest in the Land and the Building,
and Tenant and Subtenant shall look solely to the transferee for the
satisfaction of such obligations. Any such transferee shall be deemed to have
assumed all of Landlord's obligations under this Agreement.

          8.   Tenant and Subtenant each represents and warrants that no rent or
other consideration is being paid or is payable to Tenant by Subtenant for the
right to use or occupy the Sublet Space or for the use, sale or rental of
Tenant's fixtures, leasehold improvements, equipment, furniture or other
personal property (the "Personal Property"), except as expressly provided for in
the Sublease. If such rent or other consideration including any rent or
consideration received in connection with

                                       4
<PAGE>

the Personal Property exceeds the pro-rata portion of the Fixed Rent and
Additional Charges payable pursuant to the Lease, Tenant shall comply with
Section 38.08 of the Lease and pay to Landlord one hundred percent (100%) of
such excess in accordance with the provisions of the Lease.

          9.   Landlord represents and warrants that (i) the Lease is unmodified
except as provided herein and in full force and effect, (ii) Fixed Rent and
Additional Charges have been paid through the date hereof, and (iii) to the best
knowledge of the undersigned, except as provided in clause (ii) above, Tenant is
not in default of its obligations under the Lease and no event has occurred
which with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute
such a default.

          10.  The Lease and this Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties with respect to Landlord's consent to the Sublease. This Agreement
may not be changed except in writing signed by the party to be charged.

          11.  All statements, notices and other communications given pursuant
to this Agreement must be in writing and must be delivered personally with
receipt acknowledged, or sent by a nationally recognized reputable overnight
courier (against a receipt of delivery), or by registered mail, return receipt
requested, addressed to the parties at their addresses set forth above, or, if
to Subtenant, at the Building, or at such other address as any party may
designate upon not less than 10 days prior notice given in accordance with this
paragraph. Any such communication shall be deemed delivered when personally
delivered, or on the date received or rejected as indicated by the receipt if
sent by overnight courier or by the return receipt if sent by mail.

          12.  This Agreement shall be construed and governed by New York law.

          13.  Landlord's rights and remedies under this Agreement shall be in
addition to every other right or remedy available to it under the Lease, at law,
in equity or otherwise and Landlord shall be able to assert its rights and
remedies at the same time as, before, or after its assertion of any other right
or remedy to which it is entitled without in any way diminishing such other
rights or remedies. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this
Agreement shall not impair the validity and enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.

          14.  This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties
and their respective successors and assigns, except as provided in Paragraph
7(iv) above and except that it shall not inure to the benefit of any successor
or assign of

                                       5
<PAGE>

Tenant or Subtenant whose status was acquired in violation of the Lease or this
Agreement.

          15.  Each of the persons executing this Agreement on behalf of
Landlord, Tenant and Subtenant represents that he or she is duly authorized to
execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of Landlord, Tenant and Subtenant,
as the case may be, and that each of Landlord, Tenant and Subtenant has full
power and authority to enter into this Agreement.

          16.  Tenant and Subtenant, jointly and severally, indemnify Landlord
against, and hold it harmless from, all costs, damages and expenses, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements, arising out of any claims for
brokerage commissions, finders fees or other compensation in connection with the
Sublease or procuring possession of the Sublet Space. Tenant and Subtenant, at
their sole expense, may defend any such claim with counsel reasonably acceptable
to Landlord and settle any such claim at their expense, but only Landlord may
approve the text of any stipulation, settlement agreement, consent order,
judgement or decree entered into on its behalf. The provisions of this paragraph
16 shall survive the expiration or sooner termination of the Lease or Sublease.

          17.  Subtenant indemnifies Landlord against, and holds it harmless
from any and all losses, costs, expenses, claims and liabilities including, but
not limited to, reasonable counsel fees, arising from the use, occupancy,
conduct or management of the Sublet Space by Subtenant, or its agents,
employees, contractors, representatives, invitees or visitors, or Subtenant's
business activities therein (unless caused solely by Landlord or Landlord's
employees' or contractors' negligence or wrongful act). If any proceeding is
brought against Landlord by reason of any such claim, Subtenant shall be
responsible for Landlord's costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred in connection therewith. If
any action or proceeding is brought against Landlord by reason of any such
claim, Subtenant, upon written notice from Landlord, shall, at Subtenant's sole
cost and expense, as the case may be, resist or defend such action or proceeding
using counsel reasonably approved by Landlord, but may not settle any such claim
without Landlord's prior written approval. The provisions of this paragraph 17
shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of the term of the Sublease
or the Lease. The indemnity and any right granted to Landlord pursuant to this
paragraph shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, Landlord's rights
under the Lease.

          18.  Landlord's consent to the Sublease does not include consent to
any modification, supplement or amendment of the Sublease, or to any assignment
of the Sublease or sub-subletting of the Sublet Space, or to any additional
subleasing of the Sublet Space or any other portion of the Premises, each of
which requires

                                       6
<PAGE>

Landlord's prior written consent (except that Tenant may terminate the Sublease
without Landlord's prior consent). If Tenant or Subtenant desires Landlord's
consent to any such other action it must specifically and separately request
such consent. Tenant shall give Landlord prompt written notice if the Sublease
terminates prior to its stated term.

          19.  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
Sublease, nor any acceptance of rent or other consideration from Subtenant by
Landlord or Landlord's agent shall operate to waive, modify, impair, release or
in any manner affect Tenant's liability or obligations under the Lease or
Subtenant's liability or obligations under the Sublease.

          20.  If there shall be any conflict or inconsistency between the
terms, covenants and conditions of this Agreement or the Lease and the Sublease,
then the terms, covenants and conditions of this Agreement or the Lease shall
prevail. If there shall be any conflict or inconsistency between this Agreement
and the Lease such conflict or inconsistency shall be determined for the benefit
of, and by, Landlord.

          21.  Each of the parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives
its right to a jury trial in any cause of action arising out of, or relating to,
this Agreement.

          22.  Tenant agrees to pay, upon demand, Landlord's reasonable out-of-
pocket fees and disbursements incurred in connection with and related to the
preparation and execution of this Agreement.

          23.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
one and the same instrument.

          Please acknowledge your agreement to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement by signing the copy of this Agreement enclosed herewith and returning
it to the Landlord.

                                       7
<PAGE>

          You may consider Landlord's consent to be effective upon your receipt
of a fully executed copy of this Agreement.

Very truly yours,

1290 PARTNERS, L.P.

By:  1290 GP Corp., general partner

By:  ______________________________
     Name:
     Title:

Agreed to:

WARNER MUSIC GROUP INC.

By:  ______________________________
     Name:
     Title:

BRONNER SLOSBERG HUMPHREY, LLC

By:  /s/ Meryl K. Beckingham
     ------------------------------
     Name:  Meryl K. Beckingham
     Title: EVP/Chief Financial Officer

                                       8
<PAGE>

                            [DIAGRAM APPEARS HERE]

Floor Plan of Sublet Space

1299 AVENUE OF THE AMERICA, 4TH FLR.<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.28

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

         AGREEMENT dated as of October 15, 1999 between Bronnercom, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the "Company"), and Marschall Smith (the
"Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to set forth in a written
agreement the terms and conditions under which the Executive will be employed by
and will render services to the Company;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

                  1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Effective Date of this Agreement is the
                     --------------
date for commencement of employment which is October 15, 1999.

                  2. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD. The period during which the Company
                     -----------------
shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall serve the Company under this
Agreement (the "Employment Period") shall begin on the Effective Date and end on
the second anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that on the
                                              -----------------
second anniversary of the Effective Date and on each subsequent anniversary of
such date (each such anniversary hereinafter referred to as a "Renewal Date"),
the Employment Period shall be automatically extended by one year, unless at
least 60 days before a Renewal Date either party shall give notice to the other
that the Employment Period shall not be so extended.

                  3. POSITION AND DUTIES. During the Employment Period, the
                     -------------------
Executive shall serve as General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Business
Development, with the duties and responsibilities customarily assigned to such
position and such other duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors or
the Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall from time to time assign to the
Executive.

                  4. FULL-TIME POSITION. During the Employment Period, and
                     ------------------
excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which the Executive is
entitled, the Executive shall devote his full business attention and time to the
business and affairs of the Company and shall use his best efforts to carry out
such responsibilities faithfully and efficiently. It shall not be considered a
violation of the foregoing for the Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or
charitable boards or committees, (b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking
engagements or teach at educational institutions and (c) manage personal
investments, so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the
performance of the Executive's responsibilities as an employee of the Company in
accordance with this Agreement.
<PAGE>

                  5. COMPENSATION.
                     ------------

                  (a) BASE SALARY. As compensation for the Executive's services
                      -----------
hereunder during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive
an annual salary (the "Base Salary") of not less than $200,000, payable at such
times and intervals as the Company pays the base salaries of its other executive
employees. The Base Salary shall be reviewed annually during the Employment
Period for possible increase. The Base Salary shall not be reduced after any
such increase, and the term "Base Salary" shall thereafter refer to the Base
Salary as so increased.

                  (B) ANNUAL BONUS. In addition to the Base Salary, for each
                      ------------
fiscal year ending during the Employment Period the Executive shall be eligible
for an annual bonus of (the "Annual Bonus"), of up to 100% of the annual Base
Salary, the precise amount to be determined by the Chief Executive Officer
subject to approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Annual bonuses
are awarded for calendar year performance and are generally paid in March of the
following year, subject to the conditions precedent that the Executive is
employed on that date. If the period from the Effective Date to December 31 is
less than a full year, any Annual Bonus paid in respect of that period shall be
adjusted pro rata based upon the number of months that the Executive is employed
by the Company during such fiscal year.

                  (C) STOCK OPTIONS. On or prior to the Effective Date, the
                      -------------
Board will authorize the grant to the Executive of options to purchase 2,500
shares of the Company's common stock (the "Options"). The Options shall be
granted under the Company's 1999 Option Plan and shall be subject to the terms
of both the 1999 Option Plan and an Option Agreement to be executed by the
Executive in connection with the grant of the Options. The Option Agreement
shall provide, among other things, that the Options are exercisable at a price
per share of $525.00 and that the Options vest over four years at the rate of
25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and 6 1/4% on each quarter
thereafter. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, the applicable
Option Plan governing issuance of stock options to the Executive hereunder shall
provide that all stock options granted to the Executive shall vest and become
exercisable within ninety days after termination of employment within two years
following a Change in Control, whether by the Company without Cause or by the
Executive with Good Reason (as hereinafter defined).

                  (D) BENEFITS. During the Employment Period, the Executive
                      --------
shall be entitled to receive employee benefits (including without limitation
medical, life insurance and other welfare benefits and benefits under retirement
and savings plans), Company-provided parking and paid vacation, in each case to
the same extent as, and on the same terms and conditions as, other similarly
situated senior executives of the Company from time to time.

                  (E) EXPENSES. The Executive shall be entitled to receive
                      --------
prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Executive
during the Employment Period in carrying out his duties under this Agreement,
provided that the Executive complies with the policies, practices and procedures
of the Company for submission of expense reports, receipts, or similar
documentation of such expenses.

                                       2
<PAGE>

         6. Termination of Employment.
            -------------------------

                  (a) Termination by the Company. The Executive's employment may
                      --------------------------
be terminated by the Company under any of the following circumstances:

                  (i)      upon the "Disability" of the Executive, defined as
                           the inability of the Executive to perform his duties
                           hereunder on a full-time basis by reason of physical
                           or mental incapacity, sickness or infirmity that
                           continues for more than 180 days or for periods
                           aggregating more than 180 days during any period of
                           365 consecutive days;

                  (ii)     for "Cause," as defined below; or

                  (iii)    for any other reason (a termination without "Cause").

                  (b) Definition of "Cause". "Cause" means and shall be limited
                      ---------------------
to:

                  (i)      wrongful misappropriation of the funds or property of
                           the Company;

                  (ii)     use of alcohol or illegal drugs interfering with the
                           performance of the Executive's obligations,
                           continuing after written warning of such actions;

                  (iii)    admission, confession, indictment or plea bargain to,
                           or conviction of, a felony, or of any crime involving
                           moral turpitude, dishonesty, theft, unethical or
                           unlawful conduct;

                  (iv)     commission of any willful, intentional or grossly
                           negligent act which could reasonably be expected to
                           injure the reputation, business or business
                           relationships of the Company or which may tend to
                           bring the Executive or the Company into disrepute, or
                           the willful commission of any act which is a breach
                           of the Executive's fiduciary duties to the Company;

                  (v)      the deliberate or willful failure by the Executive
                           (other than by reason of the Executive's physical or
                           mental illness, incapacity or disability) to
                           substantially perform his duties with the Company and
                           the continuation of such failure for a period of 30
                           days after delivery by the Company to the Executive
                           of Notice specifying the scope and nature of such
                           failure and the Company's intention to terminate the
                           Executive for Cause.

                  (vi)     commission of any act which constitutes a material
                           breach of the policies of the Company, including but
                           not limited to the disclosure of any confidential
                           information or trade secrets pertaining to the
                           Company or any of its clients.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         For purposes of this Section, any act or failure to act of the
Executive shall not be considered "willful" unless done or omitted to be done by
the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the
Executive's action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. The
determination that any of the above described events constitute Cause shall be
made by the Board in its sole discretion. The Company shall give the Executive
Notice of termination specifying which of the foregoing provisions is
applicable. The effective date of the Executive's termination of employment with
the Company (the "Date of Termination") shall be the 30th business day after
such Notice is given or such other date as the Company and the Executive shall
agree.

                  (c) TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE. The Executive's employment
                      ----------------------------
may be terminated by the Executive under either of the following circumstances:

                  (i)      for "Good Reason," as defined below; or

                  (ii)     for any other reason (a termination without "Good
                           Reason").

                  (d) DEFINITION OF "GOOD REASON". "Good Reason" means
                      ---------------------------
termination at the Executive's initiative:

                  (i)      within two years after a corporate Change in Control
                           (as defined in Exhibit A to this Agreement) if the
                           Executive's title, duties, status, reporting
                           relationship, authority, responsibilities or
                           compensation have been materially and adversely
                           affected; or if the Executive's principal place of
                           employment immediately prior to the change of control
                           is relocated to a location more than 50 miles from
                           such place of employment.

                  (ii)     after any material failure by the Company to comply
                           with any provision of Section 5 of this Agreement,
                           unless such failure is remedied by the Company within
                           ten business days after receipt of Notice thereof
                           from the Executive.

                  The Executive shall give the Company Notice of termination
specifying which of the foregoing provisions is applicable and the factual basis
therefor, and if the Company fails to remedy such material failure, the Date of
Termination shall be the 30th business day after such Notice is given or such
other date as the Company and the Executive shall agree.

                  (e) SEVERANCE BENEFITS UPON CERTAIN TERMINATIONS. If during
                      --------------------------------------------
the Employment Period the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company
without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive shall not be
entitled to any further compensation or benefits provided for under this
Agreement except as follows:

                  (i)      For a period of twelve months after the Date of
                           Termination, the Company shall continue to pay the
                           Executive (A) the Base Salary at the rate in effect
                           immediately before the Date of Termination (but, in
                           the case of a termination by

                                       4
<PAGE>

                           the Executive for Good Reason, disregarding any
                           reduction thereof that was the basis for such
                           termination) and (B) an annual bonus amount (the
                           "Bonus Amount") equal to the average of the annual
                           bonuses paid to the Executive for the three years
                           immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or the
                           average of the annual bonuses for the year(s)
                           immediately preceding the Date of Termination, if the
                           Executive has been employed by the Company for less
                           than three years. If no bonus was paid to the
                           Executive in the year immediately preceding the Date
                           of Termination, the Bonus Amount shall be calculated
                           at 50% of the Base Salary;

                  (ii)     The Company shall continue to provide the Executive
                           with group health benefits pursuant to COBRA (the
                           "Group Health Benefits") for twelve months after the
                           Date of Termination, and shall provide the Executive
                           with information and access to enable the Executive
                           to continue COBRA coverage thereafter for the maximum
                           permitted duration at the Executive's expense;
                           provided, that during any period when the Executive
                           --------
                           is eligible to receive any such benefits under
                           another employer-provided plan or a government plan,
                           the Group Health Benefits or substitute benefits
                           provided by the Company under this clause may be made
                           secondary to those provided under such other plan;

                  (iii)    The Company shall pay the Executive any amounts that
                           have been earned but not yet paid under Section 5
                           hereof.

                  (iv)     Stock options previously granted to the Executive may
                           become vested and exercisable as described in Section
                           5(c).

                  (v)      Receipt of severance benefits is conditioned on
                           Executive's execution and delivery of a separation
                           agreement including a general release of claims, in a
                           form acceptable to the Company, and on Executive's
                           strict compliance with the Non-Competition,
                           Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality Agreement
                           substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
                           B.

                  (F) ADDITIONAL SEVERANCE BENEFITS UPON TERMINATIONS AFTER
                      -----------------------------------------------------
CORPORATE CHANGE IN CONTROL. In addition to the severance benefits provided for
---------------------------
in Section 6(e), if within two years after a corporate Change in Control (as
defined in Exhibit A to this Agreement) the Executive's employment is terminated
by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive
shall be entitled to additional severance benefits as follows: On the one-year
anniversary of the Date of Termination, the Company shall pay the Executive a
lump sum amount equal to the Base Salary and Bonus Amount calculated pursuant to
Section 6(e)(i) above.

                  (g) ADDITIONAL LIMITATION.
                      ---------------------

                  (i)      Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
                           notwithstanding, in the event that any compensation,
                           payment or distribution by

                                       5
<PAGE>

                           the Company to or for the benefit of the Executive,
                           whether paid or payable or distributed or
                           distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
                           or otherwise (the "Severance Payments"), would be
                           subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of
                           the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
                           "Code"), the following provisions shall apply:

                                             (A) If the Severance Payments,
                                    reduced by the sum of (1) the Excise Tax and
                                    (2) the total of the Federal, state, and
                                    local income and employment taxes payable by
                                    the Executive on the amount of the Severance
                                    Payments which are in excess of the
                                    Threshold Amount, are greater than or equal
                                    to the Threshold Amount, the Executive shall
                                    be entitled to the full benefits payable
                                    under this Agreement.

                                             (B) If the Threshold Amount is less
                                    than (x) the Severance Payments, but greater
                                    than (y) the Severance Payments reduced by
                                    the sum of (1) the Excise Tax and (2) the
                                    total of the Federal, state, and local
                                    income and employment taxes on the amount of
                                    the Severance Payments which are in excess
                                    of the Threshold Amount, then the benefits
                                    payable under this Agreement shall be
                                    reduced (but not below zero) to the extent
                                    necessary so that the maximum Severance
                                    Payments shall not exceed the Threshold
                                    Amount. To the extent that there is more
                                    than one method of reducing the payments to
                                    bring them within the Threshold Amount, the
                                    Executive shall determine which method shall
                                    be followed; provided that if the Executive
                                    fails to make such determination within 45
                                    days after the Company has sent the
                                    Executive Notice of the need for such
                                    reduction, the Company may determine the
                                    amount of such reduction in its sole
                                    discretion.

                  For the purposes of this Section 6(f), "Threshold Amount"
                  shall mean three times the Executive's "base amount" within
                  the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code and the
                  regulations promulgated thereunder less one dollar ($1.00);
                  and "Excise Tax" shall mean the excise tax imposed by Section
                  4999 of the Code, and any interest or penalties incurred by
                  the Executive with respect to such excise tax.

                  (ii)     The determination as to which of the alternative
                           provisions of Section 6(f)(i) shall apply to the
                           Executive shall be made by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP
                           or any other nationally recognized accounting firm
                           selected by the Company (the "Accounting Firm"),
                           which shall provide detailed supporting calculations
                           both to the Company and the Executive within 15
                           business days of the Date of Termination, if
                           applicable, or at such earlier time as is reasonably
                           requested by the Company or the Executive. For
                           purposes of determining which of the alternative
                           provisions of Section 6(f)(i) shall apply, the
                           Executive shall be deemed to pay federal income taxes
                           at the highest

                                       6
<PAGE>

                           marginal rate of federal income taxation applicable
                           to individuals for the calendar year in which the
                           determination is to be made, and state and local
                           income taxes at the highest marginal rates of
                           individual taxation in the state and locality of the
                           Executive's residence on the Date of Termination, net
                           of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes
                           which could be obtained from deduction of such state
                           and local taxes. Any determination by the Accounting
                           Firm shall be binding upon the Company and the
                           Executive.

                  (h) OTHER TERMINATIONS. If the Executive's employment is
                      ------------------
terminated by reason of the Executive's death or for any other reason other than
by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, the Executive
shall not be entitled to any compensation under this Agreement other than:

                  (i)      Base Salary through the 90th day following the Date
                           of Termination in the case of the Executive's death,
                           and through the Date of Termination in all other
                           cases,

                  (ii)     any unpaid Annual Bonus that Executive has earned
                           fully in accordance with Section 5(b) above, for a
                           fiscal year that ended before the Date of
                           Termination,

                  (iii)    benefits under and subject to the terms and
                           conditions of any long-term disability insurance
                           coverage in the case of termination because of
                           Disability, and

                  (iv)     vested benefits, if any, required to be paid or
                           provided by law.

                  7. NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
                     -----------------------------------------------------
AGREEMENT. As a condition to his employment, on or before the Effective Date the
---------
Executive agrees to execute and deliver a Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and
Confidentiality Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
B.

                  8. NO MITIGATION. In no event shall the Executive be obligated
                     -------------
to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the
amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement
and, except as specifically provided in Section 6(e)(ii) (health benefits)
above, such amounts shall not be reduced, regardless of whether the Executive
obtains other employment.

                  9. NOTICES.
                     -------

                  (a) Each notice, demand, request, consent, report, approval or
communication (hereinafter "Notice") which is or may be required to be given by
any party to the other party in connection with this Agreement shall be in
writing and given by facsimile, personal delivery, receipted delivery services,
or by certified mail, return receipt requested, prepaid and properly addressed
to the other party as shown below.

                                       7
<PAGE>

                  (b) Notices shall be effective on the date sent via facsimile,
the date delivered personally or by receipted delivery service, or three (3)
days after the date mailed:

                  If to the Company:            Bronnercom, LLC
                                                Prudential Tower
                                                800 Boylston Street
                                                Boston, MA  02199
                                                Attn:  David Kenny
                                                Facsimile:  (617) 867-1111

                  If to the Executive:          Marschall Smith
                                                888 McKinley Lane
                                                Lake Forest, IL 60045

                                                Or at the residence address most
                                                recently filed with the Company.

                  (c) Each party may designate by Notice to the other a new
address to which any Notice may thereafter be given.

                  10. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall constitute the
                      ----------------
entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
shall supersede all prior agreements whether oral or written with the Company
and its predecessor entities with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                  11. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
                      ----------------------

                  (a) This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not
be assignable by the Executive without the prior written consent of the Company.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's legal representatives.

                  (b) The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company that
expressly agrees to assume and perform this Agreement in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no
such assignment had taken place, and "Company" shall include any such successor
that assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement, by operation of law or
otherwise.

                                       8
<PAGE>

                  12. MISCELLANEOUS.
                      -------------

                  (a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without reference
to principles of conflict of laws.

                  (b) This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a
written agreement executed by the parties hereto.

                  (c) The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held
invalid or unenforceable in part, the remaining portion of such provision,
together with all other provisions of this Agreement, shall remain valid and
enforceable and continue in full force and effect to the fullest extent
consistent with law.

                  (d) The Executive's or the Company's failure to insist upon
strict compliance with any provision of, or to assert any right under, this
Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or of
any other provision of or right under this Agreement.

                  (e) The headings contained in this Agreement are for
convenience only and in no manner shall be construed as part of this Agreement.

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

                [REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

                                       9
<PAGE>

                  (g) When required by the context, references to "the "Company"
in this Agreement shall mean or shall include Bronnercom, LLC, its successors
and assigns (subject to the provisions of Section 11(b), its predecessors and
its Affiliates. Affiliates are companies that control, that are controlled by,
or are under common control with Bronner Slossberg Humphrey Co.

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

                                      /s/ Marschall Smith
                                      ------------------------------------
                                      MARSCHALL SMITH

                                      BRONNERCOM, LLC

                                      By  /s/ David Kenny
                                          ---------------------------------
                                          David Kenny
                                          Chief Executive Officer

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                        DEFINITION OF "CHANGE IN CONTROL"

         "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean any of the following:

                  (a) any "person," as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and
         14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act")
         (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any trustee,
         fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any
         employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries), together with all "affiliates" and "associates" (as such
         terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Act) of such person, shall
         become the "beneficial owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3
         under the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
         representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the
         combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities
         having the right to vote in an election of the Company's Board ("Voting
         Securities") or (B) the then outstanding shares of Company's common
         stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock") (other than as a
         result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or

                  (b) persons who, as of the Commencement Date, constitute the
         Company's Board (the "Incumbent Directors") cease for any reason,
         including, without limitation, as a result of a tender offer, proxy
         contest, merger or similar transaction, to constitute at least a
         majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director of
         the Company subsequent to the Commencement Date shall be considered an
         Incumbent Director if such person's election was approved by or such
         person was nominated for election by a vote of at least a majority of
         the Incumbent Directors; but provided further, that any such person
         whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or
         threatened election contest relating to the election of members of the
         Board or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
         by or on behalf of a person other than the Board, including by reason
         of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened
         contest or solicitation, shall not be considered an Incumbent Director;
         or

                  (c) the stockholders of the Company shall approve (A) any
         consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the
         Company, immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not,
         immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as
         such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or
         indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate more than fifty
         percent (50%) of the voting shares of the Company issuing cash or
         securities in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent
         corporation, if any), (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
         (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or
         arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of
         the assets of the Company or (C) any plan or proposal for the
         liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing, a "Change of Control" shall not be
deemed to have

                                  EXHIBIT A - 1
<PAGE>

occurred for purposes of the foregoing clause (a) solely as the result of an
acquisition of securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of shares
of Common Stock or other Voting Securities outstanding, increases the
proportionate number of shares beneficially owned by any person to twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of either (A) the combined voting power of all of the then
outstanding Voting Securities or (B) Common Stock; provided, however, that if
                                                   -----------------
any person referred to in this sentence shall thereafter become the beneficial
owner of any additional shares of Voting Securities or Common Stock (other than
pursuant to a stock split, stock dividend, or similar transaction or as a result
of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company) and immediately
thereafter beneficially owns twenty-five percent (25%) or more of either (A) the
combined voting power of all of the then outstanding Voting Securities or (B)
Common Stock, then a "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred for
purposes of the foregoing clause (a).

                                  EXHIBIT A - 2

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