iStockphoto Adds 30,000 Royalty-Free and Single-Production Audio Tracks to Become One-Stop Destination for User-Generated Stock Images, Videos and Sou

AUSTIN, Texas, SXSW Booth 309, and CALGARY, Alberta– March 18, 2009 – iStockphoto®, the world’s leading stock multimedia destination, announced its new and diverse audio collection today at the SXSW Music Festival. iStock’s Standard Audio collection includes over 11,000 royalty-free, user-generated sound effects and music tracks. iStock also debuted a new Pump Audio collection of over 18,000 single-production music tracks. iStock is now the first company to offer stock imagery, video footage, vector illustrations, Flash files and audio for purchase under a single payment model, on one convenient site. iStock’s Standard Audio tracks start as low as $2 each with Pump Audio tracks as low as $29. Music and sound effects tracks can be used in a variety of creative projects, from Web video to TV shows, movies, commercials, public performances and even games.

For online editors and bloggers: Access video interviews with iStock COO, a buyer and an artist, and a demo of an audio track being downloaded here: http://inr.mediaseed.tv/iStockphoto_36319/

iStock is a pioneer in monetizing user-generated content, with contributing artists and customers from nearly every country in the world. iStock shares royalties with its contributing artists and is currently paying out close to $1.1 million a week. iStock continues to have some of the strictest quality standards in the industry, making it uniquely poised to offer an outstanding, high-quality audio collection.

“The iStock model extends purchasing power to masses of people, many of whom are already devouring our image and video content,” said Kelly Thompson, COO of iStockphoto. “We are truly the Web’s easiest solution to buying all types of multimedia content in one place and under a single account.”

Bubble, Pop, Pow, Zing: How it Works:
People looking for music can go to www.iStockaudio.com and search over 30,000 audio files via keyword search, and by genre, tempo, key signature, time signature and categories. From there, customers can easily preview and purchase audio tracks.

To use a music track or a sound effect with no restrictions and a multiple number of times, iStock’s Standard Audio Collection is the customer’s best choice. iStock also offers a Pump Audio Collection, for single-production use. More detailed information to help customers decide which collection to use can be found at: http://www.istockphoto.com/faq.php?FormName=FaqSearchForm&Category=35

Sound of the 70s Contest
To celebrate the premiere of iStock’s Standard Audio, we’ve launched the “Sound of the 70s Contest”. Entrants are asked to submit an original music composition reflecting a clear 70s vibe. The contest closes on March 31, 2009 and winners will be announced on April 23, 2009.
Find more contest details and prizes at http://www.istockphoto.com/article_view.php?ID=565

iStockaudio Standard Collection Pricing and Details
The iStockaudio standard collection currently offers more than 11,000 tracks from 500 global artists. The tracks range from five seconds to four minutes in length and vary in complexity. Tracks include public performance, synchronization and mechanical licenses. With credits as low as $.95, pricing is as follows:

* Basic compositions: 2 credits (isolated sounds/instruments & sound effects)
* Detailed compositions: 5 credits (short phrase with multiple sound elements)
* Complex compositions: 15 credits (short or simple complete compositions)
* Elaborate compositions: 25 credits (long and detailed complete compositions



Pump Audio on iStock
Pump Audio is a collection of full-length tracks by indie artists from Pump Audio, found only on iStock. The single-production collection currently offers more than 18,000 tracks. With credits as low as $.95, pricing is as follows:

* Web only: non-lyrical: 30 credits
* All media: non-lyrical: 60 credits
* Web only: lyrical: 40 credits
* All media: lyrical: 80 credits

About iStockphoto
iStockphoto is the world’s leading royalty-free stock multimedia destination, where a file is downloaded from somewhere in the world every single second. iStock created the micropayment business model in stock media and is a recognized pioneer in successfully monetizing user-generated content. Browse more than 4.5 million photos, illustrations, video, audio and Flash files starting at $1. iStock is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Getty Images.