New York, NY - December 8, 2003 - Orchard Global Media Group (The Orchard), the largest distributor of independent music in the world, today announced a groundbreaking partnership with Working Today's Freelancers Union, a New York City-based, nonprofit organization representing the needs of independent workers-to provide New York and Tri-State area musicians with benefits and health insurance coverage. Beginning today, the agreement will provide Orchard artists the opportunity to purchase health, life and disability insurance at discounted group rates through Working Today's Freelancers Union. Working Today has further agreed to waive its application fee for Orchard artists, and is working with The Orchard to develop additional member discounts.

Artists and musicians, like other creative professionals, frequently operate outside the realm of the traditional workforce, making health insurance coverage costs prohibitive, and benefits difficult, if not impossible, to secure. With this partnership, The Orchard and Working Today offer independent artists the reassurance and piece-of-mind that comes with low-cost health insurance coverage.

"The Orchard and Working Today partnership epitomizes our commitment to support independent musicians in as many creative ways as possible." said Greg Scholl, CEO of The Orchard. "We are thrilled to partner with Working Today, an organization that is literally re-inventing healthcare for creative professionals in America". As Working Today continues to expand and develop its unique offering, we look forward to extending our affordable healthcare and insurance program to as many of our artists as possible."

To facilitate communication and collaboration between members of both organizations, The Orchard and Freelancers Union will set up partner pages on their websites detailing their association as well as their respective services. In addition, The Orchard and Freelancers Union will be working together on varied projects, including: reciprocal announcements; co-branded educational materials; co-hosting and - sponsoring events for The Orchard/Freelancers Union members; joint marketing and notification efforts through The Orchard and Working Today's e-newsletters.

About The Orchard
The Orchard (www.theorchard.com) is the largest distributor of non-major label music in the world, representing over 2,500 labels from 48 countries. The Orchard is the first company outside of the major labels to supply all of the new legitimate digital services in the United States and Europe, and also supplies music to traditional physical CD distribution channels in the United States. The Orchard supplies these sales outlets with more than 120,000 tracks spanning a multitude of musical genres, including Blues and R&B, Country, Classical, Children's, Christian, Electronic, Folk, Hip Hop/Rap, Jazz, Latin, Metal, New Age, Pop, Punk, Rock, Seasonal and World Music. The Orchard is headquartered in New York, serves Europe through its London office, and serves Australia/New Zealand and the Far East through its office in Melbourne.

About Working Today
Working Today is a nonprofit organization that is based in Brooklyn, New York, and represents the needs and concerns of the growing independent workforce through advocacy, information and service. Founded in 1995 by Sara Horowitz, Working Today encourages access for independent workers to affordable benefits and the same services and protections available to the traditional workforce, regardless of their individual job arrangements. Working Today's Freelancers Union offers group-rate health, life and disability insurance, as well as financial services to the organization's members.