September 20, 2002
Here is a really clever idea to fight music pirates - Give customers an extra value reason to purchase a genuine CD!!

On the inside of the packaging of Bon Jovi's Bounce is a 13-digit, randomly generated serial number. By entering that code on the group's website, fans enroll in a program that puts them "first in line" for concert tickets and allows them to listen to unreleased tracks from the band. On the official Bon Jovi web site fans are encouraged to become members by purchasing a legal CD.

"Members get access to exclusives like unreleased music, messages from the band, and, best of all, the chance to buy Bon Jovi concert tickets through Ticketmaster in select cities in the U.S., Canada, and Europe before they go on sale to the public. Your American XS membership also automatically enrolls you as a bonjovi.com insider, which gives you members-only access to exclusive areas of bonjovi.com. "

Rather than fighting a losing battle to prohibit ripping music into mp3's, Bon Jovi has instead attempted to give added value to CD purchasers. The WIZARD believes this approach could actually be used to sell mp3's on line. We're hoping Bon Jovi will take that step next.

And The WIZ congratulates Bon Jovi for trying to reward instead of punishing fans. These "old rock dogs" could definitely teach the RIAA upstarts a few new tricks.