PRESSPLAY SERVES NOTICE

The online music subscription service pressplay—a Vivendi Universal-Sony joint venture—has achieved a first: exclusive distribution rights to the soundtrack for a major motion picture.

Yes, you read that right. Not just exclusive online rights. Not just an exclusive debut. The soundtrack for the upcoming Hugh Grant-Sandra Bullock starrer Two Weeks Notice (from Warner Bros. Pictures) will not be available in any other form, CD included, except as content on the service.

The ST’s lead single, Vanessa Carlton and Counting Crows’ cover of Joni Mitchell’s protest classic "Big Yellow Taxi," is currently enjoying mad spins at Hot AC. The song runs over the closing credits of the romantic comedy, which hits theaters on 12/20. Other tracks from the "album" include Norah Jones, who actually appears in the movie singing "The Nearness of You"; and the standard Brook Benton-Dinah Washington duet "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)," which serves as the opening title music.

The idea of digitally distributing the ST is rumored to have originated with Bullock, who also served as producer on the feature. The actress is said to have played a strong role in the formation of the film’s soundtrack and to have been interested, for some time, in making music available to consumers in new ways.

She soon hooked up with pressplay chieftain Mike Bebel, and the rest is history—or at least what passes for history nowadays.

Bullock plays a stressed-out attorney in the film, which was written and directed by Marc Lawrence (Miss Congeniality). Grant appears as her millionaire boss. Co-stars include Mark Feuerstein and Alicia Witt.

You will see this film. You will laugh and well up at designated moments. You will tell your friends you loved it. You will continue to engage in activities that enhance the quarterly profitability of multinational conglomerates’ entertainment divisions. You will awaken refreshed, and you will not remember reading this paragraph.

But you won’t be able to buy the soundtrack at your local megamall’s CD Barn. You can only enjoy it on pressplay.