Prince, Music Legend And Internet Visionary, To Receive Webby Lifetime Achievement Award At The 10th Annual Webby Awards

NEW YORK, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of his visionary use of the Internet to distribute music and connect with audiences, music legend Prince will be honored at The 10th Annual Webby Awards on June 12th in New York City, the International Academy of the Digital Arts and Sciences announced today.

The first major artist to release an entire album -- 1997's Crystal Ball -- exclusively on the Web, Prince's leadership online has transformed the entertainment industry and reshaped the relationship between artist and fan. Long before MySpace and iTunes, Prince used the Web as a new way to distribute music, premiere videos, and build his relationship with his fans. His groundbreaking web site, NPG Music Club boasts more than seven full-length CDs of music that are unavailable anywhere else.

"Besides being a musical genius, Prince is a visionary who recognized early on that the web would completely change how we experience music," said Tiffany Shlain, founder of The Webby Awards. "For more than a decade, he has tapped the power of the Web to forge a deeper connection with his fans and push the boundaries of technology and art."

Prince will be saluted alongside Webby Awards winners in 69 categories, as well as five other Special Achievement honorees -- the founders of Myspace.com, Thomas Friedman, Mark Cuban, The Gorillaz, and Internet co-inventor Dr. Robert Kahn -- which were announced earlier this month.

Proclaimed "the online equivalent of an Oscar" by the New York Times (June 21, 2005), The Webby Awards is the leading international honor for Web sites and the innovators behind them.

The Webby Awards is presented by the Academy, a global organization with over 500 members including musician David Bowie, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, The Body Shop president Anita Roddick, "Simpsons" creator Matt Groening, Naked Chef Jamie Oliver, and fashion designer Max Azria.

Over 600 winners, industry leaders, and celebrities will attend the June 12th ceremony at New York City's landmark Cipriani Wall Street. For the second year in a row, Rob Corddry of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart will emcee the evening's festivities.

In keeping with Webby tradition, all winners and Webby Special Achievement honorees will be limited to five-word acceptance speeches.