Brilliant Digital Entertainment Names Russell Simmons to Board of Directors.

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 2001

Founder of Def Jam Records, Phat Farm Clothing & Hip-Hop Empire Joins

Internet 3D Technology Company, Bringing New Dimension to

Web Music Videos & Advertising

Brilliant Digital

Entertainment Inc. (AMEX:BDE), a leading developer of 3D technologies for rich media content creation, distribution and ad serving for the Internet, has named hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons to its board of directors, enhancing Brilliant Digital's endeavors in the music industry.

Simmons' empire includes Def Jam Entertainment (a division of the Universal Music Group), Phat Farm Clothing, Rush Communications and D-Rush, a joint venture with Deutsch Advertising.

Simmons and his partner Stan Lathan are joint-ventured with Brilliant Digital Entertainment in Digital Hip Hop, a Los Angeles-based digital production company. Simmons will continue to work with Brilliant Digital to bring a new level of entertainment to the Internet experience through their animated Web Music Video and advertising platform. As well as joining Brilliant Digital's board, Simmons has become a shareholder in the company.

Additionally, Brilliant Digital has realigned its internal structure as part of a management transition plan. Brilliant Digital co-founder Mark Dyne will continue to serve as chairman, while Brilliant Digital's president, Kevin Bermeister, is assuming the additional role of CEO. Dyne has taken this step to focus his efforts on strategic transactions rather than daily operating matters.

Brilliant Digital's animated Web Music Video format was introduced to the hip-hop community with an interactive Web video for rapper Ja Rule, which was produced in collaboration with Digital Hip Hop. Brilliant Digital has also produced these 3D animated musical shorts for the chartbusting entertainers including Sum 41, Ludacris and Lady Luck featuring Redman.

Simmons is often credited with launching the hip-hop revolution that has broken down racial and cultural barriers while simultaneously building a billion dollar industry. Simmons' diverse holdings comprise a large segment of this primarily urban, youth-based culture.

"People expect entertainment on the Internet to be even more fresh and exciting than traditional platforms, and Brilliant Digital's 3D technology is more exciting than anything we've seen so far," said Simmons, Brilliant Digital Entertainment's newest board member. "Brilliant Digital's animated Web Music Videos use the Internet to bring the same type of innovation that MTV provided consumers during the early 80s with the launch of music videos. Brilliant Digital technology brings a new life to the Internet, and I'm excited to be a part of their team."