AOL to Handle Britney's Cyber Life

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/19/2001 at 11:00 AM EDT

And in the lighter side of the news: Britney Spears will team with AOL Time Warner Inc. through a long-term strategic arrangement that will promote her across the AOL Internet unit, the world's biggest Internet and media firm said on Thursday. (AOLTW owns PEOPLE.) As part of the deal, financial details of which were not divulged, AOL's 31 million members will be party to such online Spears exclusives as chats with the pop star, access to her music and videos, and fall concert promotions. And yes, subscribers will be able to hear Spears's distinctive voice uttering everyone's three favorite words, "You've Got Mail." She also gets her own AOL keyword: "Britney." (Natch.) AOLTW will promote the pop star's albums and live tour. Spears, 19, has said that she will donate $1 from every concert ticket to benefit the children of the firefighters and police officers lost in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. "We are in the midst of transforming the online music experience for consumers, and this relationship between America Online and Britney Spears truly speaks to the Internet's ability to reinvent the way that music is marketed," said Barry Schuler, Chairman and CEO of America Online. Earlier this week, it was reported that Spears had recovered from a case of flu that forced a five-day delay in the start of her tour. She reportedly resumed rehearsals in L.A. on Wednesday.