
February 12, 2001

  EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES VNU'S ACQUISITION OF ACNIELSEN

  Haarlem, The Netherlands - VNU, a leading media and information company, today
announced that The European Commission has issued a decision on February 12,
2001, declaring the offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock of
ACNielsen Corporation to be compatible with the European Common Market. With
this decision the sole remaining regulatory condition to the offer has been
satisfied and VNU intends to complete the offer at 12:00 midnight, New York City
time, on Wednesday, February 14, 2001. The terms of the offer are set forth in
offering materials filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December
22, 2000 as amended.

  According to Citibank N.A., the depository for the offer, as of the close of
business on February 9, 2001, a total of 54,818,284 shares of common stock of
ACNielsen, or approximately 93% of the 59,215,212 shares issued and outstanding,
had been validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the offer (including
shares tendered via guarantee of delivery).

  website:                 news.vnu.com

  VNU is one of the world's leading media and information companies and has
leading market positions in marketing & media information, business information,
directories, consumer information, as well as educational information.
Worldwide, VNU employs approximately 16,000 people and has annual revenues of
more than EUR 2.8 billion (1999).

  ACNielsen, with 21,000 employees and annual revenues of more than USD 1.5
billion, is the world's leading market research firm, offering measurement and
analysis of marketplace dynamics, consumer attitudes and behavior, and new and
traditional media in more than 100 countries. ACNielsen's clients include
leading consumer product manufacturers and retailers, service firms, media and
entertainment companies and the Internet community.

  The offer for all the outstanding shares of ACNielsen common stock is being
made through, and the foregoing announcement is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, Artist Acquisition, Inc.'s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO,
including the Offer to Purchase dated December 22, 2000, and the related letter
of transmittal, which can be obtained for free, along with other filed
documents, at the SEC's website www.sec.gov. ACNielsen stockholders should read
the Offer to Purchase and related letter of transmittal in their entirety before
making any decision as to whether to tender their shares into the offer.



