Business News
Paul McCartney to be first artist on Starbucks' label
Mar 22, 2007, 21:19 GMT
Seattle - Former Beatle Paul McCartney has signed on as the first artist on a new record label being launched by the world's largest coffee house chain, Starbucks, media reports said Thursday.
The announcement was made at a shareholders' meeting in Seattle, Washington, on Wednesday.
The music enterprise is the joint project of Starbucks and the American music firm Concord Music Group, and will be called Hear Music.
McCartney spoke to shareholders on a giant monitor, saying it was a 'new world' in which people were finding new ways to do things.'
The new McCartney album - his first in two years - will be available in Starbucks stores and regular music stores.
Starbucks and Concord collaborated before on a Ray Charles Album, Genius Loves Company, that sold 5.5 million copies and received eight Grammys, including album of the year.
They also produced the album Timeless by Sergio Mendes, which has sold nearly 1 million copies.
Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz, who said Starbucks over the coming four years would add 10,000 shops to its current 13,168 stores, worried last month in a memo that Starbucks cafes 'no longer have the soul of the past' and that some people even call them 'sterile, cookie cutter.'
Schultz said it was the first annual meeting where the share price was lower - by 7.1 per cent - than the previous annual meeting in February 2006.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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I don't think that EMI has anything to worry about considering that Mr McCartney's record sales are not what they were. I do suppose that it is a prestige thing for StarBucks.
I also don't think that the fledging label would try to sign up some hard core Hip Hop act or a cutting alt rock band so the major labels need not worry.
I don't think that EMI has anything to worry about considering that Mr McCartney's record sales are not what they were. I do suppose that it is a prestige thing for StarBucks.
I also don't think that the fledging label would try to sign up some hard core Hip Hop act or a cutting alt rock band so the major labels need not worry. Yes, Starbucks is sterile and safe.
Then again, given its track record, this venture, along with the recent publcity from Sir Paul's divorce, might produce a surprise hit.
Hear Music has always had a pretty decent music selection in Starbucks cafes. Besides, branching away from coffee and into book and media sales will surely combat this 'watering down' of the Starbucks experience. It doesn't get more personal than Paul McCartney, we've known him for decades. Stay tuned for happy things like Happy Feet and the Pursuit of Happyness on dvd from the Empire of the Emerald Mermaid.
malcolm young rules the world . and hey , silly love songs !? a world full of em !? all sounds good to me . good luck paul . your both truely wonderful , and i love you . thankyou so very much for bringing total joy to our ride .
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Cello ManMar 22nd, 2007 - 23:16:06
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