Earache Records announce distrbution deal with EMI Music

LONDON, 6 OCTOBER 2009 — Earache Records and EMI Music are very pleased to announce the completion of a distribution deal that will see EMI Label Services handle Earache’s releases in Finland, Norway, Denmark and Greece. This is the first time Earache and EMI have worked together in Europe, building on their ongoing relationship in the US where EMI distributes the label through Caroline/EMI Label Services.

Earache is one of the world’s leading independent specialist rock and metal labels. Founded in 1985, its roster of artists now include bands such as Evile, Municipal Waste and Napalm Death. This new distribution agreement will take effect immediately and among the first releases to be issued by through the partnership will be Municipal Waste’s Massive Aggressive album and the upcoming record from Evile, Infected Nations.

Commenting on the deal, Earache Label Manager Dan Tobin said: “We view the deal with EMI as a hugely positive step in making our releases available in these territories. Earache is looking to tap in to EMI’s power in the marketplace to help our roster of bands achieve a greater level of success and to push the label forward generally. It’s an exciting deal and one that we are very much committed to.”

Michael Roe, EMI Music’s Vice President of Label Services – Europe, said: “EMI and Earache Records already have a successful partnership in the US so we’re very pleased to now extend this relationship into Europe. They’re such an important label in metal and hard rock; with the multi-territory infrastructure and reach of EMI Label Services we can bring their music to more fans in more countries.”

JET set date for worldwide priority release of highly anticipated new album

SHAKA ROCK set for international release August 25 on band’s Real Horrorshow Records/Five Seven Music with worldwide distribution and more through EMI Music

New York (June 9, 2009) – JET, the Australian rockers will release their highly anticipated Shaka Rock on August 25 on their newly created Real Horrorshow Records through the Five Seven Music imprint with distribution and services through EMI Label Services in the US, UK and Canada and by EMI in the rest of the world under license. This global priority will feature a worldwide coordinated plan of converging marketing, touring, publicity promotion, sales, distribution and other support from EMI and Five Seven Music. This move reunites the band with EMI and key members of the team that originally broke them out of Australia in 2003.

After four million albums sold worldwide and four Top Ten Modern Rock and Rock hits (including the #1 Cold Hard Bitch), the authentic Australian rockers have returned to form with an album that parallels their smash, Get Born, which produced hits like Are You Gonna Be My Girl and Cold Hard Bitch. The new album closes the gap between the raw roots of Get Born and the grace and melody of Shine On which together went on to make JET an international band of style and substance. Shaka Rock captures the charisma and energy of classic rock and roll with just enough punk swagger and contemporary flair to create something uniquely JET. The single She’s A Genius goes to radio on June 22 and a viral video for the track K.I.A. is making its way around the internet.

The JET album builds upon a deal announced last month between EMI and The Eleven Seven Music Group in which EMI will release and market The Eleven Seven Music Group’s roster in the UK and Europe. In addition to those territories, EMI Label Services will work with imprint Five Seven Music to release the JET album in the US and Canada and the rest of the world including support from EMI’s promotion, merchandising, digital and physical distribution, licensing, synchronization and brand partnerships teams.

Real Horrorshow Records/Five Seven Music are part of a new modern rock division of the top rock label confab, The Eleven Seven Music Group whose roster includes Buckcherry, Mötley Crüe, Drowning Pool, Trapt and others is also home to Eleven Seven Music, named #1 Independent Rock Label (2008) by Mediabase and the rock label of the year by industry trade FMQB (2008).

“JET is a band that transcends borders, which is why they are one of the handful of modern artists with a global footprint due to their compelling music and presence. We are thrilled to launch our imprint Five Seven Music with Shaka Rock in conjunction with JET’s Realhorrorshow Records as well as to launch our first major project with our partners at EMI Music around the world,” notes Allen Kovac, Founder and CEO of The Eleven Seven Music Group and the band’s manager.

“We’re thrilled to work with JET and Allen’s team to bring this stellar album to the world,” said Ronn Werre, EMI Music’s Chief Operating Officer, North America & Mexico, and President, Music Services worldwide. “They’ve made a fantastic record and our team around the world is ready to connect the band with both existing and new fans on a variety of platforms in some very innovative ways.”

“I can say that the band are thrilled with Shaka Rock in every conceivable way, and excited to know that we are 100% in control of every element of our career at this point with the new set-up. Releasing the record on our own Real Horrorshow Records in conjunction with Allen Kovac and his team at Five Seven, and working with EMI worldwide, the band have never felt stronger. We’ve had a don’t think twice attitude throughout the making of this record which continues as we get ready to release it,” says JET’s Chris Cester.

About EMI Music

EMI Music is one of the world’s leading music companies. EMI Music represents artists spanning all musical tastes and genres. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin. Its EMI Music Services unit provides EMI’s roster of artists – as well as independent labels and artists – with a global menu of commercial services and seamless access to an expanding range of revenue streams and business models.

About Five Seven Music

Five Seven Music is the newly formed complement to Eleven Seven Music, created to super-service alternative rock artists and their projects. With the release of Shaka Rock on Real Horrorshow Records/Five Seven Music, the label launches with multi-Platinum Australian rockers, JET.

Five Seven Music will mirror sister company Eleven Seven Music’s successful model of research-based marketing strategies targeted directly to the fans and building out from that base. Five Seven Music is part of The Eleven Seven Music Group which was founded by industry veteran and pioneer Allen Kovac, a revolutionary mind who has been at the center of some of the most creative and successful campaigns in the music business.

About JET

Multi-Platinum Australian rockers, JET, are: Nic Cester (vocals and guitar), Chris Cester (drums and vocals), Cam Muncey (guitar, vocals) and Mark Wilson (bass, vocals). Their third studio album, Shaka Rock is a return to form with what Q Magazine has called “new old rock at its finest.” Jet first gained notoriety in 2002 with their self-released EP Dirty Sweet. An initial run of 1000 copies in Australia soon led to a worldwide release and the opening slot on the Rolling Stones Australian tour. Months later, the critically acclaimed Get Born produced the runaway hit single Are You Gonna Be My Girl which was featured in an early iTunes ad and contributed to record sales of 4 million. The band followed with Shine On, written and recorded just after the brothers Cester lost their father to a long illness. Shaka Rock is scheduled for a global release the week of August 24 with She’s A Genius leading as the first single at the end of June. Look for the viral trailer to “K.I.A. at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAT2t1gtQZ8

EMI Music artists Coldplay, Katy Perry, Iron Maiden & The Verve nominated for 2009 Brits; Pet Shop Boys to receive Outstanding Contribution to Music award

LONDON, 21 JANUARY 2009 – EMI Music artists Coldplay, Iron Maiden, The Verve and Katy Perry have all been nominated for this year’s BRIT Awards. In addition, the Pet Shop Boys will be presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize.

Coldplay, whose ‘Viva La Vida’ has now sold over 6.6 million copies, won the joint-highest number of BRIT nominations – four, for Best Album, Single, Group and Live Act.

‘Viva La Vida’ was released last June and reached number one in 36 countries. The band have embarked on a huge global tour and are in the running for seven Grammys including Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Song Of The Year. ‘Viva La Vida’ was honoured further at the BRIT nominations through its producer Brian Eno who is up for the Best Producer award.

Alongside Coldplay, Iron Maiden and The Verve are also nominated for Best Live Act, giving EMI artists three of the four nominations in that category.

Iron Maiden completed one of the most ambitious tours of their hugely successful career in 2008. Circumnavigating the globe in their own customised Boeing 757, which was flown by the band’s lead singer Bruce Dickinson for much of the time, they played to almost half a million fans in 13 countries. A film of the tour, ‘Iron Maiden: Flight 666’, will be released into cinemas worldwide on 21 April.

Last year The Verve headlined the legendary Glastonbury festival as well as V and T In The Park. The band’s latest album ‘Forth’ was released in August and was the UK number one for two weeks.

In the international categories, Katy Perry is nominated for Best International Female Solo Artist. Her breakout global hit, ‘I Kissed A Girl’, was the number one single in the UK for five weeks and in the US for seven weeks and is nominated for the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy. Sales of her album ‘One Of The Boys’ are now approaching two million.

Pet Shop Boys will round off the awards with this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music BRIT. With over 50 million album sales worldwide during their career, the groundbreaking duo are still a major writing force in contemporary music as shown by the current success of the Girls Aloud hit ‘Loving Kind’ which they co-wrote. The band’s new studio album, ‘Yes’, will be released by EMI in March.

The BRIT Awards will take place in London on 18 February.

Legendary soul singer Van Morrison returns to EMI Music

The live recording of Astral Weeks from the Hollywood Bowl to be released worldwide by EMI Music in early 2009 on Morrison’s own Listen To The Lion Records

December 18, 2008, New York – Multi-award-winning legendary soul singer and songwriter Van Morrison has returned to EMI Music, with a live recording slated for release in early 2009. The album marks the first record to be issued on Morrison’s own label, Listen To The Lion Records, which will be distributed worldwide by EMI. The album captures the widely-acclaimed live performance Morrison gave at the venerable Hollywood Bowl in November, which featured a breathtaking recreation of the Astral Weeks album.

“I brought these records to EMI because they seem to have people with vision, who have ‘ears’ and who understand the significance of the complex arrangements and the classic essence of recordings like Astral Weeks,“ said Van Morrison. “They’re committed to maintaining the integrity of the records I make. That is what it’s all about to me.”

“Van Morrison is a true living legend, and he continues to inspire artists and fans that span generations and genres,” said Nick Gatfield, EMI Music’s president, A&R – North America and UK/Ireland. “We are delighted he is bringing his label to EMI and are very excited to bring his first release to the world.”

In his remarkable career, Morrison has become one of the most influential artists in the modern age. His album Astral Weeks, originally released 40 years ago, was heralded as a groundbreaking work and today is universally regarded as one of the most important albums in popular music history. Timeless music from the soul, Astral Weeks is ranked one of the greatest albums of all time by Mojo, Rolling Stone and Britain’s The Times.

“EMI has had the good fortune to work with Van over the years, but I am personally excited about this release because I worked with Van back in 1968 on the release of the original Astral Weeks recording” said Ian Ralfini, Senior Vice President, EMI Music. “This particular show at the Bowl was electrifying. For some of us it was a little bit of nostalgia and for others it was a brand new experience. But for everyone it was a great concert and a piece of musical history. We are honored that Van has returned to EMI.”

About EMI Music
EMI Music is one of the world’s leading music companies. EMI Music represents artists spanning all musical tastes and genres. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, Capitol Nashville, EMI Classics, EMI CMG, EMI Records, EMI Televisa Music, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin.

EMI Music enters into agreement with InMotion

InMotion’s airport-based Media Hotspot kiosks in US will feature key EMI Music albums and singles for sampling and purchase

New York, NY, October 27, 2008 – Under an agreement between EMI Music and InMotion Entertainment, music fans can now buy and download music directly to portable devices at major US airports. InMotion, the US’s largest airport-based electronics and entertainment retailer, will now make a selection of EMI Music’s key current and catalog albums and singles available for consumers to sample, purchase and download directly from its in-store PlayPoint Media Hotspot kiosks. Fans will be able to use PlayPoint’s touch screen stations to preview and buy full albums and tracks and transfer them directly to a range of portable music devices, including iPods, to enjoy on their flights.

Beginning this month, 45 InMotion retailers located at more than 20 major US airports, including New York’s JFK, Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and those in Miami, Atlanta Chicago, Dallas and more will feature current titles from artists ranging from Coldplay and Katy Perry to Al Green and Lady Antebellum. A rotation of new and catalogue titles will be featured on an ongoing basis.

InMotion will make albums available for $11.99. Downloads will be available as DRM-free MP3s in high quality audio (256 kilobits per second).

“This is a great new opportunity for us to help connect the artists with fans,” said Eden Goldberg, VP of Marketing and Business Development at InMotion Entertainment. “By offering a ‘fueling station’ for their portable devices, consumers now have an easy way to discover and buy new music they can enjoy on their travels.”

How PlayPoint Works:

Using a touch screen and credit card, consumers can browse, purchase and download content directly to their device for immediate use on their trip.

EMI Music partners with Lala on the first free music service without advertising

EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and over 170,000 independent labels are onboard with over 6 million songs

PALO ALTO, Calif., October 21, 2008 – Lala is unveiling the first and only free fully licensed service to instantly provide anywhere Web access to an existing music library such as iTunes. Replacing the outdated approach of uploading MP3 files from a PC, Lala introduces a licensed technology to instantly match songs from consumers’ personal music libraries with the Web-based catalog on lala.com.

Adding new music to a licensed collection is easier and less expensive than ever. Sample any full song or complete album for free. Add songs to a Web collection for only 10 cents, and buy DRM-free MP3 downloads for as low as an additional 79 cents.

“We live our lives in a browser, whether it’s emailing, watching television shows or using Facebook” said Geoff Ralston, CEO of Lala. “When I launched Yahoo! Mail few thought hundreds of millions would depend on Web email. My music belongs online in the same way. Will there be anything without a browser in 5 years?”

Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari browsers on both Windows and Mac OS are supported.

Major and Independent Labels Support

All four major labels including EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group have agreements with Lala to stream and sell music.

And unlike ad-supported music sites, Lala has garnered support from publishers and over 170,000 independent labels and distributors.

“We thank Lala for their support of A2IM and the independent music community and congratulate them on the launch of their new service which includes tens of thousands of independent artists, labels, aggregators and distributors,” said Rich Bengloff, President of The American Association For Independent Music (A2IM). “As the primary advocacy group for the independent music community, we also applaud Lala for recognizing the value of independent labels and artists to their business and providing inclusion to the independent community in their launch.”

The Most Affordable Music on the Web

Lala offers consumers the easiest, most affordable way to buy music on the Web. Lala’s catalog includes over 6 million songs which users can play once for free before buying. For as little as 10 cents, users can buy a web song, a new product that gives users the ability to play the song as often as they choose from their web collection. The web song fee can be applied towards the purchase of the DRM-free MP3 version of the same track. MP3s are priced from 89 cents or 99 cents and are eligible for 10 cent store credits based on prior web song purchase.

Unique Features of Lala

• Completely advertising-free service
• First and only fully licensed service for free Web hosting of a personal music library
• Instant matching of MP3s and iTunes FairPlay songs to the Web without uploading
• Fully featured web-application in a browser with speedy look-ahead search, drag and drop playlist creation, and instant, continuous music streaming
• 6 million and growing song catalog from all four major labels and 170,000 independent labels
• Free sampling of the entire catalog as songs or albums
• Web songs available for purchase at 10 cents or less
• DRM-free MP3s for additional price of 79 to 89 cents
• Support for popular Web browsers including Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari
• Support for both Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac OS

Kylie and Coldplay win big at the BT Digital Music Awards

EMI Music’s Parlophone wins 4 out of 5 nominations

LONDON, 3 OCTOBER 2008 — EMI Music artists Coldplay and Kylie were the big winners at this year’s BT Digital Music Awards in London on 1 October, each winning two awards making Parlophone the most successful record label of the evening.

Coldplay won the Best Rock/Indie Artist category and their official website www.Coldplay.com was voted winner of the People’s Choice Award by their loyal fans. Kylie, whose website Kylie.com is hosted and managed by Parlophone, won the Best Digital Innovation award for www.KylieKonnect.com – her ground-breaking, cross-platform social network, as well as the award for Best Pop Artist. Both Coldplay and Kylie were also nominated for Artist of the Year.

Dan Duncombe, Digital Director, Parlophone said: “This is a great result for Coldplay and Kylie and underlines the importance of our consumer focused approach and our ability to connect artists with their loyal fans through understanding, innovation and relevance. Fans and consumers respond to the right content at the right time on the right platforms. We are very proud of the work that Parlophone deliver in order to achieve these goals and it is very rewarding for these efforts to be recognised by the fans as well as the industry and our peers.”

The BT Digital Music Awards are held each year to celebrate the best uses of digital technology in the music world. The  awards, presented by Fearne Cotton and Rufus Hound will be shown on ITV2 on Saturday at 11.15pm.

www.Coldplay.com
www.Kylie.com
www.KylieKonnect.com

EMI Music signs on to ‘MySpace Music’ joint venture

EMI Music and Sony ATV sign on to groundbreaking ‘MySpace Music’ joint venture alongside Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group

The Orchard joins MySpace Music’s line-up of independent music distributors including ADA, Red, Fontana and Caroline

Myspace Music launches first wave of new product offerings with all 4 major record companies, 4 major publishing companies, and leading independent music distributor

Amazon MP3 to Power Integrated E-Commerce Solution Enabling Purchases of MP3 Downloads

McDonald’s, Sony Pictures, State Farm, and Toyota Are Inaugural Brand Advertisers

LOS ANGELES—September 25, 2008—MySpace, the world’s premier social network, alongside its landmark joint venture partners which include EMI Music, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG), Sony ATV/ Music Publishing and The Orchard today unveiled the new ‘MySpace Music’ product (http://www.myspace.com/music) injecting the world’s richest online music community with a host of new features for both users and artists. The new suite of products, which includes an ever-growing catalog of premium audio and video content, e-commerce offerings, and user and artist playlists, aims to further enhance the MySpace Music experience as well as provide monetization opportunities for its active music community.

Today’s announcement marks the first phase in an iterative global product rollout which will ultimately include a vast catalogue of premium and promotional content, a wide selection of new user-to-user sharing tools, and additional e-commerce opportunities for artists including merchandise and ticketing. Starting today, the new MySpace Music functionality currently available for U.S. MySpace users will also be available in Spanish and fully localized for the MySpace en Español community. Select products including the newly designed music player will be available globally to MySpace’s more than 120 million global users (comScore July 2008).

The first phase of the new MySpace Music unveils:
• The new, ‘MyMusic,’ personal music management toolset
• Free and unlimited ad-supported, full-length audio streaming
• Free and unlimited playlist functionality
• Free discography and content catalogues for SONY BMG, UMG and WMG artists
• DRM-free MP3 music e-commerce downloads powered by Amazon MP3
• Ringtone e-commerce powered by Jamster

The ‘MyMusic’ toolset empowers the MySpace Music community in the U.S. to download, stream, and personalize their music content.  The new product allows MySpace users to create playlists for both personal and public consumption and profile display, allowing profile visitors to stream all playlisted content on-demand and purchase MP3s of their favorite songs. Users can virally add a friend’s playlist to their own profile or take songs from a friend’s profile to their own.

In addition to managing and discovering new music, users will now be able to utilize MySpace Music’s enhanced search capability to browse and search for music by artist, song title, or album title. Users can freely stream their preferred content through a personal music player for a seamless listening experience while browsing MySpace or the other websites.

Beginning today, U.S. users can purchase DRM-free MP3 music downloads through MySpace Music’s new e-commerce solution powered by Amazon MP3. Now, adjacent to licensed songs within artist profile media players, user-created playlists, and certain music editorial pages, MySpace Music will feature buy buttons that will allow users to download and purchase MP3s playable on all digital music devices, including the iPod.  Similarly, users can click on a “Find Ringtones” button—powered by Jamster—within music players to purchase ringtones of their favorite artists.

The first four integrated sponsors to advertise on MySpace Music are McDonald’s, Sony Pictures, State Farm, and Toyota.  These brands will be powering customers’ access to a host of new music services.  McDonald’s will have presence on MySpace Music’s personal music player giving away a variety of free music downloads.  To promote the opening of Sony Pictures’ comedy “Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” the movie studio will be skinning all MySpace Music users’ profile playlists for an entire week with branding from the film.  State Farm will have rotating ads among all pages including the Featured Playlist, the Personal Music Player, and MyMusic where members go to create and edit playlists. With “Toyota Tuesdays,” the auto company will offer free music downloads and have a strong presence on MySpace Music’s Personal Music Player every Tuesday for a year.

MySpace Music hosts more than 5 million major, indie, and unsigned artists within the site’s music profiles section, which provides for a vast artist-powered collection of songs, music videos, tour dates, blogs, and photos.  MySpace’s deep, long-standing ties to the music community have allowed for numerous exclusive features from the most groundbreaking musicians in the world and the its new marketing initiatives will greatly enhance the existing MySpace Music offline concert franchises including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE!, Transmissions, Front to Back and The List.