McCartney is 1st to sign with Starbucks label

[gldstwmn]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Musi....ap/index.html

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Paul McCartney was introduced Wednesday as the first artist signed to Starbucks Corp.'s new record label.

The former Beatle made an appearance via a video feed from London at the company's annual meeting.

The world's largest specialty coffee retailer announced earlier this month that it was partnering with Concord Music Group to launch the Los Angeles-based Hear Music label.

The McCartney announcement is another big step for Seattle-based Starbucks' attempts to spin part of its consumer appeal into the entertainment business. The coffeehouse chain already has produced and sold some albums, markets books, and helped develop a feature-length movie.

Hear Music has been used as a brand on other releases developed for sale in Starbucks stores. The coffee giant also has a branded page on Apple Inc.'s iTunes digital music store, and a handful of hybrid music-and-coffee stores that allow customers to burn tracks to CDs.

Concord, which controls several other labels, helped Starbucks sell the Grammy-winning "Genius Loves Company," an album of Ray Charles duets.

[DrummerDeanna]

Interesting. I knew Starucks was an emerging forum for music sales - I didn't know about all this!

[Stew_Matthews]

....it wouldn't have happened had Linda been alive....guess it'll pay for the divorce though!

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Stew_Matthews

....it wouldn't have happened had Linda been alive....guess it'll pay for the divorce though!

A lot of things wouldn't have happened had Linda not died
Still...I'm not an anti-Starbucks gal, so I am not too disapointed by this.

[Stew_Matthews]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

A lot of things wouldn't have happened had Linda not died
Still...I'm not an anti-Starbucks gal, so I am not too disapointed by this.

It wasn't particularly the Starbucks thing - I work in an industry that sadly wreaks far more damage in the world than they could ever achieve. It's just the fact that it is so sad seeing someone who has been so creative and part of one of the greatest bands ever being used simply as a marketing tool IMO.

S

[amber]

Ick. No Starbucks. But then, ick, no like Paul, so maybe they should be together in ickness.

[DrummerDeanna]

Originally Posted by Stew_Matthews

It wasn't particularly the Starbucks thing - I work in an industry that sadly wreaks far more damage in the world than they could ever achieve. It's just the fact that it is so sad seeing someone who has been so creative and part of one of the greatest bands ever being used simply as a marketing tool IMO.

S

Ah. And with that, I totally see your point. Of course he's letting himself be used as a marketing tool...anyway, as long as he keeps releasing his brilliant music I'll be fine

[Sarah]

I effing hate Starbucks. And I used to work there, so I have fair enough reasons. The quality is total ****. It's the McDonald's of coffee, and now McDonald's is doing "premium roasts". eyeroll goes here.

A few Wings things aside (and I guess Say Say Say), Paul's non-Beatles career is totally bland and uninteresting to me.

[estranged4life]

As a lifelong hardcore Beatles fan this deal makes me sick.

As for Starbucks, to quote Chris Caffery's "P.M.O.":

"Starbucks pisses me off, 5 bucks a cup, what the f**k is up?"

[macfan 57]

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

Ah. And with that, I totally see your point. Of course he's letting himself be used as a marketing tool...anyway, as long as he keeps releasing his brilliant music I'll be fine

I agree. I don't care what label he releases his music on. If it's anywhere nearly as good as his last album, I'll be happy with that.

[golddustwoman77]

Originally Posted by Stew_Matthews

....guess it'll pay for the divorce though!

That was what I was thinking. He won't have done this, if he didn't need the money to fork over to that B@t*h!!!!!!!!!!!!!