SEATTLE After turning its coffee outlets into a major music sales channel, Starbucks is launching its own recording label. The venture, Hear Music, will develop artists and records to sell not only in Starbucks' 13,000 stores but through traditional music retailers.
The coffee giant reportedly is looking to sign former Beatle Paul McCartney as one of its stars.
Starbucks is partnering on the new record label with Concord Music Group, an independent record and music publishing company based in Los Angeles. Concord and Starbucks have produced several recordings together, including the Grammy-wining Ray Charles' "Genius Loves Company," and Sergio Mendes' "Timeless."
Hear Music will seek out artists from a broad range of genres to help them reach the widest audience possible, said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, a unit of the coffeehouse chain that handles the sales of books and music in the stores.
The Hear Music venture will be based in Los Angeles, and Lombard, will serve as chief manager. He will work closely with Glen Barros, president of Concord Music Group, which will serve as a creative partner and will work collaboratively with Starbucks on promotion, distribution and marketing for Hear Music outside of Starbucks.