Starbucks Entertainment Area on iTunes to Feature New & Exclusive Hear Music Releases in Addition to Critically Acclaimed Catalog Titles
Starbucks and Apple today announced the availability of the Starbucks Hear Music catalog on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com), giving iTunes users the ability to preview, buy and download a wide variety of Starbucks popular Hear Music titles. Hear Music produces a wide range of albums showcasing new and classic artists including the well-known Artist Choice™ series, Opus Collections, Debut Series releases by emerging artists, as well as new works from major artists. Starbucks Hear Music offerings will be available in a special new Starbucks Entertainment area within the iTunes Store and will include a wide variety of popular content as well as playlists created specifically for iTunes.
“We’re excited to work with iTunes to add a significant new digital experience to the innovative buying experience we’ve been offering in Starbucks locations for more than 10 years,” said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. “Many of our customers want to listen to our music on their iPods, and now that will be easier than ever.”
“Millions of people enjoy the great music featured at Starbucks locations worldwide, and ask us for it by name,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes. “Starbucks Hear Music has been a hit with music fans and we’re thrilled to add a Starbucks area to iTunes with all this great music online for the first time.”
The Starbucks Entertainment area within iTunes will feature a wide variety of playlists including unique music hand-picked by the same Starbucks Hear Music content team responsible for selecting the music played in Starbucks stores around the world. Playlists and content will be updated frequently and will also include digital versions of many of Hear Music’s popular CD series and co-releases such as the Marvin Gaye Opus Collection and Sonya Kitchell’s Words Came Back to Me, which was released as part of Starbucks ongoing Hear Music™ Debut CD series. Customers can purchase either the entire playlist or individual tracks from the Starbucks Hear Music playlists.
The iTunes Store features over 3.5 million songs, 65,000 podcasts, 20,000 audiobooks, over 5,000 music videos and 220 television shows. With Apple’s legendary ease of use, pioneering features such as integrated podcasting support, iMix playlist sharing, seamless integration with iPod and groundbreaking personal use rights, the iTunes Store is the best way for Mac and PC users to legally discover, purchase and download music and video online.
Having sold millions of CDs and co-produced records which went on to receive multiple GRAMMY awards, Starbucks has had a significant impact on the music industry. Starbucks Hear Music provides a new and convenient way for consumers to discover, experience and acquire all genres of great music through its compilations, its innovative partnerships with other music labels to co-release, market and distribute both exclusive and non-exclusive music, and its breakthrough Hear Music™ Coffeehouses in Santa Monica, San Antonio and Miami. Starbucks Hear Music™ CDs can be purchased at Starbucks retail locations around the world as well as on iTunes.
Starbucks Coffee Company launched Starbucks Entertainment in 2004 to help customers discover quality entertainment options as part of their daily coffee routines. Starbucks Coffee Company first acquired Hear Music in 1999 to become Starbucks Hear Music, the sound of music at Starbucks. Starbucks Hear Music™ CD selections can be purchased at Starbucks retail locations around the world, as well as online at www.starbucks.com/hearmusic.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.
