TORONTO, ONTARIO (Top40 Charts/ By Andy Burgess/ Somerset Entertainment Income Fund) - Somerset Entertainment has partnered with Rolling Stone Magazine, the leading authority on popular music, to launch a line of compilation music CDs that will be sold exclusively at Best Buy through the end of 2007.
Launched the first week of November, the Rolling Stone line features 12 unique titles merchandised on an interactive display. Consumers are able to sample the original artist recordings ranging from The Pioneers of Rock & Roll to 80s Metal Rock and from The Psychedelic Sounds of the 60s to 90s R&B. In addition to 16 outstanding tracks of music from each music era, each CD also includes an offer for 12 free issues of Rolling Stone magazine and a vintage Rolling Stone cover collage within the liner notes.
"We're really excited about the new product line," remarked Thom Allcock, Executive Director Interactive Marketing for Rolling Stone Magazine. "From top to bottom it's a tremendous consumer experience. It combines the most memorable and timeless recordings with the authoritative name in popular music. As well, the consumer is invited to join the Rolling Stone family. In addition, a persuasive merchandising system positioned prominently at the country's leading retailer is certain to generate sales."
This is the first time that Rolling Stone has participated in a CD program available at retail. In the past, Rolling Stone CDs were available as premium item with subscriptions or thru a direct mail program. The program was conceived and led by Somerset Entertainment, an innovative and successful marketer of music for major retailers across North America. In order to create and manage the new program, Somerset developed the strategy for the line, negotiated the brand license, defined the album concepts, secured rights from various labels, created attractive graphics and managed production and shipping.
"This is our expertise," says Andy Burgess, CEO of Somerset Entertainment. "We are a consumer product company that develops profitable, sustainable music programs customized for specific retailers. In today's challenging industry, we employ a number of strategies to market the CD successfully in a given retail environment."
Somerset is the leading North American producer and distributor of specialty music sold internationally through non-traditional retailers using interactive displays. The company's extensive distribution network includes mass merchants, specialty chains and independent gift stores in more than 20 countries, including the United States and Canada. Based in Toronto, Canada, the company employs over 150 people at offices in Toronto, Ontario (Canada); Buffalo Grove, Illinois, Minneapolis, Minnesota, (U.S.A.); and Essex, England (UK).
Introductory 12 Titles
The Revolutionary Sound of '60s R&B
The Hitmakers of '70s Disco
The Trailblazers of '80s New Wave
The Psychedelic Sound of the '60s Movement
The Crossover Grooves of '90s R&B
The Timeless Stories of the '70s Singer/Songwriter
The High Fidelity Hits of '70s FM
The Head Bangin' Heroes of '80s Metal
The Masters of Hip Hop
The Pioneers of Rock & Roll
The Noisemakers of '70s Rock
The Soulful Expressions of '70s R&B
