McCartney and Starbucks: it's a done deal

According to the BBC, we can expect a new album in June....

Starbucks label unveils McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney has been named as the first signing to the music label of coffee house chain Starbucks.
The company announced plans last week to sign established and new acts to Hear Music, which has previously released albums of licensed songs.

Its biggest success to date has been the Grammy-winning Genius Loves Company album of Ray Charles duets.

Sir Paul is now in the fifth decade of a successful music career, which began with The Beatles in the 1960s.

Then and now

Sir Paul said that he expected the new album to be in the shops in early June.

Speaking to Starbucks' annual meeting on Wednesday, Sir Paul said that the album was something he had been working on for a little while.

He said the music was very personal and would look to the past and the now.

Sir Paul adding that he was looking forward to reaching his audience in a new way.

Starbucks' 13,000 stores worldwide including four hybrid Hear Music coffeehouses where customers can purchase music and burn it to CDs, and the chain has a branded page at Apple's online iTunes store.

Glen Barros, president of Concord Music Group, which will partner Hear Music, said recording artists should be attracted by the idea of a built-in audience in Starbucks.

Particularly at a time when digital downloading has created "a stressful time for the music industry", he added.

"This is a pretty powerful new platform, when you can reach 44 million customers per week through Starbucks stores," Mr Barros said last week.

 

"Mocha on the Run"

The industry must really be in bad shape when Starbucks gets to sign an ex-Beatle.

 

Chaos and Creation didn't come out that long ago. Paul is like the Energizer Bunny of music.

 

Maybe Macca will make a coffee concept album. That would be awesome!

 

Chaos, Creation and Coffee in the Backyard ?

 

Strange days indeed...

 

It started with "English Tea"...

 

At least I'll be able to get a copy, unlike many recent releases ...

 

The advance will at least pay for his lawyers.

 

Maybe something like "Chaos and Cremora"?

Or not.




Dan

 

He really is. His energy in both touring and studio work is astounding.

 

A venti coffee, and a Red Rose Speedway to go...

 

A great business move, and another great album to boot! McCartneys lead guitarist Rusty Anderson said that this is the album the band was working on, so this should be much more rocking than Chaos was!

Rusty described the album as amazing, dynamic and colorful!

 

"Found my way downstairs and drank a cup..."

 

Billboard says the album is produced by David Kahne.

 

Wish I'd thought of that one...

 

What next?

Maybe David Crosby will put out an album for Krispy Kreme.

 

Wonder if he'll bring his back catalog with him, like he did when he went to Columbia, then back to Capitol.

 

I like Driving Rain almost as much as Chaos and Creation, so I'm pumped about this new album, too, maccafan.

 

Reform for the industry has to start somewhere. I like this idea. It will at least buy some more time for the CD.

 

Garth Brooks + WalMart= negative

Paul McCartney + Starbucks= positive

 

As long as its available through other channels. I've never been in a Starbucks; I don't like coffee.

 

The announcement last week specified that Hear Music's CDs would also be available through traditional retailers.

See above.

 

Fixed that for you.

 

When did McCartney become a sell-out? I'm not really current on his
career. Always been a Lennon fan myself, at least he stood up for his
beliefs.