NEW YORK, NY (By Lisbeth Cassaday/ Lava Records) - Lava Records announced today that Antigone Rising's major label debut, "From the Ground Up," has officially surpassed the 90,000 sales mark. The all-female quintet's release kicked off Starbucks Hear Music's proprietary CD series entitled "Hear Music™ Debut," which was created specifically to introduce new and developing artists and has been exclusively available at Starbucks stores nationwide since May 11, 2005. The album's overwhelming success is fueling a re-launch campaign, which will make the album available to traditional retail outlets beginning
September 13, 2005. The newly re-launched album will contain two bonus tracks as well as revised artwork and packaging. The inaugural release will continue to be available at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S.
Launched by Starbucks Hear Music and Lava Records through a unique marketing and distribution paradigm, "From the Ground Up" charted at No. 93 on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart (issue: May 28, 2005), reflecting the first five days of sales. Had the album been eligible to chart on The Billboard 200 Albums Chart, which requires that albums be generally available at retail, "From the Ground Up" would have debuted at No. 93 on The Billboard 200 Albums Chart (issue: May 28, 2005).
In addition to the disc's impressive sales, Lava's unprecedented marketing prototype helped to expose the album to hard-to-reach, non-traditional consumers while helping to procure several out-of-the-box national TV performances which included a 30-minute VH1 original special entitled "Listen Up: Antigone Rising" which premiered on June 1, 2005. Antigone Rising also appeared on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" (May 27, 2005) and kicked off "The Today Show's" "Rising Stars" week (May 30, 2005).
Timed to coincide with the re-launch campaign of "From the Ground Up" to traditional retail outlets, Antigone Rising is scheduled to perform on national TV shows such as "Emeril Live" (tape date September 13, 2005 with airdate in October) and A&E's "Breakfast with the Arts" (airdate September 18, 2005). Antigone Rising also landed the coveted opening slot on multi-platinum recording artist Rob Thomas' fall tour. The tour, which is expected to hit major markets across the U.S., kicks off on October 5, 2005 in Albany, New York, and will continue on through November 4, 2005. The full tour schedule is available below.
"The goal of our 'Hear Music Debut' CD series is to introduce talented, emerging artists to music fans seeking unique, new music experiences," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "The incredible response by Starbucks customers to Antigone Rising reflects not only our customers' strong appetite for discovering quality music but also demonstrates Starbucks' ability to leverage our unique marketing and distribution platform to the benefit of sales at traditional retail. We are extremely pleased to be working with Lava to share this special album with traditional music retailers seeking new and exciting music choices for their customers."
"From the Ground Up" was recorded live earlier this year in New York City at legendary Sony Studios. The album, produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Neil Dorfsman (Dire Straits, Sting, Paul McCartney), features a total of 14 magnificent tracks including the album's infectious first single "Don't Look Back." The song was co-penned by Antigone Rising and chart-topping, solo artist/matchbox twenty front-man, Rob Thomas. "The band is amazing," said Rob Thomas. "Cassidy is a born star. Antigone Rising is a band you will be listening to for a long time."
Antigone Rising was founded in the late 90s by sibling guitarists Cathy and Kristen Henderson. The band also features powerhouse vocalist Cassidy, Dena Tauriello on drums and Jen Zielenbach on bass. The five-piece ensemble's blend of 70s-era rock n' roll has taken them from playing small clubs up and down the eastern seaboard, to opening up for Aerosmith, Joan Jett and former Black Crowes' Rich Robinson. For more information, log onto: www.antigonerising.com .
Antigone Rising/Rob Thomas tour dates:
10/05 Albany, NY Palace Theatre
10/07 Providence, RI Providence Performing Arts Center
10/08 Upper Darby, PA Tower Theatre
10/09 Pittsburgh, PA Heinz Hall
10/11 Boston, MA Orpheum Theatre
10/12 Verona, NY Turning Stone Resort & Casino
10/14 Wallingford, CT Chevrolet Theatre
10/15 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun
10/16 Washington, D.C. DAR Constitution Hall
10/18 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
10/19 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
10/21 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center
10/22 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel & Casino
10/24 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle
10/25 Melbourne, FL King Center for the Performing Arts
10/26 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Casino
10/29 Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
10/30 Grand Prairie, TX Nokia Theatre
11/01 Denver, CO Lecture Hall @ CO Convention Cntr.
11/02 Salt Lake City, UT Ford Theatre @ E Center
11/04 Tucson, AZ Anselmo Valencia
