NEW YORK, NY. & LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Milan Records) - Flycell, Inc., a leading mobile and online media and entertainment company, has reached a landmark agreement with Milan Records and Los Angeles-based rock outfit West Indian Girl that provides for the unique promotion of West Indian Girl's sophomore album 4th & Wall, in support of its upcoming October 23, 2007 release.
Through this pioneering agreement, the three entities will completely control marketing, distribution and promotion of the project from the album's initial conception. Milan Records services will include manufacturing, distribution and marketing through its channels; Flycell is not only investing in the band financially and from an A&R perspective, but will also be providing West Indian Girl with a gateway into the mobile and digital entertainment community; and West Indian Girl – Robert James (vocals/guitar), Francis Ten (bass), Mariqueen Maandig (vocals/percussion), Mark Lewis (drums), Nathan Van Hala (keyboard) and Amy White (keyboard/back-up vocals) – will deliver the creative materials. Flycell has exclusive mobile rights to the album – which is being licensed, released and distributed by Milan – and will be offering a suite of mobile products ranging from ringtones to videos, wallpapers, SMS text message alerts and other exclusive, unreleased material as part of the promotional efforts in support of 4th & Wall.
"This is truly a landmark deal that is testament to all parties creatively thinking outside of the box with regards to music production, distribution and promotion during a time when the state of the music industry is in flux," said Flycell CEO Alberto Montesi. "This is an exciting opportunity for Flycell to create new revenue streams as we expand beyond being a purely mobile entertainment company, and we strongly believe that West Indian Girl's music will fill a void in the digital media landscape, while bringing a taste of the California lifestyle to fans around the country. We are excited to be working with our new partners on this and future projects as Flycell expands its music initiative."
The unique partnership was spearheaded by Flycell Director, A&R/Entertainment Mark Reynolds – who joined the digital entertainment company in 2006 from BMG after a career in the music business as an artist, producer, manager and executive – along with Ian McEvily of Rebel One and Francis Ten on behalf of West Indian Girl. Together they approached JC Chamboredon, U.S. label manager, and Nick Bobetsky, VP, sales and marketing of Milan Records, who immediately recognized the potential. The band, along with Milan Records, Flycell, and the band's management, will work closely together in order to promote the new album.
"This marks the first time an independent record label and mobile entertainment company are working together from the moment the artist is signed, through the creation, promotion and release of the album," said Bobetsky. "We look forward to working with Flycell not only as a partner in the marketing of West Indian Girl, but also because they truly believe in the music. With their expertise in the mobile content arena, which is playing a larger role in promoting and selling new music, and our skills as a record label that is truly passionate about our releases, it is a perfect dynamic."
Added Ten: "We are extremely encouraged by the excitement already being generated around the new record and proud to be part of such an artist friendly, 'outside of the box' deal that taps into the expertise of a credible indie with great distribution and the progressive thinking of one of the top mobile companies in the country."
4th & Wall will be West Indian Girl's second full-length album, details of which will be released at a later date. A first single is scheduled for a September release TBD.
