SEATTLE, WA. (Top40 Charts/ Starbucks Entertainment) - Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX) Entertainment announced today that it will release a CD of 15 original tracks by Starbucks partners (employees). The first-of-its-kind compilation is the result of a company-wide contest that invited Starbucks partners to submit original solo or band recordings. 'Off the Clock Vol. 1: New
Music from Up & Coming Starbucks Artists' will be available exclusively at Starbucks Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada beginning April 3, 2007. This newest venture continues Starbucks unwavering support of new talent – in this case, from within its own family of partners.
'Off the Clock Vol. 1: New Music from Up & Coming Starbucks Artists' is the first installment in an innovative Partner Music Contest series. Originally announced in the fall of 2006, the effort was widely embraced by Starbucks partners and within weeks the Entertainment team was flooded with submissions. More than 800 original recordings from solo artists and bands were submitted for consideration. Fifteen recordings were chosen and the result is an exceptional, must-hear album featuring songs that rank with some of the best new music today.
'When we began listening to the submissions, we were blown away at the quality of music we discovered among our colleagues. These Starbucks partners are amazing musicians with great songs that deserve to be heard,' said Ken Lombard, president Starbucks Entertainment. ''Off the Clock' is a terrific collection of undiscovered talent.'
The 15 tracks featured on 'Off the Clock' weave an impressive tapestry of modern music, with styles that blend and embrace folk, rock, pop, jazz and alternative rock. The artists were chosen from nearly every region in the United States as well as a partner band from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Starbucks Entertainment is building an impressive track record of offering the best quality music to its customers, including recent releases by Lily Allen, The Shins, The Decemberists and Neko Case to name a few. Starbucks Entertainment has also created an innovative new paradigm for breaking emerging talent such as Antigone Rising, Sonya Kitchell, Low Stars and CéU with its Starbucks Hear Music™ Debut CD series. In their tireless pursuit of fresh new talent, Starbucks did not overlook their most valuable asset: the passionate people who connect with customers every day.
Starbucks Entertainment is able to leverage its unique platform, including a footprint of more than 6,500 locations across the U.S. and Canada and strong customer loyalty, to effectively introduce its customers to emerging artists.
Starbucks will support 'Off the Clock' with in-store play, in-store signage and point-of-purchase displays in all Company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada. Starbucks also will utilize its relationship with XM Satellite Radio to offer special 'Off the Clock' programming on Starbucks Hear Music™ Channel 75 on XM Satellite Radio.
Starbucks is an organization of passionate, talented partners who have rich lives both inside and outside of the workplace. Starbucks Entertainment chose the title 'Off the Clock' in honor of the spirit of creativity and passion that partners carry with them both on and 'Off the Clock.'
'Off the Clock Vol. 1: New Music from Up & Coming Starbucks Artists' will be available exclusively at Starbucks Company-operated locations, online at www.starbucks.com/hearmusic and on the Starbucks Entertainment area on iTunes beginning April 3, 2007. Proceeds from the sale of the CD will support a $25,000 donation to City at Peace, a nationally-recognized non-profit organization that empowers teenagers to create safe, healthy and peaceful lives and communities, using the performing arts as a vehicle to develop the next generation of leaders for change.
THE TRACKS:
1. Scatteredtrees "Sparrow" (Barista, Loves Park, IL)
2. The Young Immortals "The Fever" (Barista, Portland, OR)
3. Trances Arc "Champagne Wishes" (Shift Supervisor, Atlanta, GA)
4. Carly Escoto "Stay for Good" (Barista, Thousand Oaks, CA)
5. Luma "Ever So Slow" (Asst. Manager, Sag Harbor, NY)
6. Baumer "Take What's Mine" (Barista, Cola, SC)
7. Fools & Horses "The Therapy" (Barista, Baltimore, MD)
8. One Life Lost "You and Me" (Shift Supervisor, Columbus, OH)
9. Riverman "Light of the Moon" (Barista, Orlando, FL)
10. Folkloriate "Small Boat" (Asst. Manager, Glendale, CA)
11. Claire Bradley "Hallelujah" (Shift Supervisor, Fayetteville, GA)
12. Chuck E. Costa "When the City Comes" (Shift Supervisor, Madison, CT)
13. Racky Thomas "Eyes Like Diamonds" (Asst. Manager, Dorchester, MA)
14. Sweetheart "See You on the Weekend" (Store Manager, Vancouver, BC)
15. Akai "Beautiful" (Barista, St. Paul, MN)
