From Reuters:
Target Corp on Thursday said it will release exclusive CDs by artists like Kenny Loggins and David Cassidy in the latest example of stars “of a certain age” bypassing music labels to partner directly with retailers.
Target on Thursday said it partnered with an independent start-up music label, 180 Music, to release 15 adult contemporary CDs in all 1,449 stores on Feb. 25 for $9.99 each. Similar releases are set to follow, according to 180 Music founder and chief executive officer Jim Brandmeier. …
Included in the first 15 CDs to be released at Target are new albums by Loggins and Cassidy as well as a Phil Ramone-produced CD with new songs by legends like Carole King, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Richard Marx and others.
While the idea of guaranteed rack space must seem nice for all the stars involved, there’s a crucial step missing from the plans to get these albums in front of the public’s faces–exposure. Aside from prominent space in the stores, how will Target let shoppers know that these artists are still making music that they want to hear? Ever-wailing endcap displays like those annoying ones that sell New Age albums, or forcing their ad company to boot the likes of The Concretes for, gulp, Richard Marx?
Target to distribute exclusive series of music [Reuters, via Hypebot]
Isn’t this the demographic that’s least likely to download music illegally? Target may be onto something.
Being on the rack is all the exposure that these disks need. That and a large sticker that advertises the 9.99 price. Folks who buy music at Target don’t generally go in looking for the joint they just heard on Hot 101, or read about on pitchfork… No, they’re more likely to be browsing for a copy of Juice Newton’s eponymous 1981 CD, or perhaps a new copy of OMC’s “How Bizarre”. And then…well what’s this…A Kenny Loggin’s disk? and cheap? well then, I’ll just have to pick that up…
(wipes hands on pants)
p.s. can anyone shed some light on the rumor that Kenny is married to a professional enema therapist?
haha! kenny lives @ the House on POOh Corner!
What happened was Steve Perry convince Kenny Loggins this was the way to go. Then Kenny tried to convince Michael McDonald.
Kenny: “If you don’t change with the times, you become an irrelevant joke.”
Michael (polishing Grammy): “Me, an irrelevant joke? Please.”
I’m Hollywood Steve. Good night.