Mike Jason, Time Life's senior vice president of retail, said with a database of one million plus customers, a low cost structure and one-record deals, the business plan was unlike other labels and therefore had a great chance of being a success.

"We have the power of a major distributor in Warner Music Group, plus we have tons of TV and radio advertisement from our partners that are on retainer with us," says Jason. Direct Holdings had sales of $252 million last year and had an operating loss of $8 million. "By going in this direction we can now sell our music digitally on iTunes and other outlets which we couldn't do before." ...

Jason is hoping the venture can duplicate the kind of success their boxed sets have. To date the "Songs For Worship" series has sold 10 million CDs in the 10 years since it's release, while their "Body and Soul" series has sold nearly 6 million units in the 10 years since it was launched.

The plan is to sell the new CDs for around $18 via mail or in retail stores, including Target. Digital purchases will cost $13. In all, Saguaro plans 10 albums per year and hopes to move anywhere from 50,000 to 500,000 units.

Well, at least they're keeping expectations low. (I mean, how can a new Tanya Tucker record compare to the sexiness of Midnight Soul, at least when it comes to appealing to the alone and/or drunk?) But as long as they're looking for new artists to feature, I'd like to recommend these guys:

On first glance I thought the percussionist was playing a laundry basket, but alas.

NEW TITLES FROM TIME LIFE, SUPER CD HITS OF 2008? [NYP]
Time Life Music Presents... [YouTube]