New Playbill Record label

[IssaMe]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 9:23am

Has anyone yet made note of the new theater-oriented record label which Playbill is starting.

They have acquired the rights to Sony (CBS, Epic, Columbia) and RCA (including Camden) Broadway cast albums (which, between these labels, number in the hundreds) plus theater-related product (Broadway stars such as Gwen Verdon, Larry Kert, Florence Henderson, etc. recorded solo albums for these labels).

They also intend to record Broadway and theater people with new CDs - the first such release being the new Brian Stokes Mitchell CD on June 6th. Also, a series of compilation CDs based on previously released musical theater material.

They will market through various means - conventional in-store distribution, internet sales, iPod, etc. And through the various Playbill groups and clubs which number in the hundreds of thousands of members.

Also, Playbill is also launching a 24-hour radio station this summer.

Suddenly, there will be much old and new material available...and this could be a major label to take up the dropped ball from the big labels which seem to have to a large extent deserted Broadway and theater music.

[Billboard Girl]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:00pm

Here's an article about it that ran in the latest issue of Billboard:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060318/media_nm/playbill_dc_1

[Becky]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 1:18pm

Wonder if they've watched the success of Sh-k-Boom's label and thought...what the hell?

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 2:22pm

It actually sounds more like a brand name being attached to existing Sony/BMG recordings.

[timote316]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:41pm

I can't say this is a bad thing. Maybe a little competition will make Sh-K-Boom even better!

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 5:45pm

This is great news!

[BJC899]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 6:47pm

It's about time.

[jasobres]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 9:00pm

Wow! That's all I have to say.

[bryan]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 9:08pm

mabye they can put out good vibrations and in my life and lennon.

[ElphabaRose]

Posted: 3/19/06 at 9:09pm

Maybe they can, but they won't.