Press release: 1996-05-13: Sega Music Group Enters Into Distribution Deal With PolyGram
From Sega Retro
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This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: The Free Library |
Sega Music Group Enters Into Distribution Deal With PolyGram; Will Debut First Video Game Soundtrack Recordings in U.S. REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 1996--Sega Music Group (SMG), a unit of SegaSoft, Inc., an independent software development company, today announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with PolyGram Group Distribution to launch a new category of music products. SegaSoft, through PolyGram's U.S. independent distribution arm (ILS), will debut its music product offerings this summer with the initial release of two video game soundtrack compilations: -- Ecco Songs Of Time is a collection of musical "soundscapes" from Sega's award-winning underwater adventures, Ecco The Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides Of Time. -- Sega PowerCuts 1 is the first in an ongoing series of albums that will combine the hippest rock, rave, funk, punk and house tracks to ever fuel Sega games. Featured in this debut collection are cuts from such hits as Panzer Dragoon, Bug!, Eternal Champions, Wild Woody, VectorMan and many others. Other planned releases under the SMG label entities include original soundtracks, a line of children's CD/book products and albums by breaking artists. According to Joseph B. Miller, executive vice president, SegaSoft, the company is providing an excellent vehicle to launch a music product line, having already exposed millions of people to new artists and their music via hit games. "Until we produced our first CD soundtracks for Sega, we didn't fully understand the cultural impact video games could have on our audiences. Today, like film soundtracks, video game music plays a huge role in the overall entertainment experience," Miller said. "Though we're giving listeners the opportunity to re-live some fantastic gaming experiences, you don't have to play video games to enjoy the music of some of the brightest, most talented young artists on the music scene today." The cross-pollination of video games and audio recordings is a natural, according to Jim Caparro, president and CEO, PolyGram Group Distribution. "Both PolyGram and Sega are industry leaders at providing the youth consumer with dynamic entertainment products," Caparro said. "By combining our collective skill-sets, be they creative or strategic, we intend to reach new levels in the creation and marketing of music. PolyGram welcomes SMG to the world of music entertainment. The level of excellence demonstrated by this talented group speaks to a prosperous future." At the heart of SMG is a staff dedicated to creating and releasing the most exciting and innovative music. SMG's state-of-the-art recording studio in San Francisco has been rated one of the world's top studios by several music industry publications. Originally created by Sega of America and now part of SegaSoft, Inc., Sega Music Group serves as an umbrella for a variety of music-related enterprises, including record labels, music-based products, and world-class recording facilities. PolyGram Group Distribution (PGD) is the full service home entertainment distribution company in the U.S. for PolyGram, the global music and entertainment group. PGD distributes music from A&M, Def Jam, Island, Mercury, Motown, and PolyGram Classics & Jazz. PGD has been the recipient of NARM's "Distributor of the Year" award for three years in a row. Headquartered in New York, PGD has 11 branches located across the country and a main distribution center located in Indianapolis. Visit the PGD web site at www.polygram.com/polygram. -0- Note to Editors: For more information about Sega Music Group and a complete list of services, link to their web site through www.segasoft.com or contact them via voice 415/284-1980 or e-mail at [email protected]. CONTACT: PolyGram Grace Salafia, 212/333-8576 or Access Communications Matt Afflixio or Gerard Sandoval, 415/904-7070 ext. 278 or 279 [email protected] [email protected] COPYRIGHT 1996 Business Wire No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder. Copyright 1996, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.