MUSIC CHOICE CONCERT SERIES: TUNED IN TO SALES

As you know, we’re eager to bring you anything can be construed as good news. So it seemed worth noting that cable and satellite digital music provider Music Choice claims its Concert Series contributed to a 47% spike in sales in markets it reaches for artists who performed on the series in Q1 of 2002.

These artists included Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, Bilal and City High.

"I’ve seen how the Music Choice concert Series can make a dramatic impact on artist album sales," proclaimed Columbia SVP Gary Fisher. Columbia artists John Mayer, Train and Five for Fighting are among the acts that have participated in the past.

The 60-minute Concert Series programs combine live and behind-the-scenes footage; MC claims the shows reach 28 million cable households, and the shows are promoted aggressively on cable and radio.

"We had an exceptional first quarter and are looking forward to carrying the momentum into the next quarter," said Music Choice VP Label Relations and Sales Jennifer Churchill, who collects quarterly reports as a hobby and spends her spare time in quarterly-accounting chat rooms. "We credit these results to the strength of our promotional program, support at the local level from our cable affiliates and our recent decision to focus on two acts per month, which has helped to give the artists increased exposure. I look forward to issuing a similar canned quote next quarter."