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"This is an artist that takes just a single listen to know you’ve got something special on your hands."
—-Andrew Slater, Capitol Records President

RAE OF LIGHT

Capitol Records Newcomer Corinne Bailey Rae Looks to Duplicate her U.K. Success Stateside
Her name is Corinne Bailey Rae, and she’s been compared to everyone from Billie Holiday and Sade to Macy Gray, Lauryn Hill, Joss Stone, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Norah Jones.

Said Capitol Records President Andrew Slater: “Corinne Bailey Rae is one of those artists who strikes a chord the moment you hear her. She has an appeal that crosses genres, formats and even cultural boundaries, and our promotional and marketing campaigns will reflect that diversity. This is an artist that takes just a single listen to know you’ve got something special on your hands.”

The 27-year-old U.K. songbird’s insinuating jazz-blues-soul croon is equal parts Mississippi delta and Manhattan supper club, but she comes from Leeds, and her tastes range from the traditional chants of her Baptist upbringing to the sounds of Led Zeppelin and Primal Scream, as well as the trip-hop of Bjork and Massive Attack.

Her self-titled Capitol Records debut hits the stateside streets June 20 on the heels of the first single, “Put Your Records On.” It’s already double-platinum in the U.K. and gold in several other countries, with worldwide sales over 1 million.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” she says of her album. “Chilled-out, acoustic, kooky, atmospheric and soulful.”

After her limited-edition EP Like a Star entered the U.K. Top 40 last November, Capitol’s sights turned to the U.S., with a comprehensive marketing campaign designed to spread the word on this side of the Pond.

Corinne’s been embraced by not only the indie-rock crowd, but the Urban audience, with glowing features in magazines like Essence and Vibe.

“The key is to get people to see her,” says Capitol marketing head Sharon Lord, who is spearheading the project. “The iTunes downloads jump whenever she’s spotlighted on VH1.”

The radio plan is a long-range one, earmarked to the ordinarily slow-developing Adult marketplace, starting with Smooth Jazz (where she is Top 20), followed by Urban A/C and Triple A, and an eventual cross to Hot A/C and Top 40.

-She will perform at the Opening Session of InSights & Sounds.06, the upcoming NARM convention in Kissimmee, FL, August 3.

-Has played showcases in N.Y., L.A. and South by Southwest.

-First U.S. promo tour starts June 18, with sold-out shows in N.Y. (6/21), Chicago (6/23), L.A. (6/26) and S.F. (6/29). Will return to U.S. for additional dates July-August and November-December.

-TV includes Good Morning America (6/19), Live with Regis & Kelly (6/20), Tonight Show with Jay Leno (6/28). Taping A&E’s Breakfast with the Arts, PBSThe Tavis Smiley Show.

Some of the promotional and marketing initiatives include:

-Starbucks selling album in-stores in conjunction with street date.

-XM Satellite and Starbucks Hear Music promotion to send listener to Europe for a concert.

-iTunes “Single of the Week” (acoustic version of “Put Your Records On”).

-VH1 Large rotation, part of VH1.com’s “You Oughta Know” campaign, VH1 Soul #1 Most Played Video.

-BET nomination, BETJ “Very Cool” rotation.

-AOL Breakers Program, “AOL Sessions” performance.

-Yahoo! Music live performance, to be recorded.

-MSN “One to Watch” breaking artist program.

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