DALLAS -- Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are releasing the original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally remastered for the first time, on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (09-09-09), the same date as the release of The Beatles: Rock Band videogame. More than 2,200 7-Eleven stores will carry the Beatles CDs starting September 9, company spokesperson Margaret Chabris told CSP Daily News.
The collection comprises all 12 Beatles albums in stereo, with track listings and artwork as originally released in the UK, and Magical Mystery Tour, which became [image-nocss] part of The Beatles' core catalogue when the CDs were first released in 1987. In addition, the collections Past Masters Vol. I & II are now combined as one title, for a total of 14 titles over 16 discs. This will mark the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on compact disc. These 14 albums, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available for purchase together in a stereo boxed set.
A second boxed set has been created with the collector in mind. The Beatles in Mono gathers together, in one place, all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters (covering similar ground to the stereo tracks on 'Past Masters'). As an added bonus, the mono Help! and Rubber Soul discs also include the original 1965 stereo mixes, which have not been previously released on CD.
7-Eleven Inc., Restoration Hardware, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Ralph's, Pathmark and Blockbuster all will promote the CD collection, added a report by Brandweek.
The label sees the move as a chance to use an artist with major muscle to open up new channels for the sales of CDs since record stores are becoming about as extinct as the 8-track tape. The Beatlesa notable holdout on iTuneshave the broad appeal that opens retail doors.
"It will allow us to reach the everyday places people shop," Bill Gagnon, senior vice president of catalogue marketing for EMI Music North America, told Brandweek. "We're bringing the music to where they are." Gagnon is currently approaching food, drug, mass and other "alt-retailers" with the Now That's What I Call Music! brand. "But it still needs to be a pretty significant project to get these outlets' attention," he said.
Also, 7-Eleven ocks out this month with "Battle of the Bands," an in-store and online promotion that pits 28 U.S. bands in a music video competition at www.slurpee.com and adds an in-store firstthree colorful 32-oz. guitar-shaped Slurpee cups and a giant 54-oz. guitar-shaped Big Gulp cup. The Big Gulp guitar cup comes in both blue and red and has its own custom guitar strap and straw. It is replicated after the guitar consoles in today's wildly popular rock music video games.
All five guitars can be personalized with stickers that are included with purchase. In addition, three collectible Slurpee straws feature psychedelic guitars, each with a unique design that can be removed and used as a backpack clip or keychain. It wouldn't be a Slurpee promotion without something new to savor. Battle Berry is September's featured Slurpee flavor, a sweet and tart combination created by The Coca-Cola Co., which blends the new yumberry super-fruit taste with currant and other berries.
The centerpiece of the promotion is the actual online "Battle of the Bands" that includes a top prize of $10,000 for the last band standing. The final four each receive a $1,000 prize and a custom-made electric guitar designed like a giant Slurpee cup.
Almost 70 bands submitted music videos of original songs. Requirements were that the song length be less than four minutes and contain no offensive material. Of those submitted, 28 bands were selected to participate in the online competition that has visitors to the Slurpee Nation website voting for their favorite throughout September. These 28 will receive $500 7-Eleven gift cards.
After the first round of voting, the field will be narrowed to 16 and placed in a bracketed tournament. Bands will then compete head-to-head until a winner is named.
The Slurpee Concert Series continues in September with performances in six citiesSan Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Dallas and Miami. Tickets are an affordable $7.11 (plus taxes and fees) for general admission and are available at www.livenation.com. Bowling for Soup is the featured artist in all cities except San Francisco, where Honor Society will headline.
"This is the first time Slurpee has sponsored grassroots music competition with music-lovers from around the country picking the winners," said Jay Wilkins, brand manager for proprietary cold beverages for Dallas-based 7-Eleven . "That, along with the cool guitar cups and affordable Slurpee concert series bring the music, and of course Slurpee and Big Gulp drinks, to the people."
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