Collaboration Will Showcase the Strength of The Orchard's Services Offering, its Powerful Network, and the Industry Expertise of Traffic Entertainment
June 09, 2009, NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, The Orchard (NASDAQ: ORCD) announced that it has formed a comprehensive marketing, distribution, and services partnership with leading independent music and video distributor Traffic Entertainment. With this collaboration, The Orchard will serve Traffic Entertainment as its exclusive digital partner, including offering access to the leading digital marketing services that recently helped hip-hop crossover artist Pitbull land a gold single, and Billboard's Latin Digital Download Artist of the Year Award. Other traditional marketing efforts will be shared between the two companies, with Traffic tapping The Orchard's fast-growing U.S. physical distribution offering to handle all but third-party projects for Traffic.
The alliance between The Orchard and Traffic Entertainment, who is best known for the hits The Show by EMC, Vaudeville Villain by Viktor Vaughn aka MF Doom, Mission Impossible by De La Soul, Silence & Secrecy by Lil Scrappy, among many others, marks the first time The Orchard will allow another distributor to tap Orchard's advanced marketing and promotion capabilities. "Traffic will lend its high-caliber street credibility and grassroots marketing expertise to select Orchard-sourced projects, along with its own label releases," stated Christian Hedlund of Traffic Entertainment. He added, "Traffic's highly-focused brick & mortar retail, web, and radio promo mechanisms, combined with The Orchards fantastic online marketing muscle will create a partnership model that can fully support new breaking acts and global stars alike."
Starting in July, The Orchard will physically distribute the upcoming Biz Markie best-of compilation (including the now-ubiquitous Heineken-ad hit "Just a Friend"), and digitally and physically distribute new albums by Killah Priest, and Masta Ace & Edo G, and a new DVD by Beastie Boy's videographer Ricky Powell. The Orchard will also handle the physical distribution of the deluxe reissue of De La Soul's De La Soul is Dead, which will be released in August. Other collaborations between the entertainment services company and Traffic include September albums by Little Brother, Edan, Oh No, Happy Black (Prince Paul, Newkirk & Keyon), and numerous others.
"In a corner of the business historically notorious for unsavory practices, the gentlemen of Traffic live and breathe music and treat their partners with integrity and respect. This ethos, combined with their uncanny ability to recognize street trends and the creative, grassroots marketing expertise make them a great partner for The Orchard. Together we will do big things, starting with bringing their catalog of hip hop classics to a whole new world of fans, and helping a new wave of talented artists achieve both artistic and commercial success," commented Michael Bull, head of Physical Marketing and Distribution for The Orchard.
About The Orchard(R)
The Orchard (NASDAQ: ORCD) is a full service business partner for entertainment companies, music labels, recording artists and songwriters, film studios, and producers. Founded in 1997, the company drives sales across its retail network of more than 600 digital storefronts and mobile carriers in 59 countries. Headquartered in New York and London, with operations in 27 markets around the world, The Orchard offers a comprehensive suite of services focused on customized marketing and promotions, social media, sales development, and technology. An industry pioneer and continued innovator in digital media services, The Orchard fosters creativity and independence. For further information please visit www.theorchard.com
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding The Orchard's expectations regarding future events and operating performance within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the ability of The Orchard to distribute certain products, videos and artist recordings and provide marketing and other services. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements as they speak only as of the date hereof, and The Orchard undertakes no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as may be required by law. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in The Orchard's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Ignition Marketing
Jackie Price, 617-435-6603
jprice@ignitionmkt.com
