Fontana & Independent Labels Rock Retail

Fontana & Independent Labels Rock Retail

Aggressive Fall Release Schedule Kicks-Off with Highly-Anticipated Albums From Joe, Cold War Kids, Thievery Corporation, Everlast and RA

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Fontana Distribution, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, kicks-off its aggressive new release schedule today with highly-anticipated albums from such innovative artists as Joe, Cold War Kids, Thievery Corporation, Everlast and RA.

"What a great way to begin the new season with these highly-anticipated releases," stated Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Fontana Distribution. "The common thread among them all is that their labels are owned and operated by true entrepreneurs, and are exactly the kind of music people we want to work with here at Fontana. These artists are truly dynamic, and just one look at today's releases and you can see why. All of our labels will continue to benefit from the Fontana Difference -- the widest array of physical, marketing and digital services available to any independent label and artist in the industry."

The new album from Joe, 'Joe Thomas New Man,' is his first release since joining Kedar Entertainment's record label. The first single, "E.R." is already a Top 10 R&B hit. Cold War Kids' 'Loyalty to Loyalty' is the first release for Downtown Records since partnering with Fontana. The album features the single "Something Is Not Right With Me" and the group will tour to support the album for the remainder of the year. The latest album from Thievery Corporation, 'Radio Retaliation' on their own imprint ESL Music, finds the group stretching the boundaries of the world chill movement they helped define. Everlast's new release, 'Love, War, and the Ghost of Whitey Ford,' comes through Three Ring Projects, founded by Everlast manager Jeff Rabhan. The current single and video is a cover of the Johnny Cash classic, "Folsom Prison Blues." The week's new RA album, 'Black Sun' was released by Sahaja Records, the band's own imprint, with the help of Federal Distribution.

Fontana's release schedule for the remainder of 2008 is just as aggressive, with upcoming releases from Bleeding Through (Trustkill), Taj Mahal (Heads Up), Tori Amos (Eagle Rock), Mannheim Steamroller (American Gramaphone), Elliott Yamin (TRP-Hickory), Senses Fail (Vagrant), Waylon Jennings (Vagrant), Lil Rob (Upstairs), MF Doom (Lex), Eagles of Death Metal (Downtown), Jon B (Arsenal), Travis (Fontana International - Red Telephone Box), Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan (Fontana International), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Eagle Rock), Dimebag Darrell DVD+Book (Big Vin), EPMD (EP Records), Mos Def (Downtown), Pastor Troy (SMC), and Kid Sister (Downtown), among numerous others.

About Fontana

Fontana Distribution, the independent arm of Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), provides unparalleled sales and marketing support, as well as back office services, for a diverse roster of labels and their artists. Fontana distributes more than 100 labels including Vagrant Records, Telarc, Eagle Rock, Downtown, VP Records, American Gramaphone, Six Degrees, Nitro, SMC, Trustkill, Delicious Vinyl, ESL, Modular, Ministry of Sound, Ipecac, Strange Music, Music World, VH1 Classic Records, MySpace Records and many others. In addition, Fontana distributes select projects from Universal Music Group labels worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.fontanadistribution.com/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Music Group

CONTACT: Peter LoFrumento, or Maria Ho-Burge, maria.ho-burge@umusic.com,
both of Universal Music Group, +1-212-331-2585

Web site: http://www.fontanadistribution.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment