Fontana Pacts With Co-Op Music, New Releases Announced

Fontana Pacts With Co-Op Music, New Releases Announced

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Fontana, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, has expanded Fontana International, their US-based label division, through a partnership with UK-based Cooperative Music (Co-Op). Co-Op was started as an international marketing & distribution team under V2 Music Group, both of which were acquired by UMG last year. The announcement was made today by Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Fontana and Vincent Clery-Melin, General Manager of Cooperative Music.

Initial projects will include the upcoming album from Travis, Ode to J. Smith, which will be released on November 4th in conjunction with their own imprint, Red Telephone Box. This is the band's first release since parting ways with Epic Records last year. Also slated for a November 18th release is the US deluxe sophomore effort from Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Sunday at Devil Dirt. Fontana label Vagrant Records has been hired to assist with the marketing of this release.

"Fontana is thrilled to partner with Co-Op Music and their outstanding roster of artists from around the world," stated Mr. Spaulding. "We have grown significantly since our inception just a few years ago and we're pleased to continue our expansion through international agreements such as this one. Fontana offers our international partners the very best service in the business, across all platforms -- from physical to digital and mobile."

"We're incredibly excited to start developing Co-Op's business in North America, and doubly excited to be doing this with the best independent distribution company out there," added Mr. Clery-Melin. "Travis' and Isobel's albums are the first of many more exciting projects to come. And along with Fontana's support, we will build a great platform in the US for independent labels from Europe wishing to access the independent American marketplace."

Fontana International's previous US releases, culled from Universal labels worldwide, have included the latest albums from Children of Bodom, Spiritualized, Tarja (former Nightwish vocalist) & MUCC. Fontana International is also home to Spinefarm Records US (www.myspace.com/spinefarmrecordsus), the Finnish metal label who have released records from Nightwish, Children of Bodom, Dragonforce and Apocalyptica, among many others. New Spinefarm Records US releases this year include limited edition vinyl picture discs of all Children of Bodom catalog titles.

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, 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 www.fontanadistribution.com.

About Cooperative Music

Cooperative Music is a multi-territory structure, set up in April 2005 as a division on V2 Music Group, which licenses independent labels (as opposed to individual artists) for release in Europe, Australia and Japan. Following the sale of V2 to Universal Music last year, Cooperative Music has been set-up again to continue operating under its own stream under Universal Music funding and ownership. Coop has an exclusive international marketing team with representation in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Australia and Japan. Cooperative Music currently works with Wichita Recordings, V2, Bella Union, Memphis Industries, Brownswood, Moshi Moshi, City Slang, Luaka Bop, Dance To The Radio, and Rabid. Coop has handled releases from Bloc Party, Midlake, Fleet Foxes, Pigeon Detectives, Mylo, The Go! Team, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Peter Bjorn and John, Lambchop and Calexico. For more information, please visit www.cooperativemusic.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., +1-212-331-2569

Web Site: http://www.cooperativemusic.com/
http://www.fontanadistribution.com/
http://www.myspace.com/spinefarmrecordsus

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Profile: International Entertainment