Savoy Jazz Partners With Universal for Australian Distribution Deal

Savoy Jazz Partners With Universal for Australian Distribution Deal

Historic US Jazz Label Pacts With Universal Music Australia for Distribution & Marketing of Entire Catalog Beginning January 4, 2010

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Savoy Jazz, the U.S. record label which is home to some of the most iconic artists in the history of jazz music has confirmed a new marketing and distribution agreement with Universal Music Australia (UMA), it was announced today by Steve Vining, President of the Savoy Label Group (SLG). Beginning January 4, 2010, the entire Savoy Jazz catalog, which includes the extensive works of pioneering jazz musicians such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, John Coltrane, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie and many others will be available as a result of this important partnership. One of the most successful independent labels, SLG is distributed by Fontana Distribution, the independent arm of UMGD in the U.S. Universal Music Australia already handles the company's rock/blues and alternative music projects on the company's 429 records label which include The Features and Grammy nominated The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band.

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Says Vining, "We've enjoyed our association with the excellent team at Universal and are pleased they'll be handling the Savoy Jazz catalog in the very important Australian market."

Savoy Records was founded in 1942 by Herman Lubinsky and specialized in jazz, R&B and gospel music. Savoy played a key role in the emergence of bebop with the signing of cornerstone jazz artists such as Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderly. From Miles Davis to Charles Mingus, Coleman Hawkins to Sun Ra, John Coltrane to Jimmy Scott, a host of important and pioneering artists recorded under the Savoy Jazz banner creating a treasured musical legacy which continues today. Totaling over 300 selections today's Savoy Jazz catalog now features not only the original Savoy recordings but also those from Muse, Landmark, National, DG Records and many others acquired by SLG over the last few years.

ABOUT SAVOY LABEL GROUP

The Savoy Label Group (SLG) features not only the historic Savoy Jazz label but also the 429 Records and SLG Records labels. SLG is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. Newly reorganized and now headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, Columbia Music Entertainment has re-emerged as a significant creative force with a stable of newly signed platinum-selling artists. SLG is one of the most successful marketers of adult music in the U.S. and focuses on adult alternative genres, classical, jazz, new age, and rock.

ABOUT UMA

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Universal Music Group's record labels include Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Motown Records Group, Universal Music Latino, Universal Records South, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

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Source: Savoy Jazz

CONTACT: Rebecca Brown of UNIVERSAL AUSTRALIA, +61 2 9207 0675,
Rebecca.brown@umusic.com; or Kurt Nishimura of SILVERLAKE MEDIA,
+1-323-663-6303, kurtnishimura@earthlink.net

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Profile: International Entertainment