B&N Produces Music CDs for Exclusive Sale

By Kevin Howell -- Publishers Weekly, 9/11/2007 11:39:00 AM

Barnes & Noble is taking a page from Starbucks' Hear Music playbook as it ventures into the music industry this week by co-producing a pair of CD music compilations that will be sold exclusively at B&N stores and bn.com.

The bookseller’s first two CD releases (on the new label bigHelium Records) are Sunday Music 1 and Sunday Music 2, compilations mixing together familiar artists (Norah Jones, Peter Gabriel, Patty Griffin, Rufus Wainwright and the late Jeff Buckley) with newer musicians. Some of the tracks have a cache not immediately apparent, including two songs on Sunday Music 2. “Your Love Means Everything” by Faultline features a lead vocal by Coldplay’s Chris Martin. There’s also a previously unreleased track called “The White Room” by a new band named Winona, which is the creation of Grammy Award-winning composer Craig Armstrong (who has produced U2, Madonna, Massive Attack and Pet Shop Boys).

B&N CEO Steve Riggio said, “Though embracing many genres and styles, the Sunday Music compilations have one consistent voice, carried by some of the best singers and writers in the world, comprising the perfect soundtrack for a quiet day.” B&N is hoping the new releases will give a boost to its music sales, which have struggled in recent quarters.

Retailing for $12.99 each (each CD has 15 tracks), listeners can sample all the songs from Sunday Music 1 and Sunday Music 2 at bn.com.