Post by Dave on Sept 23, 2005 3:05:53 GMT
There is some exciting news in UK trade magazine Music Week - the UK's biggest music store chain HMV has struck a partnership deal with Classic FM and will sponsor the chart show. This is good news for classical music... and for Hayley (read on!) 
Full story:
HMV strikes chart partnership with Classic FM
22 September 2005
HMV has struck an extensive partnership with Classic FM in which it will sponsor its weekly chart show and carry station branding in its largest UK stores.
The tie-up will begin this Saturday with sponsorship of The Classic FM Chart Show, which is hosted by Mark Goodier and counts down the 30 biggest-selling classical albums of the week and highlights key forthcoming releases.
At the same time the GCap-owned classical station will be branded in 90 HMV stores, while the entire 200-store chain will feature HMV’s recommendation for the Classic FM CD of the week. The first CD selected is Universal Classics & Jazz artist Hayley Westenra’s new album Odyssey. Full-page adverts supporting the partnership will also be carried in HMV’s bi-monthly magazine HMV Choice.
HMV classical and specialities manager Rudy Osorio says the retailer has been looking to work with Classic FM for a while now and suggests there is “something special about this partnership that feels just right”. Osorio adds, “It will help to promote our respective specialist credentials while also offering record labels further opportunities to connect with classical and speciality music buyers in support of their artists.”
Classic FM station manager Darren Henley describes HMV as “one of the great classical music brands”. He adds, “We're excited to be working together with the HMV team to build new audiences for recorded classical music.”
Universal Classics and Jazz general manager Dickon Stainer says it is great that two of the most renowned brands within the classical arena are teaming up through this sponsorship. “This combination of the UK's leading classics broadcaster and retailer, and the synergies that will result from it, should deliver a wider commercial platform for key releases, including from new artists,” he adds.[/color]
Full story:HMV strikes chart partnership with Classic FM
22 September 2005
HMV has struck an extensive partnership with Classic FM in which it will sponsor its weekly chart show and carry station branding in its largest UK stores.
The tie-up will begin this Saturday with sponsorship of The Classic FM Chart Show, which is hosted by Mark Goodier and counts down the 30 biggest-selling classical albums of the week and highlights key forthcoming releases.
At the same time the GCap-owned classical station will be branded in 90 HMV stores, while the entire 200-store chain will feature HMV’s recommendation for the Classic FM CD of the week. The first CD selected is Universal Classics & Jazz artist Hayley Westenra’s new album Odyssey. Full-page adverts supporting the partnership will also be carried in HMV’s bi-monthly magazine HMV Choice.
HMV classical and specialities manager Rudy Osorio says the retailer has been looking to work with Classic FM for a while now and suggests there is “something special about this partnership that feels just right”. Osorio adds, “It will help to promote our respective specialist credentials while also offering record labels further opportunities to connect with classical and speciality music buyers in support of their artists.”
Classic FM station manager Darren Henley describes HMV as “one of the great classical music brands”. He adds, “We're excited to be working together with the HMV team to build new audiences for recorded classical music.”
Universal Classics and Jazz general manager Dickon Stainer says it is great that two of the most renowned brands within the classical arena are teaming up through this sponsorship. “This combination of the UK's leading classics broadcaster and retailer, and the synergies that will result from it, should deliver a wider commercial platform for key releases, including from new artists,” he adds.[/color]
There are quite a few changes already as a result of this deal.
but all is not quite what it seems. Most of the HMV positions down to 30 are identical to the official (classic FM) chart but in a handful of cases, HMV have swapped the official chart album for another completely different album! 
