Jazz Odyssey

…the decision to sell customized CD’s grew out of the belief that Starbucks regulars – mostly 25-to-49-year-olds with the kind of disposable income that allows them to spend up to several dollars for coffee or tea a few times a week – are poorly served by radio stations and record stores attuned to teenage tastes. At a time when Starbucks contends that its customers don’t have convenient ways to find out about undiscovered artists, "we feel we have the opportunity to present the individual with a new option," Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment, said.

Good article on Starbucks as an alternative music retail outlet in reaching the post-teen demographic, with excellent points made by EMI’s Phil Quartararo who says "Starbucks is a branding machine,"…"Nobody buys a 40-cent cup of coffee for $4 unless they’re buying a brand."

The New York Times > Arts > Music > Would You Like an Extra Shot of Music With That Macchiato?