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Memphis based record label, promoter, booker and Production Company, Maverick Group Marketing Inc. (MGM) / Papa G. Records and Sunset Records / Sunset Distribution Company have announced today an exclusive worldwide distribution deal through Sunset Records / Sunset Distribution Company. The multi year contract and joint venture between the Memphis based multi-media record company Papa G. Records and with the New York & New Jersey based Sunset Records & Sunset Distribution Company is a deal that will bring current artists like Crushing Juliet and Chosen View to Sunset from the Papa G. label/company.

Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset says that “Papa G. himself (John Garrison) is one of the top A&R people in the world, and my plan is to allow him and his staff to go off to sign any artists he works personally in the Memphis areas,” and “because he books and promotes one of the best halls (The Minglewood) in one of the best music areas in the world (on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee), I look forward to having him deliver new music to Sunset for many years.” (Don) Lichterman also says that “he (Papa G.) Is on the pulse of picking up on new trends in music” and that Papa G. is also “on the pulse of hearing new bands that play live at the Memphis venues he books live shows.” Lichterman goes on to say that he is “thrilled to work with Papa G. as a great extension to my company,” let alone “watching him do his A&R for Sunset because he has brought me to hear some of the best arrays of music collectively, that I have heard in one sitting in many years.”

The new production and distribution deal will continue to develop, license, and release recorded music and any entertainment related product the Memphis based company (Papa G. Records) delivers to Sunset in any genre and/or in any format. Aside from the initial releases of the alternative rock bands, CHOSEN VIEW (The Common Thread is due in stores: September 21, 2010) and CRUSHING JULIET (Broken Cadillac is due in stores: September 21, 2010) that are being released through the Sunset Record label, Papa G. Records plans to deliver bands in a variety of genres including Blues, Americana, Art Rock, R&B/Soul, Rock N’ Roll, and World music. The first projects through the new Papa G. / Sunset deal is slated for Fall release in 2010 with two new albums, The Common Thread (In Stores 9/21/2010) which is a brand new album from the alternative rock band by CHOSEN VIEW (Sunset Records) and the Broken Cadillac (In Stores 9/14/2010) alternative album by pop rock act, CRUSHING JULIET (Sunset Connect). "Both of these artists are an enormous talent with key songs for radio so I want them out by the end of September this year,” (Don) Lichterman says about the first two Papa G. titles being released in the Sunset Distribution system, “we (Sunset) are extremely psyched to be able to bring his (Papa G.) music, his bands and his sense of direction with music he works to the next obvious level in this industry, I also want to get his music and bands out to more of a mainstream and global audience." The alternative sub modern rock song, “Under The Swell” by the Chosen View’s The Common Thread CD has already begun to impact radio in the US and radio overseas in Italy, and the UK and “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” on the Broken Cadillac CD have already been placed through two license (to be announced this month) deals both in the United States and in Italy.

Sunset Live (www.Sunset-Live.com) is honored to join OurStage, MTV Networks and their partners to bring our community live streaming coverage of ?Hope for Haiti?.

The live concert downloads will also be available at iTunes after the show ends tonight. The Hope For Haiti Concert features live performances by Wyclef Jean, George Clooney and CNN?s Anderson Cooper will host the two-hour global telethon airing Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. And, the celebrities also scheduled to appear in support of relief efforts include Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna...Go To Sunset-Live.com to see the show!

Agreement Will Enable Vio Mobile Users and Vio Distribution Partners to Seamlessly Release Sunset Records Contextually Relevant Ringtones at Hundreds of Retailers and Mobile Carriers All Over The World!

Sunset Records announced today it has signed an agreement with Vio Mobile, one of the industry?s leaders in mobile distribution, to provide mobile ringtones across several mobile retail channels, with hundreds of mobile carriers in territories all over the world.

Under this newly signed mobile distribution agreement, Sunset Records ringtones will be integrated into the Vio Mobile distribution network, enabling millions of users globally to effortlessly discover Sunset?s mobile content. Vio Mobile is also integrating its distributed ringtone catalog with the popular electronics company, Acer, for branded purchases so buyers of the new Acer MP3 Player, can discover its music on the new Acer media player. Sunset Records will also ensure that its links to the Vio Mobile website are set up integrated on every artist page. The Sunset artist pages are set up that when fans click through the links off their artist pages, they will be offered ringtones, playback tunes, wallpaper graphics and all relevant mobile content.

?The Sunset Records partnership with Vio Mobile emphasizes our continued expansion to get our music placed in every worldwide distribution channel and then also highlights how we can integrate our content with ease,? says Don Lichterman, the Head of Sunset Records. ?I was impressed right away with what Ivan (Woodson) has built at his company,? says Lichterman about this deal and that he is ?confident that Vio Mobile partners and its users will be able to find our mobile content in every network and all over the world.?

With this deal in place today, Sunset will have its catalog of recorded music available through the Vio Mobile network of over TWO HUNDRED (200) mobile carriers around the world.

FEBRUARY 2009

The Founder of Sunset Records Opens One of the World?s Most Extensive Animal Friendly and Vegan Related Web Sites

Veg Hed opens its online store providing products never used with animals and strategic partners with activists that are against all forms of animal cruelty.

A New Jersey based organization with shared office space at Sunset in New York City, Veg Hed is now the best resource for ?vegan? product and related care products from top brands, and is also set up as a very precise way to find out about pivotal animal activist companies. The company also extended its range of releasing music and video by releasing organic and eco friendly related DVD titles.

Known for its quality of music and innovative record label structure, Sunset is finding ways to use its resources for various forms of activism and awareness. Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset is also the founder of the Sustainable Action Network and the Green Junkee online retail store. Lichterman says, ?Veg Hed is an extension within our office and we are doing a series of special markets CDs with a concept of using only music artists that eat veggie every day and artists that are against animal cruelty. This is my way to fulfill my larger dream of being able to do more for humans and animals in this world. Having the ability to promote and distribute products with top retail outlets like Amazon and Target gives us an instant reach at 12% of the online retail marketplace.?

Veg Hed not only will release its own product line, the site brings together other vegan product lines and links to vegan fashion stores. Veg Hed also has up to date information with a few of the top animal activist companies in the world. Without many great resources for shopping for vegan items online, and to gain information about vegetarian living and organizations that do incredible things for wildlife, Veg Hed brings this together on one web site.

Lichterman says, ?Unless you are looking for a specific item that you use all the time, using products not tested on animals and using products, let alone products that have no animal product could be difficult to find online and in stores. I am trying to find ways to make this so easy for people to buy these types of products all together in one order. I am also trying to use top brands that manufacturer product without any animals. And, I want to make sure people know they have easy choices to buy every type of product that does not use animals. This is more about awareness and reaching out to a more mainstream consumer while explaining this to them in a very easy way.?

Consumers are able to buy Sunset DVDs and Sunset CDs that are related to wildlife as well as strategically partnered companies with products that manufacturer vegan styles clothing, cosmetics, and clothing along with products from the PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals) Mall, the ASCAP store, the Sea Sheperd online store and items from the North Shore Animal League. The store is also affiliated with the Dr. Foster and Smith Company to resell their product line.

JANUARY 2009

January 16, 2009 - Don Ward Joins Sunset Jazz Recordings ? the label is Dreaming about this next CD release!

New York based independent jazz record label, Sunset Jazz recordings, announces the signing of their first artist at the label, Philadelphia-based jazz artist, Don Ward. The record deal sets up the release of his brand new debut full length CD, Dreaming, with a street date of February 17, 2009.

January 14, 2009 - Sunset Continues To Develop Music Through Its Digital Record Label

Sunset has just launched a digital record label this month, finding, signing and developing music artists with the overall objective of breaking them through its distribution system, licensing network, radio promotion, press and media departments along with its live download company and radio network.

Sunset Connect is the now the backbone for the Sunset Records digital division and moreover, this is one of their best ways for the label to find new music. The label will function as a newly created division at the Sunset record label based in New York City. The label started this month by releasing full length albums by D?Cyple, Obka, Ric Laue, Kan?Nal, Starr Cullars, Cryout, a Cracker / David Lowery type of songwriter from England named Clayton Road; and many compilations that feature popular music artists (The Crystal Method, Fatboy Slim, Sneaker Pimps, Gavin Friday, Eve Gallagher, Boy George, Leftfield, Death In Vegas and more), and will now begin to sign more music every month during this first year.

Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records, will run the digital only label during the key launch stages in the first few months, finding new talent and implementing the A&R and lead time administration. The Sunset Connect digital label is set up to develop bands working everything to major radio, press, retail and for licensing opportunities in film, TV and commercials in an automated way. Lichterman?s Sunset Live download company will be run through the Sunset Connect distribution system although it will be a standalone company run by its own staff. The live concert download company has just released a very special live concert by the world famous comedian, Roz (Last Comic Standing, Laff House Live).

Lichterman said about the digital label that it is a convergence of many factors with regard to the landscape of distribution and working music today-- including promotional mailings and mailings for music-licensing opportunities, and today, every aspect of a record label can be distributed to radio, retail, press and licensing companies all digitally -- made it the perfect climate to start Sunset Connect. The label will provide the ability to purchase physical CDs for placement at Amazon, Target and its own CD / DVD Store, through its On-Demand system powered by Amazon?s Create Space.

"We have every aspect of what a record label does for its music artists at Sunset Connect, and working music this way is cost effective for artists that it will no doubt be the standard model for record labels," Lichterman said in a press release with Billboard Media Wire. "We are poising Sunset for that time by starting the label today and at the same time, this label pays its artist 70/30 splits on net sales, which will keep everyone recouped making money every pay period.? Sunset Connect will look to hire a label head and other staff members for A&R acquisitions with the label feeding off the Sunset Records divisions for its promotion, licensing, marketing and administration.

While Sunset Records has made great progress in the last year with its new music ? the Federal Moguls (QBall from Bloodhound Gang and Troy Walsh (MTV.com) new project and platinum recording artist Gina Thompson?s new project as run through the main label (Sunset Records and Sunset Urban accordingly) -- the Sunset Connect record label will be committed to developing new talent and up-and-coming music artists. Each of the artists on the label has already released indie albums and Sunset Connect distributes the entire catalogs of these artists. "We have great lee way now to develop new music without getting them thousands of dollars in the unrecouped column, and we can take on so many more projects today," Lichterman said.

Sunset Connects business plan has taken the same shape as the rest of the Sunset labels. There is a perfect mix of brand new talent in with established artist signings that are legends in the industry. Of the new bands,  Kan?Nal?s ?Gypsy? was the number one song played on the Radio Italia Network last year for a few weeks and D?Cyple?s two songs ?My Life? and ?Don?t Wanna Be? have broken the top 50 on the Indy Record Pool charts last year and is still being featured in clubs charting every month. Clayton Road also now has two songs in Pure Play?s Music Network and every artist is featured at Pandora. Sunset Connect has digital deals with every top online retailer including iTunes, Real/Rhapsody, eMusic, Amazon MP3, Napster, Shockhound and over 40 outlets. The digital only label does make physical product via Amazon?s On-Demand system making CDs available at Amazon, target and the Sunset Store, however, it will not carry any stock inventory.

Top industry people at major labels and at Indy labels admit there is no set formula for a digital only record label. Lichterman says that he has ?found the perfect way to make everyone money and work this music at Sunset Connect as close to what you would do for an artist that has a traditional record deal.? He also was quick to say that the idea of doing this now is almost ?overdue, but for us at Sunset, this the perfect time for this type of label considering our label wide rosters at this time. Our traditional label is working like a machine and our artists and staff producer (Rod Millwood) were named on the Grammy Nomination Ballot 68 times leading up to December 5th. We now have the formula to make sure this label works like a cost effective machine and ironically speaking, I could see this label being the one that is the main label as the industry phases out physical DVDs and CDs."

Sunset Live Will Presents The Laff House Comedy Tour in 2009 along with a brand new live Comedy CD by one of the worlds top comedians, Kevin Hart!

Kevin Hart (Soul Plane, Scary Movie, Epic Movie, 40 Year Old Virgin) will release a brand new Full Length comedy album in Spring 2009. The Laff House and Sunset Live are planning a nation wide tour with comedians from BET's Comic Review, Def Jam Comedy Show ion HBO and with Kevin on the bill. Hart is playing three nights at the world famous Punchline Comedy Club in San Francisco from 2/5 to 27/. Kevin's last comedy CD, I'm A Grown Little Man is a top selling CD at Sunset!

all Sunset artists chart on the aol powered our stage last month!

Thirteen (13) Sunset artists broke the Top 100 at AOL's Our Stage for December 2008. Eight (8) Sunset artists broke the Top 50 and four (4) Sunset artists broke the Top 25 for the last month in 2008!

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Sunset Corporate Communications & News Archives - Newsroom 2008 - Click Here.