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Contact:
Judy McDonough
Compendia Music Group
615-277-1824
jmcdonough@compendiamusic.com
Compendia
Media Group Launches After Reorganization of Platinum Entertainment
Music Division Starts Fast By Retaining Distribution Network, Top-Selling
Labels and Huge Library of Gospel, Adult Contemporary, Country, and Classical
Masters
LOS ANGELES, CA - (November 29, 2002) Compendia Media Group (Compendia),
a new integrated media and entertainment company, launched operations
today after a
unique reorganization that has sustained one of the music industrys largest
master recordings catalogs and initiated growth of a new entertainment media
brand. Martin Tudor, president and chief executive officer, made the announcement.
Compendia was formed as a result of the federal bankruptcy court administered
reorganization of Platinum Entertainment. The Company has established Music,
Home Video, Direct Marketing, Music Publishing, Interactive, Television and Film
divisions to support the companys involvement in other areas of the media
business worldwide.
Compendias primary initial focus will be supporting the Compendia Music
Group, which officially launched today. Compendia Music Group produces, markets
and distributes recorded music in top-selling gospel, Christian, adult contemporary,
country, rock, and classical formats. Compendia Music Groups substantial
library consists of more than 10,000 master recordings, previously owned by Platinum
Entertainment.
Prior to being named as President and Chief Executive Officer, Tudor
was a consultant, retained by Platinum Entertainment to lead the reorganization
process. Unlike
many entertainment and media industry reorganizations, in which company assets
are sold to pay debt, Tudor recognized the value of the bankrupt companys
master library and the substantial breadth of popular talent it comprised and
how those assets could be used to revive the popular record company and establish
a new entertainment media brand.
"Compendia Media Groups paramount initial goals are to re-introduce
the popular labels and artists of Compendia Music Group to consumers, achieve
the satisfaction of our retail partners and grow the other areas of our media
business," said Tudor. "The Compendia Music Groups unmatched
library in the music business is a consistent money-maker for our retail partners,
and its success is the primary objective of our initial business operations."
Tudor and Compendia Media Group management, Home Video, Interactive and
Television and Film divisions will be based in Los Angeles. Michael Olsen,
chief operating
officer, and Compendias Music, Direct Marketing, and Publishing Groups
will be based in Nashville. Compendias distribution, financial operations
and customer service operations will be based in Atlanta.
"In addition to our support for Compendia Music Group, our efforts will
focus on building the Compendia brand by establishing franchise relationships
with producers, artists, writers and others in the creative community worldwide
through our other divisions, including home video, television, film and interactive," said
Tudor.
Compendia Music Groups library includes titles from popular country
and rock artists ranging from the Oak Ridge Boys to the Beach Boys, and
from classical
catalogs of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and funk legends George Clinton
and the Gap Band to top-selling gospel artists, Vicki Winans and the Mighty Clouds
of Joy.
"We are building a company that would be prohibitively expensive to build
from scratch. This unique opportunity allows us to start business operations
immediately and support the growth of other areas of the company, " said
Tudor.
Tudor has recruited several industry veterans for the Compendia Media
Group senior management team, including Olsen, and Dailey Kennedy, the
companys Chief
Financial Officer.
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