SACRAMENTO, (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Digital Music Group, Inc., a content owner and provider in the digital distribution of independently owned music and video catalogs, today announced the acquisition of both music and video content through digital distribution, master purchase, and digital rights purchase agreements with artists including Todd Rundgren, The Alarm, Dwight Twilley, Richard Clayderman, and Wayne Newton. The total number of music tracks included under these agreements is approximately 3,000.
"DMGI continues to build its catalog with high quality content from legendary artists, including unreleased, rare, and never-before-heard tracks," said Mitchell Koulouris, Chief Executive Officer of DMGI. "Today's announcement of previously unreleased work by these artists underscores our commitment to acquiring and making available great music to fans and music enthusiasts around the world."
Some of the content acquired by DMG include:
Todd Rundgren/Utopia: The Todd Rundgren and Utopia archive features approximately 2,000 never-before-released live recordings, demos, out-takes, and alternate versions from 1977 to 2000. It also includes a significant array of never-before seen video footage as well. Rundgren, both an accomplished songwriter and producer whose hits "I Saw the Light," "Can We Still Be Friends," "Hello, It's Me," and "Bang the Drum" vaulted him from a cult following to stardom, formed Utopia in the mid-1970s. The archive includes never before seen or heard rare audio and video performances from both Rundgren as a solo artist and Utopia. The first of these previously unreleased audio and video performances will be released in the summer of 2007.
The Alarm: One of the true powerhouses of the 1980s, The Alarm recorded some of the most important rock records of the decade including "Declaration" and "Strength." This video catalog features some of the great performances of the band including music videos and never before seen live performances. The catalog also features the VH1 special "Bands Reunited."
Dwight Twilley: This power pop icon scored two top-twenty hits with "I'm on Fire" in 1975 and "Girls" (featuring Tom Petty on background vocals) in 1984. This archive features never-before released masters from the power pop legend including demo recordings of "10,000 American Scuba Divers Dancing," "Wild Dogs," as well as other rare and previously-unreleased tracks. Also included are cover versions of The Beatles' "Come Together," Badfinger's "I Can't Take It," Marvin Gaye's "I'll Be Doggone," and Sam Cooke's "Twistin' the Night Away." These previously unreleased tracks will be issued in a series of five compilations starting in the summer of 2007. In addition, the compilation "The Best of the Rest of Dwight Twilley" will also be released in the summer of 2007 as well as an extended and remastered version of Twilley's classic Christmas album, "Have a Twilley Christmas."
Richard Clayderman: International pop instrumentalist Richard Clayderman is referred to in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most successful pianist in the world." With a broad international following, Clayderman routinely sells out concerts and sells millions of records. His first album sold more than 20 million copies and a live concert broadcast on Chinese television in 1987 attracted more than 800 million viewers. This catalog features Clayderman at his best including nearly 1,000 never-before released romantic standards, ballads, and hits of the world.
Wayne Newton: Music legend Wayne Newton is best known for his phenomenal success as a performer in Las Vegas. As a recording artist in the 1960s and 1970s, Newton scored a number of memorable hits including "Danke Schoen," "Red Roses for A Blue Lady," and "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast." This catalog features tracks from this music legend that have never been previously available in digital channels. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
