(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Orchard, the leading distributor and marketer of independent music in the world, signed a worldwide digital distribution and marketing deal with Alexander Shulgin, one of the most popular and successful Russian songwriters and producers and widely acknowledged as one of the founders and builders of the modern Russian music business. Shulgin is a multiple recipient of the prestigious 'Song of the Year' and 'Album of the Year' awards.
The Orchard will make Shulgin's catalogue of thousands of songs available across its global distribution platform, which encompasses more than 100 of the world's leading digital music stores globally, including iTunes, eMusic, Napster, MSN, MusicMatch, Real/Rhapsody, and Yahoo! In addition, The Orchard maintains distribution partnerships with industry-leading mobile companies around the world, including Sprint, Dwango Wireless, Zingy, 9 Squared, HIFI Ringtones, IAM Mobile, Securycast, Arvato Mobile and Hudson Soft.
Additionally, The Orchard has opened a Moscow office managed by Max Orlov, The Orchard's chief operating officer and a Moscow native, to assist Shulgin.
"We have been waiting for the right moment to enter the world of digital distribution and we are pleased to enter into this relationship with The Orchard," said Shulgin. "We are especially excited about their promotional and marketing capabilities, which is what we feel makes the difference in the crowded digital realm. No other company has the global reach and merchandising skills to ensure that music from non-Western countries like Russia compete on a level playing field across the global music business."
"Russia boasts one of the richest musical heritages of any country, and remains one of the most important regional areas of focus for us," said Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard and managing director of Dimensional Associates, Inc, the private equity fund that owns The Orchard, eMusic, eMusicLive and Dimensional Music Publishing. "The recent addition of Moscow to the Live 8 Concert lineup underscores the scale and importance of the Russian music market. With the addition of Alexander Shulgin's catalogue, we will soon offer an unparalleled selection of Russian content to a global audience. We are excited to establish a formal presence in Russia, and to work with Mr. Shulgin and other leading Russian executives and labels to bring the full wealth of Russia's musical treasures into the digital universe." — Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
