Drinks Americas Sees Stars
As part of the agreement, the 50/50 partnership will seek to identify, develop, commercialize and market jointly owned alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage products in collaboration with Interscope Geffen A&M artists. Interscope Geffen A&M will work to sign and negotiate with selected artists, and to assist in the marketing and promotion of the new beverages. Additionally, Interscope Geffen A&M has agreed to assist in marketing and promoting Drinks Americas' current and growing portfolio of products, including Donald Trump's Trump Super Premium Vodka and Willie Nelson's Old Whiskey River Bourbon. Launched in October 2006, Trump Super Premium Vodka is on track to sell approximately 100,000 cases in its first 12 months, the largest introduction of a new spirit product in the industry's recent history.
Interscope Geffen A&M is a combination of three of the most influential record labels in modern music history and a major force in the global music industry. The label develops chart-topping artists across a wide range of musical genres, including rock, rap, pop and alternative. The deal will provide Drinks Americas with the potential to partner with selected iconic celebrities on Interscope Geffen A&M's roster, including artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, G-Unit, Daddy Yankee, Sheryl Crow, Enrique Iglesias, Chris Cornell, Gwen Stefani and many others.
J. Patrick Kenny, president & chief executive officer of Drinks Americas, stated, "Our new partnership with Interscope Geffen A&M is very exciting and a major milestone for both companies and industries, as we leverage this marketing innovation with the multi-billion dollar music industry. It has already been an extraordinary experience working with Jimmy Iovine, Steve Berman and David Cohen, the senior management team of Interscope. They are clearly leaders in their industry, and share our vision of the convergence of consumer products, media and entertainment with clarity. There is a large opportunity here for both companies to generate substantial incremental revenue and profits and create valuable assets for both companies. Drinks Americas and Interscope Geffen A&M are focused on creating and growing these large and valuable assets in the form of exciting, viable and high-end premium beverage brands to be marketed on a worldwide basis. One only needs to take note of the huge purchase prices recently paid by large beverage companies for new, icon associated and proven brands to see the tremendous potential in the products to be developed through our venture with Interscope Geffen A&M."
Kenny continued, "Our partnership provides us with a marketing platform to drive awareness of our premium icon brands through events, such as music videos, concert tours, album kick-off parties and other countless ways that cut across all media forums. With our growing success, it is a natural fit to partner with the world's largest music company."
Kenny added, "What makes this partnership extraordinary is Interscope Geffen A&M's rich portfolio of iconic artists that appeal to large constituencies worldwide. We have already begun discussions with several of their artists and expect to reach a formal agreement for the first of the new products within the next several weeks. We are working with selected artists to acquire and grow existing brands, and with others to create exciting new products. We would expect to see these new products coming to market in the very near term."
Steve Berman, president, Marketing and Sales, Interscope Geffen A&M, stated, "Drinks Americas has done an incredible job of connecting icons with a new audience. They open a new lane for us and our roster of talent. We're looking forward to working hand in hand with them on a variety of upcoming products and opportunities."
From the July 2, 2007, Prepared Foods e-Flash
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