Starbuck Hear Music And Lava Records Set New Precedent In Music Emeging Band Antigone Rising Hits The Charts Via "Hear Music Debut" CD Series And Innovative Marketing Campaign

Antigone Rising's Debut Album, From the Ground Up, Available Exclusively at Starbucks, Debuts at No. 93 on Comprehensive Albums Chart; More Than 21,000 Units Sold

Band Scheduled to Appear on VH1, The Today Show and The Tonight Show

SEATTLE and LOS ANGELES; May 24, 2005 - Creating a successful new paradigm to introduce, market and distribute albums from emerging artists, StarbucksHear Music and Lava Records today announced that Antigone Rising's debut album, From the Ground Up, released as the inaugural album on Starbucks new "Hear Music™ Debut" CD series, entered the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart (issue: May 28, 2005) at No. 93, reflecting the first five days of sales. Starbucks sold more than 21,000 units of Antigone Rising's From the Ground Up during the album's first twelve days of exclusive availability at the more than 4,400 Starbucks Company-operated stores in the United States.

Released on May 11, 2005, From the Ground Up charted at No. 93 on the Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart based on the first five days of sales performance as a result of Starbucks and Lava Records unique marketing campaign and without the benefit of traditional marketing, commercial radio airplay or national TV exposure.

Had the album been eligible to chart on The Billboard 200 Albums Chart, which requires that albums be generally available at retail, From the Ground Up would have debuted at No. 93 on The Billboard 200 Albums Chart (issue: May 28, 2005). For perspective, Antigone Rising is currently outperforming the new releases of established artists such as Queens of the Stone Age (No. 97 on the Billboard 200) and Lisa Marie Presley (No. 111 on the Billboard 200).

Heightened interest in Antigone Rising has translated into upcoming national media appearances including a 30-minute original special, VH1 Listen Up: Antigone Rising, premiering on VH1 on June 1, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. The special traces Antigone Rising's evolution from a struggling band to a major label act and features exclusive live music performances as well as interviews with the band. Antigone Rising will also be featured on Live @ VH1.com, the intimate, online performance series. Additional scheduled performances include NBC's Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Friday, May 27, 2005) and The Today Show (Monday, May 30, 2005), as well as a one-hour Antigone Rising special on XM Satellite Radio Hear Music(tm) Channel 75 (which debuted on May 6, 2005).

"We created our new Hear Music™ Debut CD series specifically to introduce new and developing artists because we repeatedly heard from labels and artists that the traditional means of breaking new talent simply weren't working," said Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "The level of success the band has achieved in just twelve days is a reflection of the incredible talent of Antigone Rising, the innovative thinking of Jason Flom and the Lava team, as well as the trust Starbucks customers have in the CD recommendations we make in-store. Most importantly, with these results, we believe customers are confirming they are passionate about discovering new artists, and that this new approach is effective. "

Antigone Rising has garnered the attention of several highly-regarded musicians. Rob Thomas, successful solo artist and lead singer of matchbox twenty, who co-wrote the band's first single ("Don't Look Back") remarked: "The band is amazing. Cassidy is a born star. Antigone Rising is a band you will be listening to for a long time." And international superstar, Sheryl Crow, said: "Antigone Rising is a band that has a lot of heart, soul and talent."

Antigone Rising was selected as the inaugural band featured in Starbucks Hear Music's "Hear Music™ Debut" CD series which was created specifically to introduce new and developing artists. From The Ground Up is a live, acoustic performance, which was recorded exclusively for Starbucks customers at the legendary Sony Studios in New York City.

Starbucks Marketing Campaign:

Starbucks marketing efforts in support of From the Ground Up includes in-store signage, point of purchase displays, in-store music play, and a T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network promotion. Starbucks also utilized its relationship with XM Satellite Radio to offer the Antigone Rising special on Hear Music(tm) Channel 75 on XM Satellite Radio. Marketing efforts also include in-flight programming on United Airlines, a Starbucks marketing affiliate. The album is being featured and is available for purchase online at Starbucks.com/hearmusic.

About Antigone Rising :

Antigone Rising was founded in the late 90s by sibling guitarists Cathy and Kristen Henderson. The band also features powerhouse vocalist Cassidy, Dena Tauriello on drums and Jen Zielenbach on bass. The five-piece ensemble's blend of 70s-era rock n'roll has taken them from playing small clubs up and down the eastern seaboard, to opening up for Aerosmith and former Black Crowes' Rich Robinson during the summer of 2004. For more information about the band, visit: Antigonerising.com.

About Lava Records:

Jason Flom, current Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, founded Lava Records in 1995 as a subsidiary of Atlantic Records, a division of the Warner Music Group. The label has discovered talents such as Kid Rock, matchbox twenty, Simple Plan, Sugar Ray, Tori Amos, Trans Siberian Orchestra and Uncle Kracker. Since inception, Lava records
has sold over 90 million albums worldwide.

About Starbucks Hear Music:

Founded in 1990, and acquired by Starbucks Coffee Company in 1999, Starbucks Hear Music is the voice of music at Starbucks. Starbucks Hear Music is dedicated to creating a new and convenient way for consumers to discover, experience and acquire all genres of great music through its unique editorial voice, CD compilations, and music programming for Starbucks coffeehouses worldwide, as well as its innovative partnerships with other music labels to produce, market and distribute both exclusive and non-exclusive music. In 2004, Starbucks Hear Music launched a 24-hour digital music channel with XM Satellite Radio (XM Channel 75), the Starbucks Hear Music™ Coffeehouse in Santa Monica where customers can select from over 15,000 CDs or burn their own custom mixes, and the Starbucks Hear Music(tm) media bars, a service that offers custom CD burning at select Starbucks retail locations in Seattle and Austin. Starbucks Hear Music™ CDs are featured at Hear Music and Starbucks retail locations, as well as online at Starbucks.com/hearmusic.