Ken Lombard Quotations

We are honored to be working with Herbie Hancock and the unprecedented array of talented artists he has assembled to create this truly special event album. Following the success of Ray Charles' Genius Loves Company, Possibilities reflects our ongoing commitment to working with innovative artists and labels to create unique projects which we believe our customers will embrace.

We're here for those 33 million customers a week worldwide that make up a huge part of the disenfranchised customer base, who don't even know where to buy the music if they hear it. But our customers are not going to walk into their favorite Starbucks store and feel as if it's been converted into a music store.

Movies are a very important part of or entertainment strategy. The thought was to start with music, build some success, establish credibility and then move into films.

Given the success we've experienced with music, this is a logical extension to our entertainment strategy.

We were able to convince both Dylan's management and Sony BMG that this was a perfect project for us. . . . We think (they've) done a terrific job of doing a total Bob Dylan promotion. It will be a win-win for everybody involved.

We can provide the studios with a very unique opportunity to reach moviegoers in a way they currently don't have and frankly is going to help with better box office performance for their films.

We have always admired the enormous talents of Herbie Hancock, ... When Jack Rovner and I first learned that we might be able to work with Herbie, we immediately jumped at the opportunity. And for the relationship to begin with a project as exciting as Possibilities is more than we could have hoped for. There are very few artists whose contribution to music has been as substantial and original as Herbie Hancock's. It is a great privilege to be undertaking this project with him.

We needed to get the permission of our customers to go beyond coffee, and we feel that we got that permission with Ray.

What I feel the studios will realize is that we are going to provide them with a very tasteful and elegant way to promote their films in our stores. We are building awareness in a way that we feel will be a very effective model for the studios.

We will look at each project they submit and discuss what makes sense at that time.

We fully intend to find the right book to launch that part of our strategy.

We felt this was an exciting project and a perfect fit for what we're trying to provide to our customers,

You go through a tremendous amount of emotion, every emotion possible, when you see this film. You're laughing, you're crying. This is a great film we feel our customers are going to love. ... It's what Starbucks is all about.

We are very protective of what we consider sacred and that is the coffee experience, and the only way that we are going to build this business is in a way that's integrated as part of that experience and adds value to that experience.

Everybody tried to tell us, 'You know, this is not going to work. You sure you know what you're doing?' And Earvin was wonderful because he was committed and he went to them and he said, 'I'm not really asking the question. This is what we're going to do. Will you support me? Will you give us film?' And in each case it was a 100-percent yes.

At that time, everyone was trying to figure out what you could do to make a difference. And above all else, Earvin and I were tired of waiting for someone else to do it.

Do we do the somersaults now or later,

Our customers have come in over the years, they've heard music . . . that we've played, and they've asked us where they can find the CD. Frankly, we feel they've given us permission to go beyond coffee.

Our approach is one that's integrated within our coffee experience.

This is not a test for us. This is a firm commitment for us to expand the brand into the movies.

This can be a potential shot in the arm for not only Lions Gate, but other independent studios that just have not been able to reach the movie consumer in ways that they would expect.

A lot of our customers are asking for device fill-up, and going forward we'll do that.

Everyone at Starbucks Hear Music feels a strong emotional connection to Genius Loves Company, ... We truly appreciate the recognition the Recording Academy has given this album and are thrilled by the response the public has shown to this project.

It was obvious to us that wider distribution was most appropriate.

Sergio is not only a music pioneer who frankly introduced Brazilian music to the world 40 years ago; this was just a great CD. From our perspective, there is that timeless quality we knew our customers would enjoy.

I'm not here to comment on anyone else's opinion, ... But I can tell you that our customers have responded in ways that have gone beyond what our expectations have been. We are providing very unique products, music options for our customers that they can't get anywhere else.

The goal of our 'Hear Music Debut' CD series is to introduce talented, emerging artists to music fans seeking unique, new music experiences. The incredible response by Starbucks customers to Antigone Rising reflects not only our customers' strong appetite for discovering quality music but also demonstrates Starbucks' ability to leverage our unique marketing and distribution platform to the benefit of sales at traditional retail. We are extremely pleased to be working with Lava to share this special album with traditional music retailers seeking new and exciting music choices for their customers.