Ken Lombard Music Quotations

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.