7-Eleven's New Association With Mall Jamz and Thump Records Results in a Surprising Trip to CD Heaven

LOS ANGELES, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nationally, from Chicago to Texas, New England to Florida, New York to Los Angeles, Seattle to San Diego -- is the 7-Eleven chain of stores the last defender of CD Heaven? Now it is.

Record stores throughout the country have been in decline this past decade. The Wherehouse music chain brand and Tower Records are long gone and the Virgin Megastore is just a fond memory. The remaining national chains are struggling. Although there are fewer places to buy CDs, music in the CD format is still in demand and accounts for 300,000,000 units in annual sales. But fear not. There is hope for those who still want to buy music on a CD, in a jewel case, in a store, instead of downloading it online. There is, indeed, a store that still believes in delivering top-quality multi-genre, multi-generational music ... and SURPRISE - all your favorite CDs are available at your local 7-Eleven!

Through their unique, national deal with 7-Eleven, Los Angeles, California-based Mall Jamz - http://www.malljamz.com (in association with Thump Records) - is single-handedly helping to keep the CD business ... in business. The best part is, they're available right around the corner, at your local 7-Eleven -- and in an impressive 2,600 stores, nationally.

The business model's success relies on the ability to really know the neighborhood where the stores are located, says Thump CEO Bill Walker. "It's all about niche marketing. We stock CDs at these stores that cater to the types of customers that frequent that store and to their musical tastes. Whether it is urban, hip hop, country, rock or whatever genre one can imagine, we find out, through market research, what the traffic (demographics) in that particular store requires and fill that demand."

For 7-Eleven customers, Oldies rank at #1 with Old School collections coming in at #2. For the industry at large CD music sales are still 65% of sales, but for Walker and his Thump label, CDs account for 80% of sales.

Walker adds, "It surprises people. This target audience is someone who usually goes to the convenience store down the street in their neighborhood. It catches people off-guard. CDs at 7-Eleven? Really? It never occurs to them that they could find their favorite CDs on sale at 7-Eleven ... until they see them. And bingo - an impulse buy!"

Each market is unique. The Long Beach, California store sells a lot of Old-School Rap and Freestyle (80's Pop) CDs. In Fullerton, California on the corner of Valencia and Brookhurst streets, customers need only to walk through the door to see racks of Old-School Classics and Oldies favorites on sale.

Rock, country, urban, funk, hip-hop ... all popular genres are stocked. Thump Records and Art Laboe's Original Sound label is available. Customers can also pick up the OLD SCHOOL GOLD series featuring the funk of the Gap Band, Zapp and Mary Wells, as well as the upcoming CRUZIN TO MOTOWN SERIES. Not only that, but they also carry the guitar virtuosity of superstar Carlos Santana, the infectious bilingual Latin pop of Rene y Rene, the Oogum Boogums of Brenton Wood and the neighborhood rhymes of local and regional artists.

And Walker adds, "Everything is bargain-priced under ten dollars. CDs are still your best value at $9.99." So now, for CD aficionados ... THANK HEAVEN FOR 7-ELEVEN CDs and Mall Jamz/Thump Records.

Walker concludes, "A trip to the convenience store can now boost the broad experience of picking up a six-pack of soda, a hot dog and a burrito, a bag of chips -- and the popular music CD of your choice all in one visit. iTunes can't do that."

Music companies, record labels and artists who are seeking music distribution and want to know more about being a part of Mall Jamz should email: [email protected]

The 2,600 national participating stores include stores in the following markets: CHICAGO, GREATER LA, LONE STAR, MIAMI/DADE, NEW YORK QUEENS, PACIFIC NORTHWEST, PLANO/RICHARDSON, SOUTHEAST DALLAS, SOUTH TEXAS ...

To see a complete list of the markets, visit http://www.malljamz.com

For media requests, email: [email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Mall Jamz; Thump Records