Sony Music Entertainment Inks Strategic Partnership Deal With BandMerch for North American Retail Merchandising Rights

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Music Entertainment has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with BandMerch, the world's leading name in music merchandising, to expand and develop SME's merchandising programs in the North American retail market.  The announcement was made today at the MAGIC Market Week convention in Las Vegas.

Through the new agreement, SME and BandMerch will build and expand The Thread Shop, the highly successful merchandising program which Sony Music has created for artists on the company's roster.  Together, SME, The Thread Shop and BandMerch will harness the iconic power of SME artists and music through merchandise that utilizes the name, likeness, images, graphics and logos of a selection of Sony Music's superstars as well as cult favorites and new emerging talents.  Product categories including t-shirts, fashion tops, hoodies, hats, jewelry, accessories and more will be developed by BandMerch for sale in the retail market with potential live event merchandising on the horizon.

"We take pride in our ability to build lasting lifestyle entertainment brands and are thrilled at the opportunities that our new partnership with Sony Music, one of the largest music companies in the world, creates," said Joseph Bongiovi, President, BandMerch.  "As Sony Music continues to aggressively produce new properties across all genres of music, we look forward to working with them to produce innovative product lines that combine imaginative design, quality merchandise and cutting edge technology to further expand and connect their artists and fans."

"Over the last two years, The Thread Shop has grown organically, earning the trust of artists and managers interested in extending their brands while providing music fans unique access to the iconography and memorabilia of the greatest artists in music.  Our new strategic alliance with BandMerch will bring the business to the next level, allowing us to continue to create top quality merchandise on the behalf of our artists while broadening our reach and connecting to new fans around the world," said Mathew Vlasic, Vice President, The Thread Shop, Sony Music Entertainment.

About BandMerch, LLC

BandMerch, LLC was founded in 2000 and is a subsidiary of AEG Live.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, the company works collaboratively with each client to build product lines that not only connect them to their fans but facilitates the expansion of their fan base. BandMerch's mission is to create imaginative designs, produce quality innovative products, distribute globally at live events, online, and through retail, and provide top-tier service to our clients and their fans. For more information, visit bandmerch.com.

About Sony Music Entertainment

Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a current roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including Arista Nashville, Beach Street Records, Bystorm Entertainment, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Kemosabe Records, Legacy Recordings, MASTERWORKS, Polo Grounds, RCA Inspiration, RCA Nashville, RCA Records, Reunion Records, Roc Nation, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Syco Music, Vested in Culture and Volcano. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

SOURCE BandMerch, LLC