Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD) Launches Groovetown Vinyl

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), the award-winning sales, marketing and distribution arm of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, today announced the launch of Groovetown Vinyl (www.groovetownvinyl.com), an exciting online storefront specializing in high-quality audio products for the discerning music fan. For the first time, visitors to the site will be able to purchase "lossless" audio FLAC files bundled with collectible high quality vinyl at a discounted price.

"In recent years, there's been a revolution in sound quality and consumers are clamoring for the richest experience from their audio collection," stated Mitch Rotter, SVP Marketing & Product Development for UMGD.  "Music fans have fallen in love all over again with the vinyl experience, from the packaging to the distinctive sound to the collectability, and the FLAC file provides the ease of digital listening without any of the sacrifice that normally accompanies digitally compressed audio files.  Groovetown's quality audio products will satisfy all types of consumers - the audiophile, the technologist, and the true music aficionado."

For a limited time, visitors purchasing bundled FLAC and vinyl products will receive a 15% discount on all purchases and free shipping on transactions over $50.00. Visitors can also enter a sweepstakes to win a vinyl starter collection consisting of 1 copy of every LP available on the site.  This promotion will run from April 6th to April 19th.

About Groovetown

Groovetown is an online store that specializes in both vintage style vinyl products, as well as FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) music downloads – the "lossless" digital audio compresses music without any compromise to the audio quality of the original recording.  Groovetown features recordings from such chart-topping artists as Eminem, Lady Gaga, Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, Guns N' Roses, and Weezer. Visit us at http://www.groovetownvinyl.com.  Groovetown's commerce and media delivery is powered by Echospin, a leading technology company whose pioneering solutions enable rights holders to sell and promote digital, physical and mobile goods directly to fans.

About Universal Music Group Distribution

Universal Music Group Distribution is a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog – Universal Music, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; and Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

SOURCE Universal Music Group