Tracy Byrd and Artist to Market Distribution (A2M) Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Upcoming New Album

Tracy Byrd and Artist to Market Distribution (A2M) Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement for Upcoming New Album

Deal Marks First Country Artist for A2M Roster

TROY, Mich., March 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Artist To Market Distribution (A2M) today announced it has entered into an agreement with multi-platinum country recording artist Tracy Byrd to be the exclusive distributor of Byrd's forthcoming new album. The yet-to-be-titled album, scheduled for release in the summer of 2006, is the third exclusive distribution agreement for A2M, and the first time that Byrd will release an album without using the traditional music label infrastructure. The deal also represents A2M's first foray into the country music genre. Byrd is managed by Joe Carter of Carter and Company Artist Management.

As with A2M's prior releases, Tommy Lee's Tommyland: The Ride (2005) and Sinead O'Connor's Throw Down Your Arms (2005), the direct relationship between Byrd and A2M will streamline the supply chain and allow the album to be offered at an attractive price to consumers, while enabling retailers to achieve a fair profit margin.

Byrd states, "I entered into the A2M agreement because after eight studio albums and two Greatest Hits releases (one on MCA and the other on RCA), I certainly have experience in making records. There are many opportunities for me in partnering with A2M, such as great distribution, artistic freedom, and a competitive price for Country music fans that buy my records. Now all I have to do is go in and cut some hit songs."

Paul Ignasinski, General Manager of A2M, commented, "Tracy Byrd is exactly the type of artist we like to work with. His passion for music and incredible work ethic have not only built an impressive sales history and brand, but they have also kept him relevant in an industry where tastes and trends change by the minute. It's great to be able to work with Tracy, and partner with him to bring new music to his fans in a new way."

To complement its sales and distribution capabilities, A2M has also partnered with a third party sales consultant firm, Rocket Science LLC, to handle sales solicitation, retail marketing and retail account interaction activities for Byrd's upcoming album.

About Artist To Market Distribution/Handleman Company

Launched in 2005, Artist To Market Distribution (A2M) is an independent music distributor designed to work directly with branded artists and artists' management to streamline the supply chain, and deliver new music product to the marketplace at a lower cost. A2M Distribution is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Handleman Company (NYSE:HDL).

Source: Artist To Market Distribution

CONTACT: For further information on Tracy Byrd, please contact: Melissa
Miggo of Star Keeper PR, +1-615-833-3000, starkeeper@carterandcompany.com ;
For A2M Distribution, please contact: Paul Ignasinski of Artist To Market
Distribution, +1-248-458-3987, paul@artist2market.com ; For Handleman Company,
please contact: Greg Mize at Handleman Company, +1-248-362-4400, ext. 211,
Greg.Mize@handleman.com ; or David Bassett of Marx Layne Public Relations,
+1-248-855-6777, ext. 132, dbassett@marxlayne.com

Web site: http://www.handleman.com/

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