How Starbucks Got into the Music Business

If you walked into Starbucks’ original store fifteen years ago you would enjoy the custom mix CD of the store manager who liked to listen to interesting music while he worked. Quickly customers wanted to know what they were listening to and how could they get a copy. In 1999 Starbucks purchased a little company called HearMusic and started publishing music. Music is, of course, core to the coffeehouse experience so it seemed a natural fit for Starbucks to pursue music offerings. But it was the sales blizzard of “Genius Loves Company” – the platinum collaboration with Ray Charles that really launched the Starbucks publishing name in the music business. Now Starbucks has regional and national competitions to help find and promote the next coffeehouse troubadour. You can vote here!