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Reba McEntire & Hallmark Revive The Love
Billboard has reported that UMG Nashville’s Reba McEntire’s new album “Love Revival” will be sold solely at Hallmark Gold Crown stores in January and February. This makes Reba the latest of a slew of premier artists to release holiday-related albums through a retailer. Artists Josh Groban, Michael Bublé and Martina McBride have released Valentine’s Day sets, while George Strait, Michael McDonald and James Taylor have done Christmas releases. Barry Manilow’s In the Swing of Christmas is currently available at the independently owned stores.
Artists targeted for retail release projects are meticulously selected. Ann Herrick, VP of strategic music alliances for Kansas City, Mo.-based Hallmark, says that “We do pretty extensive research to determine who our artists are,” noting that the company surveys its core consumers and those who it would like to attract into its stores. Herrick reports that McEntire topped off the list as she was particularly suited for it. While McEntire agreed to participate, there was a hitch. “I said, ‘I’d love to,’ ” she recalls, “but the problem is, I didn’t have that many love songs that I’ve recorded during my 31-year career, believe it or not.” Cliff Williams, who works for McEntire, searched her back catalog and found what they were looking for.
Included in this set is McEntire’s 1993 duet with Vince Gill, “The Heart Won’t Lie,” which spent two weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.” “Somebody,” a 2004 No. 1, is also included. In addition, the album contains four songs recorded exclusively for Hallmark, among them a stellar version of Restless Heart’s 1987 No. 1 single “I’ll Still Be Loving You.” “That’s one of my all-time favorite songs,” McEntire says.
Additionally included are three songs: “Bad for My Own Good,” “With You I Am” and “Big Blue Sky” that McEntire had considered using previously, but never wound up using for any projects. All news songs on the album were produced by Tony Brown. Working in tandem with in-store marketing, Hallmark will utilize national TV, network radio and direct-to-database marketing to promote the album’s availability.
At the 3,700 Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide, Love Revival will be priced at $7.95 with the purchase of three Hallmark cards. The collaboration with Hallmark “really targets the mood,” McEntire says. “If you go into Hallmark and are looking for romantic, sentimental, seasonal music, then you’re going to find it there.”
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