Sunset signs production and distribution deal with Memphis based booker and live music promoter, Papa G. Records.

Memphis based record label, promoter, booker and Production Company, Maverick Group Marketing Inc. (MGM) / Papa G. Records and Sunset Records / Sunset Distribution Company have announced today an exclusive worldwide distribution deal through Sunset Records / Sunset Distribution Company. The multi year contract and joint venture between the Memphis based multi-media record company Papa G. Records and with the New York & New Jersey based Sunset Records & Sunset Distribution Company is a deal that will bring current artists like Crushing Juliet and Chosen View to Sunset from the Papa G. label/company.

Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset says that “Papa G. himself (John Garrison) is one of the top A&R people in the world, and my plan is to allow him and his staff to go off to sign any artists he works personally in the Memphis areas,” and “because he books and promotes one of the best halls (The Minglewood) in one of the best music areas in the world (on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee), I look forward to having him deliver new music to Sunset for many years.” (Don) Lichterman also says that “he (Papa G.) Is on the pulse of picking up on new trends in music” and that Papa G. is also “on the pulse of hearing new bands that play live at the Memphis venues he books live shows.” Lichterman goes on to say that he is “thrilled to work with Papa G. as a great extension to my company,” let alone “watching him do his A&R for Sunset because he has brought me to hear some of the best arrays of music collectively, that I have heard in one sitting in many years.”

The new production and distribution deal will continue to develop, license, and release recorded music and any entertainment related product the Memphis based company (Papa G. Records) delivers to Sunset in any genre and/or in any format. Aside from the initial releases of the alternative rock bands, CHOSEN VIEW (The Common Thread is due in stores: September 21, 2010) and CRUSHING JULIET (Broken Cadillac is due in stores: September 21, 2010) that are being released through the Sunset Record label, Papa G. Records plans to deliver bands in a variety of genres including Blues, Americana, Art Rock, R&B/Soul, Rock N’ Roll, and World music. The first projects through the new Papa G. / Sunset deal is slated for Fall release in 2010 with two new albums, The Common Thread (In Stores 9/21/2010) which is a brand new album from the alternative rock band by CHOSEN VIEW (Sunset Records) and the Broken Cadillac (In Stores 9/14/2010) alternative album by pop rock act, CRUSHING JULIET (Sunset Connect). "Both of these artists are an enormous talent with key songs for radio so I want them out by the end of September this year,” (Don) Lichterman says about the first two Papa G. titles being released in the Sunset Distribution system, “we (Sunset) are extremely psyched to be able to bring his (Papa G.) music, his bands and his sense of direction with music he works to the next obvious level in this industry, I also want to get his music and bands out to more of a mainstream and global audience." The alternative sub modern rock song, “Under The Swell” by the Chosen View’s The Common Thread CD has already begun to impact radio in the US and radio overseas in Italy, and the UK and “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” on the Broken Cadillac CD have already been placed through two license (to be announced this month) deals both in the United States and in Italy.

Flash Grey’s Main Trip is set to hit stores on April 13th through at Sunset Connect.

Sunset Connect is releasing the Main Trip by the top DJ, Flash Grey on April 13.

Flash Grey has been critically acclaimed as one of the top DJ performers in the world, and his Main Trip CD will be released through the Sunset Connect record label on April 13. The superstar performer from the Ukraine has now put down his DJ work onto one CD filled with 9 extended songs. The label is setting up the CD with the top promoters, club owners, magazines, websites and all types of radio stations around the world. 2009 and 2010 seem to have proven to be a very successful time in for the acclaimed Ukrainian artists’ music career. This is the debut album by the trance and progressive DJ/producer/performer and this is the first DJ artist signed to any of the Sunset labels.

The first thing the label is doing with the artist Flash Grey is to set up the landmark debut CD, "Main Trip", at top retail outlets that sell downloads and ringtones. “We all know his (Flash Grey) talent as a live DJ,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Connect, the digital only record company at Sunset Records, “doing a CD is the next natural step for the DJ artist and I am psyched to be able to be a part of the development of him as a recording artist.” The CD has 9 songs that are inspired by countless “beat junkies” and is what seems like an endless collection of killer sounds, unique beats with some breaks blended in the perfect way. “Solerno” is the song being worked to radio and to clubs around the world. The deep and introspective song is quintessential Flash Grey at his best.

The rest of the CD allows listeners to chill out on a journey like ride that is much like a magic carpet ride being guided by music. Flash Grey’s new label and new CD should turn some heads with not only club goers around the world, the DJ is also no doubt one of the most critically acclaimed performers now on that scene. (Don) Lichterman says that he (Flash Grey) has indeed “transcended what he can do at his live show onto his Main Trip CD,” and he goes on to say that the full length CD is setup as “journey into the mind of Flash Grey.”  All of the songs on this debut CD has been used extensively in some way during his live performances. Every song on the CD will also be available as a single, at every top retail outlet in the world, along with being available in every Mobile Network that sells ringtones and playback tunes for cell phones.

Online Retail Company, Sunset Vending is being launched this week by founder Don Lichterman.

New online music merchandise retailer Sunset Vending (www.Sunset-Vending.com) is being launched by Sunset Records founder Don Lichterman. The new online merch company is designed to accompany products made for his new music artists signed to the Sunset labels, with legendary branded music artists like The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC. Sunset Vending has also signed specific license deals to resell and offer popular branded items by iconic organizations and estates like Sesame Street, Star Trek, Marylyn Monroe, Star Wars, John Wayne, Betty Boop, DC Comics (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman), Looney Tunes (Taz, Bugs Bunny, Tweeter and Sylvester), Snoopy and the Peanuts gang along with many more official licensed deals that are currently in place. And along with many new license deals that are coming to the company.

Sunset Vending will set up its artists from its indie labels with specific popular merchandise items that bands will be able to sell online at Sunset Vending, at their own websites, at the labels web sites, at Amazon’s store along with being able to sell these products at their live shows. Sunset distributes (Sunset Distribution Company) an array of established and brand new acts like Sekshun 8, Gina Thompson, Federal Moguls (QBall from Bloodhound Gang), Anthony Geraci, TenPenny Joke, Down From Zero, Capt. Crunk, Original Black Pantah, I Kong along with Mark Simmons, Deon Cole, Kevin Hart and other live recordings from shows at the Laff House Comedy Club. “I am in hope that the Sunset Vending Company will give us the ability to showcase some cool band merchandise," says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Vending, “and that has already begun to pay off because even just yesterday; I picked up a unique product line hand made by a fan of the band Sekshun 8.”

(Don) Lichterman then says, that he “implemented the merch company’s business plan in the same exact way that I started my other companies at Sunset, which is to accompany my new signings with established, branded and legendary music artists.” Sunset Vending plans to allow bands to get their merchandise into dedicated fans hands without having to buy them at shows and Sunset Vending will also be selling official licensed products by popular music artists.

The live concert downloads will also be available at iTunes after the show ends tonight. The Hope For Haiti Concert features live performances by Wyclef Jean, George Clooney and CNN’s Anderson Cooper will host the two-hour global telethon airing Friday, January 22 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. And, the celebrities also scheduled to appear in support of relief efforts include Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban, Coldplay, Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna...Go To Sunset-Live.com to see the show!

Sunset moves its record label web sites to the Secure Green Web Hosting Platform and Web Servers Powered By Wind and Solar Energy

Sunset Records moved over 60 web sites last week to its new web servers powered by wind technology and solar energy

Sunset, the “greenest” record company in the world, takes its environmental campaigns to another level by using Wind Powered Technologies' and Solar Powered energies’ to provide its’ Web application security, Storage for its web servers along with its PCI compliance for its record label and artist hosted web sites. Sunset will continue to provide the current and the future artists signed to the label, their own private portals providing security, SQL relational databases and a Cross Platform Site Script. In addition, Sunset now has their servers at their specific co-location with dedicated hosting for its label web sites and artists web sites.

Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset say that "After using a few solutions over the last three years, and considering my vision for my online infrastructure at Sunset, dealing with this transition now was an easy decision to make this month.” (Don) Lichterman goes onto say that “moving our content to our new servers is not only the first step in becoming environmentally sound at work, it is also long overdue for us to be using an environmentally conscious, carbon neutral online business model,” and “it starts with how we house our content on its servers.” Lichterman also feels that in doing this now at Sunset, “we will always be able to cater to our growing company and this is just more incentive and added value that our staff and artists get when you work at the world's greenest record label".

Sunset is also known for starting one of the most comprehensive and critically acclaimed digital only record labels this last year with Sunset Connect (www.SunsetConnect.com). "(Sunset) Connect became very well known this year and the press has been over the top great for us gaining the recognition after starting a label like Sunset Connect this year,” says Lichterman, and “now, there is zero hypocrisy which is why I felt so good after making that change this month.” Sunset will also provide their staffers, labels and artists even more secure and even more compliant to the digital millennium Acts and “without a huge investment in resources and/or man hours,” and Lichterman ends the conversation saying that “I am so happy to have this added value implemented to our online solution."

Sunset is one of the forefront runners and one of the most innovative record labels in the world. The company’s web site infrastructure is powered with 100% renewable wind and solar energy (90% wind, 10% solar) rendering its servers and business operations carbon neutral. Don Lichterman and his Sunset record Labels take practicing social responsibility and its overall Green Movement on its daily business operations, to another level this month.

The critically acclaimed duo, Grayscale, is mastering their new CD at the world famous Abbey Road Studios in London, England.

Sunset Connect / Sunset Records recording artist, Grayscale, is finishing up mastering their next album (Haunted Hours) this week at Abbey Road Studios. “Even though we have great access with great rates at the Universal Music Recording and Mastering Studios,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset, “the guys (Grayscale) want to use Abbey Road to master the CD.” He (Don Lichterman) then says that “the band is finishing up the mastering of their first single, “End Of The World,” this week and I am still in hope of making that February 2nd, street day,” (Don) Lichterman continues to say about the mastering of the CD, “at the same time I want them to deal their own meticulous and creative way.”

The entire full length 13 song CD is written and produced by William Weaver and Douglas Dunbar whom make up the band Grayscale. Haunted Hours was recorded and mixed in their (Grayscale) hometown in Cleveland, Ohio and their songs are now being mastered at Abbey Road.

Sunset plans to release this Haunted Hours CD on February 2, 2010 and the label will use the Universal Republic distribution system to work the CD into the top retail outlets all over the world. The CD is filled with 13 pop rock tracks that are all noticeably inspired by the songwriting tandem of William Weaver and Douglas Dunbar.

For more information and all the up to date information about Grayscale and their new Haunted Hours CD, please visit the official record artist web site (http://www.Grayscale.SunsetConnect.com).

Sunset begins to set up the sophomore release, “Haunted Hours” by the internationally critically acclaimed pop songwriters and vocalists, Grayscale.

After taking a couple years in between working on finishing an album, Grayscale is back with a brand new full length CD. Once again, the duo of William Weaver and Douglas Dunbar continues to use their personal life as the way to reflect on all sorts of memories, 'Haunted Hours' is another robust, intricate, astute and another sincere piece of work. The album consists of 1thirteen (13) brand new tracks by the band and is produced by (William) Weaver and (Douglas) Dunbar. The CD is quintessential 'Grayscale' – beautiful and fine pop melodies with a heartfelt sentiment in the songwriting.

It is not that the band / artist has gone away by any means of the words, the tandem returns in 2010 with a brand new Grayscale, featuring thirteen brand new songs written and produced by William Weaver and Douglas Dunbar in their hometown in Cleveland, Ohio. Once again, the band scores big time with songs that are draped with melodies with sweet and timeless vocals exuding the great emotional depth we have learn to expect from Grayscale. “Haunted Hours is not only positive and accessible music by the guys (Grayscale),” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Connect / Sunset Records, “the songwriting is uplifting and very much provoking thoughts that we have all gone through the same things in life.” (Don) Lichterman also says that it is “a beautiful album that has great international flair and an overall vibe to do very well around the world.”

Highlights on the follow up CD release to the That Flawless Flashing day CD released at Sunset, include the melodic “End Of The World,” which is being called the first single that is being worked to college radio and alternative radio formats, along with the unearthly swing of the “The Drinking Song,” the pop swagger in the tune ‘XX Girlfriend’ and then the song that dawns the same name as the album, “Haunted Hours.”

Grayscale has incredible songs with incredible vocalists that has influences of music artists that are from the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and new millennium while sounding like one of the best pop bands and / or Britpop styled bands even though their live in the United States. The band once again takes you on the magic carpet ride with a unique musical journey that can make them a huge pop stars.

The Sunset Connect record label is releasing the entire CD with Universal Republic which will distribute the Haunted Hours album into the top retail outlets like iTunes, MySpace, REAL/Rhapsody, eMusic, IMVU, Napster and every retail store that sells music. (Don) Lichterman and Sunset will release the CD worldwide and have now set a street day for the Grayscale CD on February 2, 2010. The first singles on the brand new album are being worked to radio starting this week.

Agreement Will Enable Vio Mobile Users and Vio Distribution Partners to Seamlessly Release Sunset Records Contextually Relevant Ringtones at Hundreds of Retailers and Mobile Carriers All Over The World!

Sunset Records announced today it has signed an agreement with Vio Mobile, one of the industry’s leaders in mobile distribution, to provide mobile ringtones across several mobile retail channels, with hundreds of mobile carriers in territories all over the world.

Under this newly signed mobile distribution agreement, Sunset Records ringtones will be integrated into the Vio Mobile distribution network, enabling millions of users globally to effortlessly discover Sunset’s mobile content. Vio Mobile is also integrating its distributed ringtone catalog with the popular electronics company, Acer, for branded purchases so buyers of the new Acer MP3 Player, can discover its music on the new Acer media player. Sunset Records will also ensure that its links to the Vio Mobile website are set up integrated on every artist page. The Sunset artist pages are set up that when fans click through the links off their artist pages, they will be offered ringtones, playback tunes, wallpaper graphics and all relevant mobile content.

“The Sunset Records partnership with Vio Mobile emphasizes our continued expansion to get our music placed in every worldwide distribution channel and then also highlights how we can integrate our content with ease,” says Don Lichterman, the Head of Sunset Records. “I was impressed right away with what Ivan (Woodson) has built at his company,” says Lichterman about this deal and that he is “confident that Vio Mobile partners and its users will be able to find our mobile content in every network and all over the world.”

With this deal in place today, Sunset will have its catalog of recorded music available through the Vio Mobile network of over TWO HUNDRED (200) mobile carriers around the world.

Sunset Connect Music Artist Spatial Units has its Dream Frequency placed in upcoming Documentary Film, "Shoot To Thrill."

Sunset Connect Music Artist Spatial Units has its Dream Frequency placed in upcoming Documentary Film, "Shoot To Thrill." SYNOPSIS OF FILM: Documentary. The North Shore of Hawaii is the capital of the surfing world and the photos and images produced there have created the ever-growing surfing industry and brought the surf culture to the world. Shoot to Thrill takes us behind the scenes with the photographers, cinematographers and surfers who challenge themselves in the world heaviest surf to get the ultimate shots.

The beautiful ones are set to Release "Grandio City" Digitally with Sunset Connect.

The beautiful ones are gearing up to release its debut album with Sunset Connect titled "Grandio City". The album will be dropping worldwide on August 25, with exclusive releases at specific strategic partners on August 4.

The beautiful ones debuts with Sunset Connect after the successful release of a few singles released this year by the duo band. The company’s approach to working the band and every at Sunset Connect, is to combine the traditional ways to market and develop music with an effort to create brand new and innovative new media strategies to position the artist at every retail outlet that’s ells, downloads, streams and ringtones. The beautiful ones will also have the Grandio City CD available as an On-Demand CD through its recording deal with Sunset Connect. The band should be able to use the labels resources at retail while trying to expand upon the already inbred fan base.

One single has already debuted at #1 on the AOL Our Stage web site—which is an incredible accomplishment for a song not even released in stores—and despite the ability to work at another host of labels and aggregator companies in the industry, band members Syeed and Rick Spry decided to continue to build the band name as part of Sunset Connect growing artist roster. Sunset Connect is the digital only record label at Sunset Records that now has a catalog that distributes over eight hundred copyrights in its repertoire.

 Following the critical acclaim and commercial acclaim of the “Stars” single at AOL’s Our Stage, the beautiful ones is set up to release “Grandio city.” The full length album is a completion to a rather unique recording approach with Syeed spending his time in the UK recording his part. And, Spry spent his time in the west part of the United States creating this unique and modern day concept to recording music. The CD includes “Valkyrie” and “Neon,” in which the duo seems to see a sense of creative freedom from this great accomplishment as an artist in the music industry. “You have to love the way this entire process came together for these guys and for that production value alone, there product needs to be out and available to their fans,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Connect / Sunset Records.

“Grandio City” is an album that is sure to be one of the best things to happen for the beautiful ones. “Grandio City” will be released in both CD On-Demand with Amazon and digitally the CD will be available at tope retail outlets like iTunes, REAL, Napster and the music is available at the IMVU store for people with Avatar accounts to shop in those stores. In addition, Sunset Connect and the beautiful ones will make the digital-only album available at a limited amount of partners and stores, as a prelude to its worldwide release to be available at every retail store on August 25^th.

This digital-only way to go about developing, music will give fans the ability to grow with the band. Sunset Connect was launched this year as Sunset’s digital distribution outlet, digital retail store and digital only record label. The company has grown this year gaining recognition for its unique business model and its innovative ways to approach the landscape of distribution today. (Don) Lichterman makes no bones about embracing this new media marketing strategy he has set in place at Sunset. Not only has the digital only record label has begun to release its first round of digital only titles in the last few months, the company has set up a sustainable and user generated A&R Submittal tool creating a platform for unsigned music artists to upload their music for review and for consideration to attain this type of distribution into stores along with radio promotion, press and media work.

JUNE 2009

Sunset Connect signs the beautiful ones to an exclusive digital record deal

This week, the beautiful ones will have their release set up with the kind of exposure that only a major independent record label can provide, by signing to the Sunset Connect, the digital record label at Sunset Records.

Sunset Connect has begun to sign more artists this quarter artists to the digital-only record label. The label has labels deals to release songs through major online retailers like Apple iTunes, Rhapsody from RealNetworks, Yahoo Music Unlimited, lala, Aimee Street, Napster, MSN Music from Microsoft, Zune and all the top retail outlets in the world.

“This band has one of those great stories of the modern day and their music is perfect for this type of development in our industry,'' said the founder of the digital label, Don Lichterman, also the founder and head of Sunset Records. “These guys lived worlds away from each other and managed to put together a full album of some great pop tunes.”

The lead vocalist known simply as Syeed met Rick Spry on an online forum and then began creating music by having to send music files half a world away via online and via the internet. Spry (Rick) happen to reside in the United Kingdom while Syeed worked on the CD from Arizona in the United State. Lichterman (Don) took notice to their 'Stars' track as it was the number one (1) song on the dance chart at AOL’s Our Stage. They had released a 4 track ep as free downloads  before creating their full length CD entitled, Grandio City, to be released on August 4th at Sunset.

Sunset will be setting up the beautiful ones debut CD this month and there is a considerable amount of promotion, press and marketing being set up this summer for the August 4th street day. That includes an advertising campaign with MySpace and ads placed at Pandora, Last.FM, Music Nation and more as the release day approaches. The label will also be seeking license deals of their music to films and television shows, let alone for commercials and ad campaigns. Sunset Connect’s artist development will include marketing, promotion, digital distribution and the physical CD will be made available through this deal, at Amazon (through their On-Demand system).

“The key now honestly, is to actually break bands in this cost effective way and in this type of system.” “It will continue take the entire movement to the digital universe by the consumer for this to work the way I want it to work,'' said (Don) Lichterman of Sunset Connect / Sunset Records, “however, this is also the best way to develop bands considering the landscape of distribution today.'' Lichterman then says that “this system gives me the best way to have our newer artists making money right away in the first pay period.”

Balloon Man is set to release My Poppy Heart with Sunset Connect, the digital record company at Sunset Records!

Sunset Connect, the digital only record label at Sunset sets up the My Poppy Heart release set to hit all digital retail outlets on June 9^th!

We have never quite heard from Balloon Man on a full length CD and yet after many years of making music, the new My Poppy Heart CD is the next release at Sunset Connect, dropped this month, the band's brand new album holds up rather nicely to the modern day listener. The band's members and participants haven't exactly been doing nothing as they work only during the “full moon” time of the month” have a seventeen (17) song full length CD coming out at Sunset on June 9^th. Balloon Man’s debut album, finds the band as able as ever to continue to make club style dance music, and offering the most organically produced album made in a long time.

More so than on Sunset Connect, My Poppy Heart’s seventeen songs emphasize the overall feeling of the of the band's sound—and the ,main tracks are fast becoming some of the most transcendent dance music to hit clubs and to be streamed online in many years. The beauty of this 17 song CD is how much it flows endlessly from beginning to the end. Mike Rat's musicianship is prominent and flows perfect, getting through to the main single "Crave" (the fourth track and first single) which is a throwback to the Festival Club days in Manchester. The drumming and programming grabs you in more often than usual, and the music is always complementing the programmed beats with the live playing.

"Crave" is a great song to dance and rock to and could possibly be one of Balloon Man’s best pop singles. It's hard to deny Balloon Man’s amazing bass leads and the song's hook-laden chorus is what makes it the first single being serviced to radio this week. Balloon Man then manages to keep the tempo high for the entire 17 song album, and could be one of the digital only record labels top signings and releases of the year.  Balloon Man's textured synth patches wash blend perfectly in the song in motions, while the band’s drumming and programming drive the CD with demanding, anxious rhythms. Rat's voice, which is one of the most soothing and strong vocals that easily carries great melodies, while the guitar work, leaves no rhythmic gaps combining the bands melodic basslines.

The aptly titled "My Poppy Heart" CD, pulls out all the stops and gives listeners a ton of value with 17 songs on the entire album. Balloon man uses the programmed beats at with multi-tracked vocals creating a flow of soaring melodies from song to song. The band's new focus on songwriting occasionally reveals themselves in songs like the main single on the CD (“Crave”), which features backing vocals from Julie Rat.

As a whole, My Poppy Heart is a solid effort from a brand new club and dance band that is really turning heads even before the street day. Don Lichterman, the head of the digital only record label, Sunset Connect says that “Balloon Man has managed to collectively bring together a consistently flowing set of songs that somehow ended up being 17 songs. The album tells a story and the production was done their way. Buying 17 songs for standard retail prices should be great for consumer purchasing, but most of all, this band has v=created more buzz than I have seen with any band that has been signed to the label.” My Poppy Heart is already proving that Balloon Man has a major following with sales of merchandise already happening for the band. And, the band has thousands of plays and streams at Reverbnation.

MARCH 2009

Spatial Unity is setting up the Knock Me Off My Feet for its official release worldwide through the Sunset Connect record label on May 12!

The Scottish power-pop quartet Spatial Unity is surely one of the current pop music scene's most up and coming innovative artists, with its new recording deal at Sunset Connect, the Knock Me Off Your Feet CD is seeing its first breakout hit song and a critically acclaimed full length CD which is now being released worldwide.

The Knock Me Off My Feet CD is a great expression of its robust-psyche, upbeat-pop, warm-hearted, multi-faceted pop rock band, Spatial Unity. The CD integrates the melodic talents of the popular band, and features gifted musicians; Andy Murray (Wolfstone), Kevin Wiles, Andy Pearce, and Sorren Maclean has combined the fervent guitar quality with the poppy set of vocals that easily accessible to pop music fans all over the world.

The main highlights include the song named after the album title, Knock Me Off My Feet” (Track #1) for the upbeat, poppy and genuine melodies.  The vocals will attract everyone’s interest with great hooks and an excellent chorus. "Dreams Come True" (Track #2) is the soulful and dark approach to life showing off a dark sounding guitar sound blended perfectly with dreamy melodies. The video is also a work of art playing at Sunset Connect and at the Spatial Unity artist page at Sunset. The haunting vocals display more of a dark tone compared to the first single being worked to radio. “Dream Frequency (Track #3) shows off a corresponding major/minor modal interchange through every verse on the song. "Breathe You In" (Track #4) actually takes you in with its beautiful sounding vocals over a tempered musical environment. The song is a wonderfully exceptional showcasing of some of the best vocals in pop music today.

Knock Me Off My Feet shows us all that even though it’s extremely hard to find a full length pop CD worth a listen from the beginning to the end of the CD, this is a CD where you truly enjoy every last track – Spatial Unity has delivered a great pop rock melodic CD. After May 12, the CD will be made available all over the world as the foursome releases the debut now at Sunset Connect. The digital only record label is going for radio ads at college radio and modern rock radio starting this week. And, the presale of the physical CD will be made available through the On-Demand system through Sunset and Amazon.

The 10-song effort, which includes a spectacular version of the Dreams Come True track, is the tenth song and entitled as the (La Acoustica Mix). And, then to totally surprise pop music fans of the band looking for something that sounds just a bit different from the rest of the power-pop songs on the album. Their songwriting does indeed classify the band as the most up and coming pop act hitting the music scene this year. “This is an excellent album put together very nicely and very professionally with excellent songs, excellent artwork and excellent photography work” says Don Lichterman, the head of the Sunset Records digital only record label, Sunset Connect, “the “Dreams Come True” music video being worked to MTV, FUSE and on our sites, is an amazing piece of work.”

The must have “Knock Me Off My Feet” CD will be available at every retail outlet on May 12.

Sunset Connect announces its first new signing at the digital record label with the signing of Spatial Unity.

Spatial Unity from the United Kingdom becomes the first Sunset Connect signing at the label. Spatial Unity’s forthcoming album is set up for release early this May and will be available at every major online digital download retail outlet in the world. The “Knock Me Off My feet” physical CD to be released by the pop act will also be made available at Amazon, Target and at the Sunset Music Store for sale to consumers all over the world.

Sunset Connect begins to set up its first new release with the Spatial Unity CD with a brand new video for the first single, “Dreams Come True” to be worked at FUSE, MTV and the music video will be able to view at all the major the online video outlets like You Tube and Music.com. The first single and a few of the songs off the “Knock Me Off My Feet” CD will be serviced through DMDS, a radio promotion company that works music to top stations tracked by BDS / Nielsen, R&R and all of this done electronically at Sunset. CD reviews for press outlets are also being worked electronically without any physical product through the Billboard Media Wire, Mi2n, New Music Weekly, PR.com and with iContact where Sunset uses its own media contact list. And, these songs from the debut CD were submitted to the Music Network, Rumblefish, Pump Audio and many licensing companies for requests that came in this week for the need of new pop songs.

Sunset Connect is Don Lichterman’s digital only record label at Sunset Records. “We have gone through a restructuring at the company in the last half year,” says Lichterman. “This is the first time since I started Sunset where I feel that we have total control to carry out my vision in the digital division.” The Sunset label head also transferred some of its signed artists at the label group, to the Sunset Connect label. “Honestly, this is basically day one in my eyes and this is the first act we are working through my system at Sunset Connect. And, yes, we have a great basis at Sunset Connect. We have to, however, begin to let things speak for itself so to speak, and that will take generating some hits over the next few years through a system like we have at Sunset Connect. Labels like Sunset Connect must actually break new music into the greater marketplace by working music this exact way for this to be a viable type of record label,” says Lichterman about his first releases at Sunset Connect.

FEBRUARY 2009

The Founder of Sunset Records Opens One of the World’s Most Extensive Animal Friendly and Vegan Related Web Sites

Veg Hed opens its online store providing products never used with animals and strategic partners with activists that are against all forms of animal cruelty.

A New Jersey based organization with shared office space at Sunset in New York City, Veg Hed is now the best resource for “vegan” product and related care products from top brands, and is also set up as a very precise way to find out about pivotal animal activist companies. The company also extended its range of releasing music and video by releasing organic and eco friendly related DVD titles.

Known for its quality of music and innovative record label structure, Sunset is finding ways to use its resources for various forms of activism and awareness. Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset is also the founder of the Sustainable Action Network and the Green Junkee online retail store. Lichterman says, “Veg Hed is an extension within our office and we are doing a series of special markets CDs with a concept of using only music artists that eat veggie every day and artists that are against animal cruelty. This is my way to fulfill my larger dream of being able to do more for humans and animals in this world. Having the ability to promote and distribute products with top retail outlets like Amazon and Target gives us an instant reach at 12% of the online retail marketplace.”

Veg Hed not only will release its own product line, the site brings together other vegan product lines and links to vegan fashion stores. Veg Hed also has up to date information with a few of the top animal activist companies in the world. Without many great resources for shopping for vegan items online, and to gain information about vegetarian living and organizations that do incredible things for wildlife, Veg Hed brings this together on one web site.

Lichterman says, “Unless you are looking for a specific item that you use all the time, using products not tested on animals and using products, let alone products that have no animal product could be difficult to find online and in stores. I am trying to find ways to make this so easy for people to buy these types of products all together in one order. I am also trying to use top brands that manufacturer product without any animals. And, I want to make sure people know they have easy choices to buy every type of product that does not use animals. This is more about awareness and reaching out to a more mainstream consumer while explaining this to them in a very easy way.”

Consumers are able to buy Sunset DVDs and Sunset CDs that are related to wildlife as well as strategically partnered companies with products that manufacturer vegan styles clothing, cosmetics, and clothing along with products from the PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals) Mall, the ASCAP store, the Sea Sheperd online store and items from the North Shore Animal League. The store is also affiliated with the Dr. Foster and Smith Company to resell their product line.

JANUARY 2009

Sunset Continues To Develop Music Through Its Digital Record Label

Sunset has just launched a digital record label this month, finding, signing and developing music artists with the overall objective of breaking them through its distribution system, licensing network, radio promotion, press and media departments along with its live download company and radio network.

Sunset Connect is the now the backbone for the Sunset Records digital division and moreover, this is one of their best ways for the label to find new music. The label will function as a newly created division at the Sunset record label based in New York City. The label started this month by releasing full length albums by D’Cyple, Obka, Ric Laue, Kan’Nal, Starr Cullars, Cryout, a Cracker / David Lowery type of songwriter from England named Clayton Road; and many compilations that feature popular music artists (The Crystal Method, Fatboy Slim, Sneaker Pimps, Gavin Friday, Eve Gallagher, Boy George, Leftfield, Death In Vegas and more), and will now begin to sign more music every month during this first year.

Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records, will run the digital only label during the key launch stages in the first few months, finding new talent and implementing the A&R and lead time administration. The Sunset Connect digital label is set up to develop bands working everything to major radio, press, retail and for licensing opportunities in film, TV and commercials in an automated way. Lichterman’s Sunset Live download company will be run through the Sunset Connect distribution system although it will be a standalone company run by its own staff. The live concert download company has just released a very special live concert by the world famous comedian, Roz (Last Comic Standing, Laff House Live).

Lichterman said about the digital label that it is a convergence of many factors with regard to the landscape of distribution and working music today-- including promotional mailings and mailings for music-licensing opportunities, and today, every aspect of a record label can be distributed to radio, retail, press and licensing companies all digitally -- made it the perfect climate to start Sunset Connect. The label will provide the ability to purchase physical CDs for placement at Amazon, Target and its own CD / DVD Store, through its On-Demand system powered by Amazon’s Create Space.

"We have every aspect of what a record label does for its music artists at Sunset Connect, and working music this way is cost effective for artists that it will no doubt be the standard model for record labels," Lichterman said in a press release with Billboard Media Wire. "We are poising Sunset for that time by starting the label today and at the same time, this label pays its artist 70/30 splits on net sales, which will keep everyone recouped making money every pay period.” Sunset Connect will look to hire a label head and other staff members for A&R acquisitions with the label feeding off the Sunset Records divisions for its promotion, licensing, marketing and administration.

While Sunset Records has made great progress in the last year with its new music – the Federal Moguls (QBall from Bloodhound Gang and Troy Walsh (MTV.com) new project and platinum recording artist Gina Thompson’s new project as run through the main label (Sunset Records and Sunset Urban accordingly) -- the Sunset Connect record label will be committed to developing new talent and up-and-coming music artists. Each of the artists on the label has already released indie albums and Sunset Connect distributes the entire catalogs of these artists. "We have great lee way now to develop new music without getting them thousands of dollars in the unrecouped column, and we can take on so many more projects today," Lichterman said.

Sunset Connects business plan has taken the same shape as the rest of the Sunset labels. There is a perfect mix of brand new talent in with established artist signings that are legends in the industry. Of the new bands,  Kan’Nal’s “Gypsy” was the number one song played on the Radio Italia Network last year for a few weeks and D’Cyple’s two songs “My Life” and “Don’t Wanna Be” have broken the top 50 on the Indy Record Pool charts last year and is still being featured in clubs charting every month. Clayton Road also now has two songs in Pure Play’s Music Network and every artist is featured at Pandora. Sunset Connect has digital deals with every top online retailer including iTunes, Real/Rhapsody, eMusic, Amazon MP3, Napster, Shockhound and over 40 outlets. The digital only label does make physical product via Amazon’s On-Demand system making CDs available at Amazon, target and the Sunset Store, however, it will not carry any stock inventory.

Top industry people at major labels and at Indy labels admit there is no set formula for a digital only record label. Lichterman says that he has “found the perfect way to make everyone money and work this music at Sunset Connect as close to what you would do for an artist that has a traditional record deal.” He also was quick to say that the idea of doing this now is almost “overdue, but for us at Sunset, this the perfect time for this type of label considering our label wide rosters at this time. Our traditional label is working like a machine and our artists and staff producer (Rod Millwood) were named on the Grammy Nomination Ballot 68 times leading up to December 5th. We now have the formula to make sure this label works like a cost effective machine and ironically speaking, I could see this label being the one that is the main label as the industry phases out physical DVDs and CDs."