EMI CMG, Gaither extend agreement Print
Wednesday, 15 February 2006 07:00 PM America/New_York

EMI CMG Distribution and Gaither Music Group have agreed to extend a decade-plus relationship that has generated sales of more than 20 million albums, with a new, long-term agreement. The extension was announced by Greg Bays, senior vice president of sales and marketing for EMI CMG, and Barry Jennings, president of Gaither Music Group.

Under the new agreement, EMI CMG Distribution will continue to hold exclusive rights for worldwide Christian and general market retail distribution of all Gaither Music Group audio and video products, including the best-selling “Homecoming” video series, and music from the Gaither Vocal Band, Bill and Gloria Gaither, Ernie Haase & Signature Sound, Lynda Randle, The Isaacs, Guy Penrod and more.

Together, Gaither Music Group and EMI CMG have sold more than 20 million albums and 14 million videos since the two companies aligned in 1994. The Recording Industry Association of America has awarded more than 75 gold and more than 40 platinum certifications for “Homecoming” videos, including multiplatinum certifications for Old Friends, Ryman Gospel Reunion and Turn Your Radio On.

“EMI CMG Distribution has been honored to partner with Gaither Music Group for more than 12 years, and is grateful for the confidence Bill Gaither and his team have expressed with this distribution agreement extension,” said Bill Hearn, president and CEO of EMI CMG.

EMI CMG recently released the Gaither Homecoming Tour Live From Toronto and Canadian Homecoming With Bill & Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends DVDs, which mark the 10th anniversary of the Homecoming Tour. On April 4, Gaither Music Group and EMI CMG will release Billy Graham: God's Ambassador, a video biography hosted by award-winning journalist Sir David Frost. It is the only authorized video biography of Billy Graham ever made, EMI CMG said in a statement.