Herbie Hancock's New Album, Possibilities, Available at Starbucks and Traditional Music Retailers around the World the Week of August 29

Hancock Music, Vector Recordings and Starbucks Hear Music todayannounced the availability of their co-release, Herbie Hancock's newduets album, Possibilities, at Starbucks (Nasdaq:SBUX)Company-operated locations and traditional music retail storesthroughout the U.S. and Canada.

Additionally, and through a distribution agreement with WarnerMusic International, Hancock's Possibilities is being releasedglobally the week of August 29 at traditional music retail and selectStarbucks locations. Today's announcement marks the first timeStarbucks has made a CD available simultaneously at Company-operatedlocations in the U.S. and select international markets, includingAustralia, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.

Co-released by Hancock Music, Vector Recordings and Starbucks HearMusic, and produced by Herbie Hancock and Alan Mintz, the genesis ofthe album was Hancock's vision of collaborating in studio to createmusic with some of the artists he most admires. Herbie Hancockdescribes Possibilities this way: "This is real collaboration thatwe're doing here. It's all been decided at the session." For example,John Mayer came to his recording session with a simple guitar phrasefrom which he and Hancock created a fully arranged song, replete withlyrics and a rhythm section of drums, bass and keyboards. Sting andHancock freshly reinterpret Sting's song "Sister Moon," from the albumNothing Like the Sun.

"Herbie Hancock has been an iconic figure in my personal pantheonfor many, many years," said Sting. "Long before I was fortunate enoughto work with him I had followed his startling trajectory from his workwith Miles Davis, the Headhunters and up to the present day. While thecore of his work has always been jazz, his openness to new ideas,technological as well as musical, has bestowed on him an ageless andnatural 'hipness' that sits well with his playful genius. A deeplyspiritual and delightful human being, Herbie rocks!"

"Pairing Herbie's legendary talents with such an unprecedentedarray of duet partners has resulted in an event album," said KenLombard, president of Starbucks Entertainment. "Every element ofPossibilities is a result of unique collaboration -- from Herbie'sstudio sessions with each of the artists and the work between thelabels, to the promotion of the album globally by traditionalretailers and Starbucks. We are honored to bring this special musicexperience to our customers around the world."

"We have always admired Herbie Hancock for his immense andcontinued contribution to music. When we first learned that we mighthave an opportunity to work with him, we jumped at the chance," saidVector co-principal, Jack Rovner. Ken Levitan, Rovner's partner inVector, added, "Possibilities is a truly unparalleled collection ofcollaborations. The album is everything we knew it could be."

About Possibilities

Herbie Hancock has remained influential and innovative throughfour decades of music making, having won ten GRAMMY(R) Awards, anAcademy Award and countless other accolades for his various andinfluential work. The diverse lineup of artists who accepted Hancock'sinvitation to create and record music with him for the album is atestament to the breadth and magnitude of his impact. Thecollaborators are a diverse group of world-renowned musicians, andrepresent genres of music well beyond the world of jazz. The completetrack listing follows:

1. "Stitched Up" (featuring John Mayer)

2. "Safiatou" (featuring Santana and Angelique Kidjo)

3. "A Song for You" (featuring Christina Aguilera)

4. "I Do It for Your Love" (featuring Paul Simon)

5. "Hush, Hush, Hush" (featuring Annie Lennox)

6. "Sister Moon" (featuring Sting)

7. "When Love Comes to Town" (featuring Jonny Lang and Joss Stone)

8. "Don't Explain" (featuring Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan)

9. "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (featuring Raul Midon)

10. "Gelo Na Montanha" (featuring Trey Anastasio)

Starbucks Marketing Campaign

As with the multi-platinum, eight GRAMMY(R)-winning Ray Charlesalbum, Genius Loves Company, Starbucks Hear Music participated in allfacets of the project's lifecycle -- from facilitating production todistribution and marketing of the album. Starbucks is leveraging theCompany's credibility, reach and frequency of customer visits toprovide a unique channel for marketing and distributing the album.In-store promotional efforts in the U.S. include complimentarymultimedia content delivered via the T-Mobile HotSpot network, whichis available in more than 4,000 Starbucks coffeehouses in the U.S. Thecontent is accessible on the welcome page of the T-Mobile HotSpotservice at Starbucks. Any customer with a Wi-Fi enabled device will beable to experience compelling video of Herbie collaborating in-studiowith a variety of the duet partners including John Mayer, ChristinaAquilera and Santana. Other in-store promotional efforts in the U.S.and Canada include signage, point of purchase displays and overheadmusic play. Timed to coincide with the release of the album, Starbuckswill utilize its relationship with XM Satellite Radio to promote thealbum in the U.S. on Hear Music(TM) Channel 75 on XM Satellite Radio.In November and December, marketing efforts will also includein-flight programming on United Airlines, another party with whomStarbucks has a marketing relationship.

About Vector

Led by executives Ken Levitan and Jack Rovner, Vector Recordingshas quickly become one of the most formidable organizations in musictoday, releasing acclaimed albums by artists such as Damien Rice,Queen Latifah and Joseph Arthur. Levitan founded Vector Management in1986. Vector Recordings was formed in 2002 when he and Rovner -- whohad served as President of RCA and previously served stints atColumbia and Arista -- combined their collective experiences,solidifying a label and management partnership. With offices in NewYork, Nashville and Los Angeles, Vector is comprised of individualswith a diversity of music business backgrounds, making for a team thatcan contribute to all aspects of its artists' careers.

About Starbucks Hear Music

Founded in 1990, and acquired by Starbucks Coffee Company in 1999,Starbucks Hear Music is the voice of music at Starbucks. StarbucksHear Music is dedicated to creating a new and convenient way forconsumers to discover, experience and acquire all genres of greatmusic through its CD compilations and music programming for Starbuckscoffeehouses worldwide, as well as its innovative partnerships withother music labels to produce, market and distribute both exclusiveand non-exclusive music. In 2004, Starbucks Hear Music launched a24-hour digital music channel with XM Satellite Radio (XM Channel 75),the Starbucks Hear Music(TM) Coffeehouse in Santa Monica wherecustomers can select from over 15,000 CDs or burn their own custommixes, and the Starbucks Hear Music(TM) media bars, a service thatoffers custom CD burning at select Starbucks retail locations inSeattle and Austin. Starbucks Hear Music(TM) CDs are featured at HearMusic and Starbucks retail locations, as well as online atwww.Starbucks.com/hearmusic.

About Starbucks Coffee Company

Starbucks Corporation is the leading retailer, roaster and brandof specialty coffee in the world, with more than 9,500 retaillocations in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East andthe Pacific Rim. The Company is committed to offering the highestquality coffee and the Starbucks Experience while conducting itsbusiness in ways that produce social, environmental and economicbenefits for communities in which it does business. In addition to itsretail operations, the Company produces and sells bottledFrappuccino(R) coffee drinks, Starbucks DoubleShot(R) coffee drink,and a line of superpremium ice creams through its joint venturepartnerships. The Company's brand portfolio provides a wide variety ofconsumer products -- innovative superpremium Tazo(R) teas andexceptional compact discs from Starbucks Hear Music(TM) enhance theStarbucks Experience through best-of-class products. The Seattle'sBest Coffee(R) and Torrefazione Italia(R) Coffee brands enableStarbucks to appeal to a broader consumer base by offering analternative variety of coffee flavor profiles.

About WMI

Warner Music International, a leading company in national andinternational repertoire, is headquartered in London and operatesthrough various subsidiaries, affiliates and numerous licensees inover 50 countries.