Alabama Christian media company teams with Sony in marketing deal

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Posted 9:38AM on Wednesday, March 13, 2002

MOBILE, ALABAMA - A Mobile-based Christian media company has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with Sony Music Entertainment and Epic Records, a Sony label, company officials said. Epic will handle releases by Integrity Inc. to general market retail stores in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and Asia. Integrity President P. Michael Coleman said Tuesday the agreement represents "a new era" for his company. "Our artists will now be able to team up with one of the most creative and effective marketing organizations in the music industry," Coleman said. In turn, Integrity will handle Sony releases to the Christian bookstore market. The first release Integrity is expected to handle is "Heart to Yours," the first solo gospel album by Michelle Williams of the group Destiny's Child. That album is scheduled for April release on Columbia Records. It will be followed in June by "Incredible" by Mary Mary, also on the Columbia label. Integrity also will market Sony albums through its direct-to-consumer channels, which include an extensive subscription network. "We're excited about this," said Integrity Chief Operating Officer Jerry Weimer. "It's really the most attention and energy we've seen from a general mar ket record company toward Christian products." Financials of the agreement were not disclosed. The deal includes distribution of Integrity's recordings for children through the division Sony Wonder, as well as Integrity's Spanish-language recordings through Sony Discos. Integrity had a previous but indirect relationship with Sony through Integrity's former distributor, Word Entertainment. When Word was purchased by Warner Music Group of AOL Time Warner last year, its relationship with Sony ended. Sony will market Integrity recordings directly to retailers like Wal-Mart.