May 13, 2002
Microsoft Partners with Nile
Rodgers to Launch "Halo: Combat Evolved" Soundtrack CD
Microsoft Game Studios announced
today it will partner with legendary musician and producer Nile Rodgers to
distribute and market the audio soundtrack for its mega-hit Xbox video game,
"Halo: Combat Evolved". Under the agreement, Rodgers’ Sumthing Distribution will
manufacture and handle retail marketing, sales, and distribution of the "Halo:
Combat Evolved" soundtrack CD on the Sumthing Else Musicworks label. The
soundtrack is set for release on June 11 at music retailers nationwide. The
editors of Rolling Stone recently named "Halo: Combat Evolved" as the video game
with the "Best Original Soundtrack" for 2001.
Legendary
producer/artist/entrepreneur Nile Rodgers, CEO of Sumthing Distribution, said
“Our expertise in distribution to our national retailers in combination with
Microsoft’s online capability will guarantee a successful launch of the
soundtrack for ‘Halo: Combat Evolved’.”
Andy Uterano, president of Sumthing
Distribution, envisions a long-lasting relationship with Microsoft: “This
soundtrack has a lot of elements to it – cool drum beats, techno sounds and
orchestral score – that weave a recurring theme. Bungie composer Marty O’Donnell
approached this soundtrack like he would a film, and the outcome is awesome!”
“We are ecstatic to have the
soundtrack for Halo: Combat Evolved available to our fans," said Steve Fowler,
Bungie product manager. “With well over one million copies of ‘Halo: Combat
Evolved’ sold, we are sure there will be great demand for this amazing
soundtrack.”
Xbox is Microsoft’s
future-generation video game system that delivers the most powerful games
experiences ever. Xbox empowers game artists by giving them the technology to
fulfill their creative visions as never before, creating games that blur the
lines between fantasy and reality. Xbox is now available in North America,
Japan, Europe and Australia. More information on Xbox can be found at
http://www.xbox.com/.
Award winning record producer Nile
Rodgers is one of the most prolific music producers in history. Nile’s
production accomplishments include such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Madonna,
David Bowie, Duran Duran, The B52’s, David Lee Roth, Grace Jones, Mick Jagger
and many more. Records produced by Nile Rodgers have sold well over 100 million
worldwide. As a founding member of the perennial Rhythm & Blues dance band,
Chic, Nile co-wrote many of its big hits including “Le Freak” and “Good Times”,
as well as “We Are Family” for Sister Sledge. In addition to records, he has
also scored or produced music for numerous films, including “Coming to America”,
“Thelma and Louise”, “The Flintstones”, “Beverly Hills Cop” and “Rush Hour II”
as well as a variety of television shows and commercials. Nile is a board member
of several organizations including the National Association of Recording Arts
and Sciences (NARAS). Currently, Nile is producing a new album for Duran Duran,
yet still finds the time to run his own record label and distribution company.
Four years ago Nile Rodgers started
Sumthing Distribution. As a nationwide record distributor and creative outlet
for independent artists and record labels the company prides itself on its
ability to permeate the marketplace with many innovative projects. The first
record to make its way into Sumthings distribution system was the David Lee Roth
album, “Slam Dunk”, which ultimately sold more copies than the previous Roth
outing on Warner Brothers Records.
Bungie was founded in 1991 with two
goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art,
intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and then sell enough of those games to
achieve their real goal of total world domination. Over the last ten years they
produced games like the Marathon Trilogy and the first two Myth games, hailed as
classics by critics and gamers around the world. "Halo: Combat Evolved", their
latest game, has achieved phenomenal success on Microsoft’s Xbox video game
system. More information on Bungie can be found at
http://www.bungie.net.
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