SEATTLE Starbucks Corp. is backtracking from the music business as part of its ongoing effort to focus more intently on coffee and efficiencies, officials announced Thursday.
Starbucks said it turned over day-to-day management of its Hear Music Record Label to Concord Music Group as part of a reorganization of its entertainment operations, which extend to selling books and movies in namesake coffee shops. Ken Lombard, formerly president of Starbucks Entertainment, left the company to pursue other business interests, officials said. Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer, has been promoted to senior vice president and will assume leadership of the entertainment division.
The coffee giant indicated that it will continue to sell CDs in stores, with Concord wielding Starbucks’ “curatorial voice” to choose the recordings.
In addition, Starbucks will continue to work with William Morris Agency to identify books that could be sold in stores, as well as continuing digital services such as Wi-Fi and other in-store technology.
