Starbucks Leaving the Record Business

"Discovering Music" by Seattlest Flickr Contributor Seattle Rainscreen

As part of Starbucks returning to their "It's the coffee, stupid!" business plan, they have handed over the day-to-day operations of their record label, Hear Music, to Concord Music.

Regarding the change, Starbucks Chairman Howard Schultz said, "Now is the appropriate time to restructure our entertainment business to better align our efforts with our overall business strategies." Now Starbucks' partner in the record industry, Concord Music, will not only take over the daily tasks of running the label, they will also be responsible for signing new artists.

Hopefully, this means fewer shelves clogged with Joni Mitchell tributes and one-hit-wonders' sophomore albums at our corner Starbucks. And maybe, just maybe, a return to brewing decent coffee.