101
CHAPTER
4
RECORD DISTRIBUTION
GROUPS AND RETAIL
The distribution company receives finished
musical product--such as CDs, cas-
settes, singles, and videos from the record
company--and is responsible for selling
and delivering it to retail and on-line outlets.
The parent company for most major
labels also owns a distribution company to
handle the needs of all the company's
owned and affiliated labels. Independent record
companies either align themselves
with a major distribution company, or contract
with an independent distributor to
deliver their product to
retailers.
Retailers receive the music product from the
distribution company, work with the
record labels to create sales and marketing
campaigns, and sell product to the public.
DISTRIBUTION
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT · VICE PRESIDENT
(SALES)
JOB DESCRIPTION
Distribution executives manage sales campaigns
and the distribution of music
products. Alan Shapiro oversees the day-to-day
sales operations of all WEA-distrib-
uted product (which includes all labels and
divisions of Warner Brothers Inc., Elektra
Entertainment, and The Atlantic Group),
ensuring that product is in retail outlets on
the planned release date, and managing a staff
of more than 90 sales representatives.
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