NEWSROOM:

MARCH 2008

March 27, 2008 - Hip Hop Artist D’Cyple Explodes on the Scene with New CD at Sunset Urban!

March 21, 2008 - Sunset Records presents Sunset Urban Showcase World Premiere Concert Party at legendary spot, The White Gate in Brooklyn on Sunday, April 6, 2008.

March 17, 2008 - Kan'Nal announces the release of the Live At Boulder DVD as a Video Download...Sunset to feature the video at Amazon's Unbox starting May!
 

March 11, 2008 - New CD by Kan'Nal due out this summer; new Madeline Burke CD on Alamo Records, Starr Cullars and Live Kan'Nal on DVD and Video Downloads...

FEBRUARY 2008

February 18, 2008 - Sunset Home Visual Entertainment and Sunset Urban receive award for DVD Collection Set.

JANUARY 2008

January  31, 2008 - Sunset Urban Record Label Announces New Releases for 2008.

January 30, 2008 - Sunset to release videos of Robert Gordon, Tommy Conwell and Reach Around Rodeo Clowns on DVD and as video downloads.

January 16, 2008 - Sunset begins adding staff people to Sunset Urban and in the Sunset Holding Corporate Division this month.

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Independent record label Sunset and renowned Nashville based CBuJ Entertainment have signed an exclusive distribution deal for video and audio recordings from the Sunset Records Label Group catalog.

Based in Nashville, CBuJ is known for distributing hit music all over the world with top recording artists as the Kentucky Headhunters, Joe Ely, Marc Chestnut, the Jazz Crusaders, Patsy Cline, It’s A Beautiful Day, Buckethead and more (www.CBuJ.com). Sunset’s catalog will add its great mix of new recordings along with its special markets titles realized by the label over the last three years.

SRLG has been expanding its distribution all year. "I was closing our P&D deal with Morris Beegle and he mentioned that he worked with John Burns (President of CBuJ). I agreed to terms that day,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset. "You cannot find better sales people in our industry," Lichterman says about CBuJ’s staff. CBuJ accounts for the orders and sales of hundreds of millions of records over 125 years of combined major-record label and worldwide music distribution experience!

CBuJ was originally started to provide distribution to independent labels representing various music genres. Sunset Records is expected to release new projects every month over the next year that include RichTaste, Gina Thompson, Angela Wolff, Curtis Lance and the television show The Kids In The Hall Season 4 on DVD.

Sunset’s newest release, Richtaste will officially release their first single, "Good Days Are Gone," to radio this week. The album is scheduled for release on September 23. Currently, The New Surreal’s “We Got Time” is all over Hot AC Radio and the song is featured on CMJ’s web site this month. The entire Sunset records label group is named over sixty-five (65) times on the initial 51^st Grammy Nominations Ballot. The label now boasts to having sixty two (62) titles in stores all over the world.

State Of The Art TV One On One Exclusive Live Blackwell Interview on August 27!

Blackwell Live Interview on State Of The Art on TV Channel 11

It’s only appropriate to hear something right from the new from hip-hop chart climber Blackwell, and this month the State Of The Art television show’s got him - in an exclusive interview with Channel 11 State Of The Art TV host Lois Digiacomo that premieres Wednesday, August 11 that airs at 7:30 PM (ET). State of the Art is on Channel 11 in Canton, Ohio.

This free formed live interview with one of the top Indy hip-hop stars will shed the personal look at the somber and light-hearted sides of Blackwell. Digiacomo and Blackwell plan to cover topics ranging from his unique style of hip-hop music, relationships, what he stands for personally and his passion for his music.

Blackwell just played live at Kent State’s Summer Festival last weekend and Blackwell plays New York City on September 12^th.The television interview and live performances are in support of the new Sunset Urban Records CD, Heartbreak. “Blackwell is a dream artist,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset. “He gives you so much to work every week and his music is accessible to a lot of people.” The first single, "Tha Way U" is being worked to major radio. “We are not only working that song to radio, we also started to work “Lost But Found” in the record pools to see what the response is in clubs,” Lichterman says about the Heartbreak CD.

Not only is Blackwell doing great at radio around the world, he has also been written up in many publications online and in print. The label will continue to work on getting more key bookings for Blackwell to –play live and to do special interviews on TV and radio. Blackwell was also featured on The Hip Hop Spotlight Radio Show with DJ hosts Suga Shan and by LadyTwist who is very well known from Egotrip's Miss Rap Supreme on Vh1’s popular reality show hosted by DJ Search (3^rd Base).

Sunset Records makes catalog of recorded music available at MTV's "Soundtrack" Site Network, Soundtrack.MTV.com.

Sunset Records Artists Joins The World’s only Interactive Music Guide for Television Soundtracks That Allows It’s Fans To Locate Music on MTV Shows.

Sunset Records adds hundreds of songs to the Soundtrack.MTV music guide network that also allows MTV viewers to identify over 1,500 songs that are played on shows on its programs each week. MTV licenses in over 1,500 songs for its own program shows each week. Soundtrack.MTV is now giving Sunset Records the ability to deliver its entire catalog of recorded music through this network. “This is just another one of the most viable ways to have our music heard by avid music fans,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records.

Soundtrack.mtv.com – introduced its new site last month and is considered the industry's only real time interactive music guide for TV. The site showcases everything about music and artists being played on MTV at any given time. “What I want to do is encourage the cooperative spirit of my bands fans to support the Indie Record label scene,” says Lichterman, and “my goal is to have everyone heard on MTV in some way and then in turn out to the millions of their viewers. “

Soundtrack.mtv.com is a real-time listing of all the music being played on every MTV show and every MTV channel. This includes the short music clips heard as the soundtrack for such shows as "The Hills" and "The Real World." The guide also will keep archives of all songs played providing those listings by day, show, and time. The web site function will look ahead to what songs will be played in the next 24 hours at that time. MTV will also allow viewers to play 30-second clips of each song discovered via the guide, as well as link through to a more robust artist profile page, where fans can listen to songs in full, view music videos and see other details about the act.

The Sunset Records catalog of recorded music is available for preview on the Soundtrack.MTV web site and all of the links are now set up directly to MTV from the Sunset Records web sites. The Sunset titles are now available at Soundtrack.MTV as a full length album and for individual full-song streams.

MTV has also partnered with the Real / Rhapsody service that allows its users to stream any song in full, with a limit of 25 songs a month for non-Rhapsody subscribers or unlimited plays for members. The Sunset Records catalog is available through the Real / Rhapsody network. As MTV adds links to Rhapsody's new MP3 DRM-free music store, all songs featured in the Soundtrack site will have buy it now buttons to perform the e-commerce.

Myxer Starts To Deliver The Sunset Records Catalog as Ringtones

The Sunset Records Label Group of recorded music is now available at Myxer for Ringtones.

The entire catalog of recorded music is now available through Myxer as ringtones, wallpaper for cell phones and as play back tunes. Myxer, a distributor of ad-supported mobile content, has added over 500 copyrights to over 1 million new ringtones to its mobile content library. Myxer has already converted the tracks from The Sunset catalog, the leading independent label songs into premium ringtones, which is now available to Myxer's community of over 11 million users. The songs are also available through links set up on all of the artist pages at all of the Sunset Records Label Group web sites.

August 8, 2008 -SpiralFrog Signs Licensing Deal With Sunset

Sunset Records signs a deal with the ad-driven SpiralFrog music service this week to distribute the entire Sunset Label group catalog of recorded music.

Sunset records has announced today that it has struck a direct deal with SpiralFrog. This is another significant deal for digital distribution with one of top new independent record labels that will enable consumers in North America to download Sunset’s catalog without the panic of copyright infringement. The new catalogue additions include all tracks from all of their emerging artists signed t the Sunset Label.

Top selling Sunset artists such as Richtaste, Blackwell, TenPenny Joke, Blackbird, D’Cyple, The Dirk Quinn Band, Zamza, L. Myers, The New Surreal, Capt. Crunk and Grayscale will now be featured on the SpiralFrog music service. “This deal is just another way for the label to work directly with top digital companies in the world.” The chairman and founder of Sunset Records, Don Lichterman, went on to say that, "we expanded our distribution this year by not only doing our deal with CBuJ Enetertainment and Hapi Scratch, we signed direct deals with top digital retailers like SpralFrog and MyXer (for ringtones, playback tunes & wallpapers). This deal significantly expands the distribution of our recorded music catalog and our music videos. It also shows that we will only work with the most viable companies in the world. Since their launch in the last six months, SpiralFrog has grown to be the third largest legal download site with registered users. They are obviously a growing company to be doing those numbers in the last half year."

SpiralFrog provides an alternative to the illegal file-sharing sites by having the ability to track all the music circulating with a comprehensive music experience for music fans to discover songs, albums, music videos, music news, artist bios, reviews, discographies and album art, among other artist content. SpiralFrog also allows its users to create playlists and use the Facebook social networking application to allow the tracking of the most popular downloads. "There has been nothing more important to the artists at Sunset than to have us set up at the top retail outlets in the world,” said Don Lichterman, "The SpiralFrog business model and their programming provides a platform that is secure, easy to use and ensures all artists, labels and publishers will paid every few months for our work. We are all about quality more than quantity so to speak these days at Sunset."

How SpiralFrog Works

SpiralFrog offers music enthusiasts unlimited downloading of free and legal music compositions and music videos. SpiralFrog enables anyone to access and download files from a library of more than 1 million songs and 4,000 music videos, with new content added weekly. To access the free content, users must only fill out a simple and quick registration form. As part of the SpiralFrog experience, users see relevant, targeted advertising that does not interfere with their enjoyment of music. Songs and videos downloaded on SpiralFrog will play on Windows PCs running XP and Vista. Members can download to their PCs and synchronize their music with portable music players or music-enabled phones that support Windows Media digital rights management.

August 5, 2008 - Suga Shan and Lady Twist to Host Blackwell for Radio Interview on The Hip Hop Spotlight Radio Show!

Sunset Urban Records artist Blackwell to do a very special radio interview on The world famous Hip Hop Spotlight Radio Show.

DJ announcers Suga Shan and Lady Twist will host the Sunset Urban Records Hip Hop music artist Blackwell for a radio interview on Saturday, August 9^th from 10:00 p.m. to Midnight. The interview will broadcast on the Vocalo Online Radio Station (www.Vocalo.org) worldwide. Vocalo also broadcasts its content regionally to 89.5FM in Chicago, NWI along with its live feed at the internet station (www.Vocalo.org). Fans worldwide are encouraged to listen to the entire interview on the The Hip Hop Spotlight Radio Show. The radio program is co hosted by LadyTwist from Egotrip's Miss Rap Supreme on Vh1’s popular reality show hosted by DJ Search (3^rd Base). Blackwell is performing live this week at Fat Jimmys in Kent, Ohio and then again in the East Village at The Karma Lounge on September 10th.

Blackwell has released two albums since 2006. The “Heartbreak” CD was released last week by Sunset Urban Records. The artist has been added to HipHop stations all over the world and is charting on the Illinois DJ Pool after one week!

JULY 2008

Sunset Records and The New Surreal to release its debut album on August 19^th

The critically acclaimed debut self titled CD by Danny Chait and The New Surreal, is set to hit stores all over the world next month for Sunset Records.

Not much about The New Surreal is what you would expect musically, starting with the name of the band which is also the name of the self titled debut CD released by Sunset Records being released on August 19th. Coined from the bizarre or unreal quality associated with surrealism, indicating a weird unfamiliar, disturbing and even what could be dreamlike experiences. Yet the trio’s album is filled with vocally-driven songs, with lyrics that make up some of the best ballads of the year. Further, The New Surreal is a group after all, headed up by the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Danny Chait.

The first single on the debut The New Surreal album, The New Surreal was inspired by Chait, a very special talented songwriter and performer — a vocalist that is greatly suitable for the music on the radio today. The album is filled with songwriting of a person that isn’t afraid to speak his mind in their songs. The New Surreal will perform their entire new debut CD at the National Underground in New York City on August 7^th. This very special show will be shown as an eCast to promote the release of the debut CD on August 19^th. “We also are planning a very special promotional tour in late August”, says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records, “and then we will do a festivals and music conferences this fall which will take us through the end of the year.” Lichterman then states that “this is a great CD to work.”

“A friend of the band had been was working with Don (Lichterman) and we sent him our music a few months ago,” says Chait, at his house in New York before their last showcase in Brooklyn, NY last May. “I had read about the label many times,” They met at the Sunset Records offices in New York and hit it off. Lichterman invited Chait to join the label that week. The band took the demos back to their studio to finish the final mix before mastering the debut CD for Sunset. After this meeting back in May this year, came the ten (10) song CD, “The New Surreal.” The New Surreal’s breakthrough should come this year with this CD, with the single “We Got Time.”

For perceptive singer/songwriters such as Danny Chait, it is easy to show that vulnerability when he writes his music and songs. With this debut album, The New Surreal’s front man and main songwriter exceeds the sensitive-feeling of earnestness that makes up the band’s ballads, We Got Time and Ease Me. The colorful melodies and lyrical arrangements are perfect avenues for Chait's sweet vocals pattern. The band also evokes a quirky poppiness that is accessible to young kids and adult music listeners. There is no doubt this band will have many hit songs in their career. The debut self titled CD, The New Surreal proves that Chait can write and sing pop driven songs.

Sunset Recording artist Richtaste set to play the Openair Etziken 2008 on July 26^th!

The annual Openair Etziken is held at the Capital Berne area in Switzerland. This year’s 2008 stellar line up includes Zuri West, Dada Ante Portas, Adrian Stern, William White and Pegasus to headline the two-day fest. Native country favorites Richtaste will also play their hometown festival for the first time this year.

The event is taking place in the picturesque Capital Berne area in Switzerland. The band will play new material from the upcoming new “Lights and Shades” CD along with songs from the debut CD released last year with Universal in Switzerland. Sunset Records has released the debt self titled CD online and in stores this week. The Sunset Records worldwide release of “Lights and Shades” is set for September 23rd.

Tickets for Openair Etziken are all but sold out as of today, however there may be scattered tickets still available at the local Ticket Corner.

Michael Purvis and his Clayton Road is set to release their debut “Alright” CD on July 29^th.

Sunset Records is set to release the debut CD by the Newcastle, United Kingdom artist, Clayton Road.

Clayton Road is one of those bands that are hard to categorize today. The bands overall sound seems to draw that fine line between roots Americana alternative style of rock music, to what would be considered mainstream rock ‘n roll music. “His (Michael Purvis) songwriting is excellent” says Don Lichterman who is the head of Sunset Records, “He/They remind me of Cracker or Camper Van Beethoven or even David Lowery when he does his solo stuff.” Not that Lichterman wants to pigeon hold them into a specific style of music, “I am just not sure how to describe the band to the press” says Lichterman, “I like every song in its own way. His vox are unique which I love about his music and I think I would describe Cracker or Camper in that same way when I was growing listening to that music.”

Clayton Road’s “Alright” CD is conventional and inspires from artists from many eras. There is an obvious quirkiness in the music and yet it is hip to what is going on in every day life. The Sunset Records debut Clayton Road CD coalesces the best of early influences of legendary rock acts such as The Band and The Grateful Dead; and brings you today’s ‘odd subject matter coupled with blending the words of what are day to day slices of life and even the occasional experiments that make the songs seem out of place to what the norm what do with the music. Singer/guitarist Michael Purvis is mainly known as the front man of Clayton Road which he started a few years ago in the Newcastle area of the United Kingdom. “Maybe that is what attracted me to Michaels songs,” says Lichterman, “the fact that they are so American yet he is from Newcastle of places.” What you get on this “Alright” CD being release at Sunset Records on July 29^th is a crazy eclectic CD of rock music with all kinds of arrangements that work.

The album’s opener, “The Shape Of Things To Come” is a track that sounds as if it was recorded to be played at a European 80s style club. It’s catchy, and has some challenging lyrics. The same goes for the more poppy-rocker “Mercury,” which shows that even the most basic chords with songs that have hooks can go a long way in this industry. The catchy “Wrapped Around,” is a song that has those extra avenues with hooks at many points in the song. This song is also the perfect sample of Clayton Road mixing that Americana style with a driving rock sound. The single “Man In The Hat” is another song that will get you in that great upbeat mood. Their quirky line such as “The man in the hat says” is right out of a British comedy movie. The entire CD is strong because of the guitar sound, the great hooks and upbeat positive songs. “Long Time Coming” is a great driving song that has accessible lyrics. The album continues with songs that have great guitar drives which are the case on the song that is also the album name, “Alright.”

The “Alright” CD is perfectly fine debut CD for Clayton Road and Michael Purvis. The entire CD does not have one bad song, Clayton Road proves today that Purvis’ first project is worth a listen, despite the fact that you will listen more than one time. This is an album that is mainstream rock album that has a traditional sound on every song. The Americana sounding CD has a harder drive than every day country and folk style of music.  The Clayton Road “Alright” CD an album well worth having in your collection.

Sunset Records announces the signing of Richtaste.

Swiss rock band Richtaste has signed with Sunset Records; label to release the Universal Records Switzerland debut "Richtaste" CD this month around the rest of the world, and the brand new exclusive worldwide release of "Lights and Shades" on September 23rd. The brand new CD is being produced by Patrick Aeby who is known for his work in the multi platinum legendary rock band, Krokus.

Richtaste will put out their brand new studio CD all over the world on September 23, 2008. "Lights and Shades" will be released worldwide with Sunset Records, the major Indy record label that is located in New York City. Richtaste is the very well known band from Switzerland that includes Marc Gasser, Roger Vez, Raphael Nussbaum, Reto Gasser and Stefan Fankhauser. The brand new CD is produced by Patrick Aeby from the band Krokus.

"We are very lucky to have signed this band today," says the head of Sunset Records, Don Lichterman about Richtaste. "This new CD is incredible and they should be finished mastering this week. We also get to release the debut CD everywhere but in the two European countries Universal will continue to work the CD. It's an easy project for us to work. We have so many songs for radio and the production (Patrick Aeby) is sick. There is an incredible progression from the debut CD to this new "Lights and Shades CD (which is great in itself). I am just overly psyched to be able to work both of their titles my way"

Sunset will be releasing the debut self titled CD on July 15th by distributing the CD through its digital distribution system. The physical CD will be available wherever CDs are sold online and in bricks and mortar stores starting next week. The "Lights and Shades" CD will be released to stores all over the world and through every digital distribution channel in the world beginning on September 23rd. The band is also scheduled to perform its new material at the Open Air Etziken music festival in Etziken Switzerland on July 26th.

Visit www.SunsetRecordings.com for streaming of the full length tracks on both CDs and more multimedia for the bands fans. The official label and artist page is:

http://sunsetrecordings.com/artist/RichTaste.htm.

"Richtaste" Debut CD Track Listing

(Released by Universal Records Switzerland in Germany & Switzerland; released by Sunset Records the ROW (rest of the world))

1. Party King
2. Postcard From Heaven
3. Speech
4. Effin July
5. You Can't Do It Right
6. Simple Song
7. Grounded Angel
8. Turning Point
9. Fly Away
10. Footsteps
11. One Way Street
12. Sometimes

"Lights and Shades" CD Track Listing (Released Worldwide by Sunset Records on 9/23)

1. Rocket Tom
2. Good Days Are Gone
3. Do You Really
4. Where Can I Be
5. Everypart
6. Superman
7. Gasp For Breath
8. Bad Things
9. You've Done It
10. Beautiful Misery
11. Virus
12. Night Of 1000 Dreams
13. Duke Of Westpoint
14. The Sea

JUNE 2008

The New Surreal to release their debut CD by signing a multi recording deal with Sunset Records

The New Surreal gears up for debut release with new record deal!

The New Surreal to release their debut CD by signing a multi recording deal with Sunset Records

New pop sensation The New Surreal has signed to Sunset Records and is expected to release their debut album later this summer on Tuesday, August 19th.

“Signing a record contract with Sunset Records is truly everything we wanted for the band,” states Danny Chait of The New Surreal. “We have been wanting to be a part of Sunset Records since the main label was announced starting up at this time last year, and I have been impressed with the new music signed by Don Lichterman. I am excited and humbled to be a part of this label group. I’m really impressed how the label works with new artists."

Don Lichterman, the main A&R person at Sunset and the chief executive and founder of the Sunset Label Group, adds, “It only took a few seconds for me to realize we had something special with these guys. This band is the quintessential pop act, and has a gifted singer that can write amazing songs which will instantly win over huge audiences at radio and when they play live shows." Continues Lichterman, "Danny went back to the studio finished the mixes and then he mastered The New Surreal CD and we expect to do very well with this music for the last half of this year; this band gives the label what we have been trying to find for a couple years. There is no doubt The New Surreal has a great future ahead of them in this industry”.

Don Lichterman then comments, “The New Surreal has already won me over and we have already allowed some regions of the world to stream their new music. The response has overwhelming enough for me to add this to an end of the summer street date. They are a group of young, talented singer songwriters with amazing vocals and a sound that currently has wide appeal and great accessibility on every song on the CD. We’re over the top thrilled to have them be a part of the Sunset future and to have joined our artist roster this week."

The New Surreal are now all three based in New York City and will work closely with Don Lichterman at the Sunset Records label with artist development efforts for the band. The trio consists of Danny Chait – Guitar and Vocals, Ross Wilson – Bass, and Nick Smeraski – Drums. The band began when they met going to school at NYU (New York University).

The self titled CD by The New Surreal will be released on August 19th. Sunset will start working the music to radio and to press after the July 4th holiday. “I am psyched to have something this easy to work for the rest of the year,” Lichterman says about the songs on the debut CD. Sunset will work the music to AAA, AC and CHR / Pop format stations all over the world. The self titled debut album will be made available at top retail outlets like Target, FYE, Circuit City, Virgin Megastores, Barnes & Noble and thousands of independent stores. The full length CD will be sold at online retail stores like Barnes&Noble.com, TowerRecords.com, BestBuy.com, CircuitCity.com, Borders.com, Sonicnet.com, CDuniverse.com, SamGoody.com, VirginMega.com and ArtistDirect.com. And, the CD will be made available as downloads, streams at ringtones wherever they are sold online (iTunes, REAL/Rhapsody, eMusic, Napster, AT&T and more).

Blackbird announces Independence Day gig at House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood!

Sunset Recording Artist to play on the evening of July 3rd at the world famous House of Blues Club in Hollywood, California!

The band is set to celebrate this summers start of the Independence Day weekend’s festivities with a very special live show in Hollywood, California on July 3rd. Blackbird comes through Hollywood playing the July 3rd Thursday evening show starting the weekend off with a promotional show at the House Of Blues.

The Fresno, California natives have just released their debut CD ‘Songs For The Broken Hearted’ last month, with Sunset Records. “Unstoppable” is the first single currently being played on alternative radio today. Their first promotional show in San Francisco starts this weekend at the beautiful Broadway. That very special live show is being simulcast around the world with CD Pulse and Sunset Live.

The band is getting famous for their live show with their fans knowing every word to every song they perform. They will perform much of the new album at this weekend's live simulcast being shown around the world at www.Sunset-Live.com. Tickets for the House Of Blues July 3rd show are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com or at the House of Blues Box Office during business hours at the club. Doors open at 8pm and Blackbird is set to hit the stage at 9pm.

Blackbird will be playing three very special Promotional shows in California.

The California tour dates are:

The Broadway Studios – San Francisco, CA – June 28th (Live Simulcast)
The House Of Blues – Hollywood, CA – July 3rd
Club Fred – Fresno, CA – July 11th

Opening Show of Blackbird's 2008 Summer Tour Presented Live via Simulcast at Sunset Live, June 28th!

Please join Sunset Live and CD Pulse via live simulcast, on Saturday, June 28, 2008, for the first international Blackbird Live Simulcast.  Experience this very special live event from the beautiful Broadway in San Francisco, California in top quality live streaming video available to everyone all over the world. Blackbird fans and fans of live music can enjoy the live feed of the entire show this Saturday night. The show will also be made available as a live download at the Sunset Live web site.

Sunset Records recording group Blackbird will begin their summer run of shows in Northern California on June 28th at 9:00 p.m. PT (12:00 a.m. ET) with a very special concert from the world renowned Broadway Studios presented live via simulcast in high quality video from San Francisco, California. The show’s simulcast will be exclusively available at the Sunset Live web site and at the CD Pulse web site to fans of live music all over the world. Advance tickets for the very special opening day concert are on sale now at the Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway, San Francisco, CA, 94133, at participating theatre box offices or online at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=160345. Tickets for the show will be available up to capacity the day of the show at the box office or online for $10 pre-sale and $15 at the door the night of the show.

Arlie Patten from Blackbird says from his Hollywood house in California that he thinks this is “a great idea that will give us some marketing and publicity to our fans.” The humble superstar then says “thank you for choosing us” and “it is a huge compliment and privilege to me and the band.” “I really can't say thanks enough!” One month after the release of their debut new studio album, "SONGS FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED," Blackbird will headline the early century theatre that had been converted to this incredible rock club, seats 400, and audiences around the world will be able to watch the show live from their home or at other bars and clubs around the world.

“This event is very special for me because it takes the live downloads concept to another level,” says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records and Sunset Live Entertainment. “First off, I grew up on live music,” Lichterman continues, “whether it was recording live shows off FM radio and seeing music live, that is how I started to love music as a kid.” Lichterman also says that adding live simulcast to the Sunset Live download company adds value to live downloads in the same way DVDs are added value for consumers compared to CDs. “It’s that same mentality I have today with David Gans and CD Pulse that I had with DVDs when I started Sunset.” He says, “You cannot sell a CD for more than ten dollars at retail today where as a DVD can sell for fifteen, twenty or twenty five bucks” and “it basically costs the same to manufacturer lines of DVDs as it does to make CDs.”

It is that added value that attracted Lichterman to his latest deal with his Sunset Live Entertainment Company and CD Pulse. Sunset recording artist Blackbird's eagerly anticipated debut album, "SONGS FOR THE BROKEN HEARTED," is available exclusively at Target and inline at Amazon today. The album will then be made available at Circuit City, Virgin Megastores, Barnes & Noble and thousands of independent stores, and then will also be available this month leading online retailers including but not limited to Barnes&Noble.com, TowerRecords.com, BestBuy.com, CircuitCity.com, Borders.com, Sonicnet.com, CDuniverse.com, SamGoody.com, VirginMega.com and ArtistDirect.com. Blackbird's debut album was recorded in Fresno, California last year and includes 10 brand new songs with “Unstoppable” being added to radio as the first single for the label. Tickets for the show at The Broadway Studios are expected to sell out that evening. The band will play live throughout the summer months in California.

Dirk Quinn Announces the "Starbucks Run" of Live Shows at Starbucks Coffee Houses All Over Philadelphia

Dirk Quinn begins his exclusive engagement of live shows this week at the Starbucks Coffee Houses all over downtown Philadelphia.

(Billboard Publicity Wire) June 16, 2008 -- A very special run of shows have been booked at the Starbucks Coffee Houses throughout all of Philadelphia this month. Dirk Quinn, the new Sunset Jazz Recording artist will play a run of acoustic shows at the many Starbucks Coffee Houses in downtown Philadelphia. The shows will mark the beginning of a summer tour that takes Quinn to music festivals, a 4th of July Celebration event after his CD Release Party on June 28th which features Quinn with his full band.

Starting on Thursday, June 12th, Quinn will play his acoustic guitar for his fans at the different Starbucks in Philadelphia. He will continue to play at the different Starbucks stores on the following days and throughout the entire month of June. "It's a brilliant concept for both Quinn and for Starbucks" says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz and Sunset Records. "And, he (Dirk Quinn) gets to work out his material for the summer," Lichterman continues to say about the bookings throughout the Philadelphia area.

After the opening show on Thursday, Quinn will then play (see below for all Starbucks dates, locations and times) the next day on Friday at two other Starbucks in Philadelphia, and then again on Saturday at another two Starbucks located down on the famous South Street. And, then Quinn will do the same thing for the next three consecutive Thursdays and weekends in the month of June. Lichterman says that "I think we are playing every Starbucks in that market this month" says Lichterman, and "what is even more amazing is that Dirk has late night shows to play every one those nights." And, on one evening, Quinn plays the Starbucks Coffee House shows, a show featuring him at the Phoenixville Summer Series before his late night show at Haru in Philly.

All of the acoustic sets at the Starbucks are a promotional run of shows and is FREE admission for everyone.

The dates for the very special performances at the Starbucks Stores throughout Philadelphia with the locations are:

Thursday, June 12th
1PM-3PM - Starbucks - 10th Street and Chestnut Street

Friday, June 13th
Noon-2PM - Starbucks - 19th Street and Chestnut Street
3PM-5PM - Starbucks - 12th Street and Walnut Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays a Late Night Show tonight at Haru in Philadelphia, PA that begins at 10PM)

Saturday, June 14th
2PM-4PM - Starbucks - 9th Street and South Street
5PM-7PM - Starbucks - 4th Street and South Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays a Late Night Show tonight at the Gryphon Cafe in Wayne, PA, begins 9PM)

Thursday, June 19th
1PM-3PM - Starbucks - 10th Street and Chestnut Street

Friday, June 20th
Noon-2PM - Starbucks - 19th Street and Chestnut Street
3PM-5PM - Starbucks - 12th Street and Walnut Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays the Summer Music Series (Free Event) in Phoenixville, PA, begins at 7PM)
(Dirk Quinn also plays a Late Night Show tonight at Haru in Philadelphia, PA that begins at 10PM)

Saturday, June 21st
2PM-4PM - Starbucks - 16th Street and Walnut Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays the Bellview Winery Jazz Festival in Landisville, NJ that begins at 6PM)

Thursday, June 26th
1PM-3PM - Starbucks - 10th Street and Chestnut Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays a Late Night Show tonight at the Coffee Dot in Sea Isle City that begins at 8PM)

Friday, June 27th
Noon-2PM - Starbucks - 19th Street and Chestnut Street
3PM-5PM - Starbucks - 12th Street and Walnut Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays a Late Night Show tonight at Haru in Philadelphia, PA that begins at 10PM)

Saturday, June 28th
21PM-4PM - Starbucks - 9th Street and South Street
5PM-7PM - Starbucks - 4th Street and South Street
(Dirk Quinn also plays his CD Release Party at Steel City tonight that begins at 8PM)

Dirk Quinn Announces Summer Shows in Support of His Brand New QuinnTet CD

Dirk Quinn sets up summer tour dates that have them playing music festivals, July 4th celebration events and a special run of acoustic shows at Starbucks.

(Billboard Publicity Wire) June 15, 2008 -- Combining the intense jazz and funk sounds with exceptional guitar work, Dirk Quinn has gained critical acclaim in the world of jazz music. Quinn, together with his band, just finished up and is set to release their QuinnTet CD on Sunset Jazz label, and this summer, Quinn's summer tour dates have them playing large festivals that are hosting July 4th events and host jam band style of rock artists. This is a style of music that rarely gets too much mainstream awareness, though its aficionados are hardcore collectors of this style of music. Quinn's new CD release, QuinnTet, is being reviewed by many popular publications such as Entertainment Weekly, the New York Press and Billboard, along with many jazz industry publications. The brand new CD features incredible guitar work with many of the songs on the QuinnTet CD, derived from playing them improvisational at live shows. There is a modicum of exceptional influences that Quinn draws from like "The Word (Robert Randolph and North Mississippi All-stars)," "SoulLive" and "Medeski, Martin and Wood (MMW)."

Quinn is supported on many of the key dates by his all-star jazz styled band that includes Trumpeter, CHIS ASCHMAN, bassist JAMES COOPER and drummer JOE BALDACCI. Whether they are going off by playing spontaneous, improvisational and exploratory songs or whether Quinn is playing by himself with an acoustic guitar, the music will be the perfect compliment to these summer shows. Interpreting the clear and concise sound of jazz music to thousands of people one day (including the Phoenixville Summer Music Series, Phoenixville July 4th Festival, the Endless Summer Music Festival, the Belleview Winery Jazz Festival…) to playing for a handful of people at very special shows (Starbucks in Philadelphia) throughout the summer, bringing the music to a high level is what Quinn does best with his live music.

"Whether you get to see (Dirk) him at these festivals this summer or at the Starbucks in Philly, now is the time to see him," says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Jazz / Sunset Records.

Whether it's because of his live shows, or because of this brand new CD, it is obvious that we will be hearing a lot from this incredible jazz artist.

Dirk Quinn's 2008 Summer Tour Dates:
6/19 - Starbucks 10th & Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
6/20 - Summer Music Series, Phoenixville, PA
6/21 - Belleview Winery Jazz Fest, Landisville, NJ
6/25 - Birches - Burlington City, NJ
6/26 - Starbucks 10th & Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
6/26 - Coffee Dot Comedy, Sea Isle City, NJ
6/27 - Starbucks 19th & Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
6/28 - Steel City (CD Release Party), Philadelphia, PA
7/04 - July 4th Celebration-Friday Night Arts & Music Festival, Phoenixville, PA
7/05 - July Dawson Street Pub - Manayunk, PA
7/12 - Milford Music Festival - Milford, PA
7/14 - Chris' Jazz Café - Philadelphia, PA
7/18 - Robins Nest Crow Bar, Mount Holly, NJ
7/19 - REX Festival, Bechtelsville, PA
7/24 - The Coffee Dot, Sea Isle City, NJ
7/24 - The Endless Summer Festival, Paradise Lakes Campground, NJ
7/26 - Windmill Boogie Fest, Tamaqua, PA
8/01 - Rush A Palooza Music Festival, Boyertown, PA
8/02 - Gryphon Café, Wayne, PA
8/08 - Phoenixville Summer Music Series, Phoenixville, PA
8/20 - Phoenixville Summer Music Series, Phoenixville, PA
8/23 - Shine Fest "Family Picnic", Sheelers Park, PA
8/29 - Phoenixville Summer Music Series, Phoenixville, PA
9/05 - World Music Cafe, Philadelphia, PA

Sunset is set to release Dirk Quinn’s QuinnTet, a daring fresh CD from Philadelphia’s finest jazz funk ensemble and the debut CD on Sunset Jazz Recordings, the newly created jazz label. Since starting his music career, guitarist Dirk Quinn has gained a name as one of the most intense jazz, soul -funk artists in the music scene, a work horse on the road playing live in places everywhere from small coffee houses to music festivals throughout the entire summer. When the guitarist began to work on his acoustic music, this year, he discovered that rather than go that direction with his follow up CD, he started creating new music with his band. The result is this nine song incredible CD by incredible jazz musicians. 

"We would show up at our live shows and realize we had something special ," Dirk recalls. "I  continue to play acoustic shows every week, ‘Sometimes at 10AM" The guitar aficionado continues to say as he laughs. "We then began to record some of the stuff we played live. We all added some great layers to the music. And it all ended up on this new CD."

With QuinnTet, Dirk Quinn’s band have taken that quintessential jump from being great performing artists to being great recording artists. Quinn’s astounding guitar work has had a ground breaking effect in the live music world and he has set some high standards for his second studio CD. “Dirk wanted his next CD to be produced at a high level and he wants this CD to be more than just something for his fans to leave with at his shows,” says Don Lichterman, the head of the Sunset Records group of Distributed Labels. As far what inspires Dirk Quinn -- Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Theloniuos Monk, David Brubeck along with the more contemporary sounds of Bela Fleck, John Scofield, Ahmad Jamal and Jaco Pastorius -- are some of the artists that come  to mind when describing his music. Lichterman goes on to say that “Quinn began heavily turning his musical direction to a more free form and improvisational sound” and “his guitar wizardry is the focal point of his live shows. "

Lichterman says this is one of the best full length CDs he has listened to in a long time drawing comparisons to The Word, Robert Randolph and Soulive. "I’ve always wanted to bring fresh new sounds and even reinvent myself with every project; I never really wanted to ever fall into doing the same old thing all the time," says Quinn from his latest show held in Reading Pennsylvania last weekend.

Quinn has been easily recognized for his astounding abilities on his guitar. He makes no bones about knowing the time spent playing in the studio is ultimately how this CD evolved this year. "Nowadays, we have the ability to play over the basic layers that had been the basis of our music and I have learned to intertwine melodies along with a defined arrangement in each song, " he says about the new QuinnTet CD. "We did not intend to change the way the music is today, but it all needs to work within my grooves and melodies within music". Lichterman says that is what "I look for in developing music - it can be a 98 piece orchestra or one person with an acoustic guitar -- when it works, it is easy to see which is the case with these guys live." Lichterman ends the interview by saying that "this CD by Dirk is amazing for the label and I have it playing in my car all the time."

Having grown up outside of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Quinn has now made the elevation from playing tiny coffee houses around the east Coast of the United States to headlining weekend long music festivals, Quinn’s goals with his music go well above his individual melodious limits. "I am making the attempt to build a new scene and a new style of jazz funk that will hopefully inspire people to say that they want to grow up playing improvisational jazz music from the Philadelphia area," he says. "I have followed the careers of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, how they evolved as artist in the jazz community and they would just play live as much as possible every day - - and I truly believe music fans always want to see live improvisational music. "

You can see how Quinn has broken through to a higher level of playing with this QuinnTet CD in stores this month at Sunset Jazz Recordings. The band will play live at key events throughout the summer – a July 4th show at the Phoenixville Music festival, the Rex fest in Milford, PA and the Endless Summer Music Festival in New Jersey – along with a very special show at the World Cafe Live on WXPN will culminate the summer tour for Dirk Quinn.

"I am still creating music every day, Quinn says. "What Don (Lichterman) has done by giving us this worldwide reach is open up avenues for me to create more creative music. We have definitely elevated our situation as band by signing with Sunset."

MAY 2008

May 10, 2008 - Sunset Urban Records will host the Sunset Urban Live Music Showcase on Friday, May 30th, 2008 at The White Gate (1222 Putnum Avenue) in Brooklyn, New York.

The next Sunset Urban Live Music Showcase has been announced this week to be held on Friday, May 30th, 2008 at The White Gate (1222 Putnum Avenue) in Brooklyn. The doors open at 7:00pm; admission is $5 to the public. The show is part of the ongoing Sunset Urban Showcase series featuring the up-and-coming Sunset Urban artists and songwriters in rap, hip hop, R&B and neo-soul.

(Billboard Publicity Wire/Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWeb ) May 10, 2008 -- The line-up includes such rising Sunset Urban artists Capt. Crunk, Paula Perry, Blackwell, Lil Dynomite, the Rican Rebelz, and B.L.O. and the entire show is hosted by Knowledge again that night. The show will be filled with hiphop music with Capt. Crunk premiering music from his "It's A Hell Of A drug" CD which will be in stores that week on May 27th.

The Sunset Urban Showcase will also feature new music from the upcoming Paula Perry CDS due in stores this summer. And, will feature a special guest performance by the latest Sunset Urban Records signing, Lil Dynomite.

Sunset Urban opened its doors this year and just released the first CD by the upstart label this week. The brand new by D'Cyple. The For My People CD is currently in stores at Target and sold online at Amazon. Expect new releases every month at Sunset Urban Records this year.

May 9, 2008 -- Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles Presents The Very Special KPFK screening of the new documentary film about the War On Drugs this Friday evening on May 9th.

The public is invited to a free advance screening of the major new documentary, American Drug War: The Last White Hope, on Friday May 9, at 7 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church of Glendale in Los Angeles.

Film maker and director Kevin Booth will attend the screening, which takes place in advance of the film's May 27th DVD release day. The screening is being sponsored by the KPFK Pacifica Radio 90.7FM in Los Angeles. (Kevin) Booth will introduce the film and afterward, will discuss the documentary film with a Question and Answer session with Booth.

A powerful award winning documentary film, American Drug War" The Last White Hope explores the controversial and complex explorations of the so called "war on drugs" by inspiring from his own experiences along with society's race and class. The American Drug War: The Last White Hope, made on a shoestring budget, won the last four (4) Best Documentary Awards at the last four (4) film festivals. The very special screening is produced by N.O.R.M.L. (National Organization To Reform Marijuana Laws). The film has been seen on the Showtime Cable Networks over the last month and Booth has the film being released at Sunset Home Visual Entertainment on DVD this May 27th.

The documentary film and DVD features interviews interviews with Freeway Ricky Ross, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Mike Ruppert, General Barry McCaffrey Celerino Castillo III, Judge James Gray, T Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, and Jello Biafra. The DVD is filled with rare footage and over three (3) hours of previously unseen footage from the final film release at the film festivals this year. Actor/Activist Esai Morales called the film a "must see" last month while speaking as a panel member on the HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher. Booth recently appeared on the "Deadline" show and on the Alex Jones Show before speaking last month at the University of Memphis campus.

Booth, is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose 2008 film won the Best Documentary award at the last four (4) film festivals this year. The documentary started airing on Showtime and at Showtime On-Demand last month. On Friday, May 9, at 7PM, Kevin Booth will participate in presenting the special screening of the film show by the KPFK Pacifica radio on 90.7FM. KPFK Pacifica Radio for Southern California is a progressive and Independent station for cutting edge News, Talk and music.

For more information, call (818) 985-2711, ext. 214. A $10 donation is appreciated at the event that begins at 7PM this Friday evening with all proceeds supporting the KPFK radio station. The First Lutheran Church of Glendale is located at 1300 east Colorado Street in Glendale, California.

APRIL 2008

April 30, 2008 - Capt. Crunk’s Hardcore Hip Hop CD, ‘It’s A Hell Of A Drug’, Hits Stores on May 27th

Brand new Capt. Crunk CD in stores May 27^th worldwide online at Amazon.com and in stores at Target

The upstart Sunset Urban Records readies to add its second release into the world of urban hip hop music with Capt. Crunk’s highly anticipated debut hip hop CD entitled, ‘It’s A Hell Of A Drug’. The CD will be available to consumers at top retail outlets such as Amazon and Target as well at all stores that sell music downloads (iTunes, Real/Rhapsody, Napster, Groupie Ringtones (Sprint, Cingular & Alltel), etc.).

In stores May 27^th worldwide, ‘It’s A Hell Of A Drug’ is a very distinctive hip hop album with evocative life messages, that boasts the incredible sounds of Capt. Crunk who is from the Bronx in New York City. Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Records / Sunset Urban says, “Crunk has an amazing rap and an amazing way to say what is on his mind throughout the entire CD.” The new Capt. Crunk CD is being released just weeks after Sunset’s first Urban release with D’Cyple’s, “For My People” CD and just weeks before the new Paula Perry CD, “Godmommy.”.

Lichterman then says that “(Ronald) Bullock came to me with Crunk’s music saying he had the ‘inspiration’ of the late hip hop and rap icon Tupac Shakur.” “What I love is the hardcore, down and dirty feel of the entire CD” , says Lichterman, crediting the great scouting and production work of his Sunset Urban A&R staff. Lichterman continues, "today’s urban environment is filled with corporate hip hop artists and music that has no message. This unfathomable project from Sunset Urban Records shows the world what is ‘genuine’ and tells the stories of what goes on in the streets and in the lives of people living in hip hop community".

New hip Hop performer Capt. Crunk is more than a rap and hip hop artist. He is a lyricist whose words sound like an established poet. Crunk's music also shows that he is a strong activist; he campaigns very hard to make sure his listeners will know the down side of drug abuse. “His message is very clear and about real life in the city,” says Ronald C. Bullock, A&R staffer at Sunset Urban. Bullock goes on to say that "Crunk has the ability to spread the message in his rhymes.” The brand new CD from Sunset Urban Records is distributed by Sunset’s new distribution arm, Sunset Label Group Distribution Company. ‘It’s A Hell Of A Drug is being released to every major digital download site and to every top mobile content site starting in mid May and is being worked to hip hop radio stations starting this week.

After being asked about his sense of direction with his music, Crunk makes no bones about saying “all aspects of my life are represented on this CD,” - from Crunks street mentality, to his political beliefs, to his deep intimate self. A total look at life is evident from the very beginning of the CD. “Lost Soulz” is the first song being worked to hip hop and urban styled radio formats. The second single is the “Gunz and Drugz” with “Club Crunk” also being worked to radio all over the world starting this month.

“Violence and drugs which generally lead to incarceration has touched so many people in the hip hop community and this CD is not only a hymn for that lifestyle, it tells many real life stories,” says Crunk from New York City. It also emphasizes why lyrics are so important in the hip hop community. Capt. Crunk has the real life experiences and the overall experience of life put down in such a relevant way on his debut CD with Sunset. Crunk says that he always wanted to put out a hip hop album that has many ‘consequential messages’ about life.

April 18, 2008 - AWARD WINNING FILM DIRECTOR KEVIN BOOTH “AMERICAN DRUG WAR” TO BE FEATURED ON DEADLINE LIVE w/ JACK BLOOD – APRIL 28^TH 2008

This film “AMERICAN DRUG WAR – The last White Hope” is by far one of the most important documentaries to be released in the last several years.

After winning just about every film festival award the film was entered in, American Drug War spent some time on Showtime via cable TV.

Now the film is finally released to the public in its new DVD release at www.sacredcow.com

Kevin Booth is well known for his work with America’s most prolific comedian, Bill Hicks.

Booth has also worked with many of today’s cutting edge comedians such as Doug Stanhope, and Joe Rogan, while helping to produce powerful documentary films with the controversial Alex Jones.

We had the honor of arranging an advanced screening for American Drug War in Austin TX in 2007, and the overflowing crowd absolutely loved it!

With minor changes, the film is even more powerful than ever, and shows the complete hypocrisy by the US Government, and the complete failure of the so called “War on Drugs”

Booth’s interview on DEADLINE LIVE with Jack Blood will take place LIVE on April 28^th 2008 at 5PM EDT. Free web streams are always available at www.gcnlive.com (Streams 1 and 3), www.wtprn.com and www.shoutcast.com where DEADLINE LIVE has for years been a top 10 webcast in the talk radio format.

The interview can also be heard on AM and FM affiliates for DEADLINE LIVE nationally.

(If you should miss the show live, it will be available “On Demand” at www.gcnlive.com and will be placed at www.jackblood.com on our Multi Media Page.)

Jack Blood has said that this film is a MUST see for any parent and teen currently barring the brunt for the failed policies of the last several presidential administrations. “If you are concerned for our young adults today getting hooked on dope, and then subsequently losing their lives and liberties to the overall “Prison Industrial Complex”, you MUST see this film and share it with your loved ones and neighbors.”

Like Mr. Booth, Jack has lost many friends and relatives to Drugs, and alcohol. “American Drug War” explains why this has happened, and what we can do about it.

Jack Blood is a syndicated radio host, a Freedom Activist, and an investigative reporter. More information about Jack Blood and DEADLINE LIVE can be found at www.jackblood.com

April 16, 2008 - The Urban Journal's Power XM 169 Satellite Radio Program welcomes Kevin Booth, the creator of the American Drug War: The Last White Hope Film and DVD...

Kevin Booth, the creator of American Drug War: The Last White Hope will be appearing on Urban Journal at XM Satellite station The Power XM 169.

Tune in Monday, April 21st at 1PM East Coast Time / 10AM West Coast Time on XM 169 for a very special appearance by award winning documentary filmmaker, Kevin Booth!

The Power XM 169 Radio show, the “Urban Journal: News. Information and Mind Stimulating Conversation,” presents a very special appearance by the creator of the award winning Best Documentary Film, American Drug War: The Last White Hope. Film producer Kevin Booth discusses the film’s positive reception by activists, actors, colleges and talk shows.

The Power XM 169 Satellite and Internet Radio Station is the station for top media host Travis Smiley and world leader Rev. Al Sharpton. The station picked up the 2005 Achievement in Radio Award. The Al Sharpton Show tackles a range of issues from national news stories, key issues impacting people of color, presidential politics, and more. "The Rev.", as he is affectionately called by close friends and supporters, is bringing his powerful voice to radio and getting the answers to real questions. The urban Journal’s brain child Keith Murphy is also very well known fir his customized presentations which have delighted audiences from the college campus to the board room. He brings a wealth of business and personal experience and poignantly along with 15 years in Broadcast Communications

The American Drug War: The Last White Hope topic has been mentioned on the HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher’s last Friday evening. Bill O’Reilly was faced with questions about the documentary film topic this week. And, in the same few days, actor and activist Esai Morales urged viewers along with a panel consisting of House of Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), economist Robert Reich, political strategist Amy Holmes, Bill Maher to view the American Drug War film. (Kevin) Booth spent the last week at the University of Memphis where a very special screening along with question and answer session. Plus, he spent many hours discussing his amazing story on the Alex Jones Show Radio Talk Show.

Booth’s film is not only won these awards on the film festival circuit this year, the Showtime Network had the movie scheduled on cable for the last month. Now, the film is set for release to retail stores on May 27^th. The new DVD will include over three hours of bonus footage and beginning on April 20 this month, the American Drug War: The Last White Hope DVD will be made available through Sunset Home Visual Entertainment (SHE) for sale exclusively at www.AmericanDrugWar.com, the www.SustainableActionNetwork.org web site and at the Sunset Music Store (powered by Amazon.com). The documentary film boasts informative interviews with Tommy Chong, Freeway Ricky Ross, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Mike Ruppert, General Barry McCaffrey Celerino Castillo III, Judge James Gray, T Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, and Jello Biafra.

Kevin Booth is available for all media interviews at 856-267-5092.

Keith Murphy is available for professional voiceovers (known as "The Voice That Works") by calling 414.357.8129.

April 15, 2008 (New York) Filmmaker Kevin Booth to Speak at University of Memphis.

One of the most influential filmmakers in documentary cinema today will be the speaker with a question and answer session at the University of Memphis.

One of the most influential filmmakers in documentary cinema today will be the speaker with a question and answer session at the University of Memphis. Kevin Booth, producer and director of the four (4) time consecutive award winning Best Documentary film American Drug War: The Last White Hope will appear at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April. 15, in Panhellenic Hall on the university's main campus. There will be a very special free screening of the film prior to the Q&A session with (Kevin) Booth.

Booth is recognized for his controversial and complex explorations of the so called "war on drugs" by inspiring from his own experiences along with society's race and class. The American Drug War: The Last White Hope, made on a shoestring budget, won the last four (4) Best Documentary Awards at the last four (4) film festivals. The very special screening is produced by N.O.R.M.L. (National Organization To Reform Marijuana Laws). The film has been seen on the Showtime Cable Networks over the last month and Booth has the film being released at Sunset Home Visual Entertainment on DVD this May 27th.

For information about Booth's talk and this special screening of the film, please contact Lydia Carpenter at 901-496-1873 or by email at 1carpntr@memphis.edu. Booth's talk at the University of Memphis is sponsored by N.O.R.M.L. (National Organization To Reform Marijuana Laws) Organization. The American Drug War: The Last White Hope topic has been mentioned on the HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher's last Friday evening. Bill O'Reilly was faced with questions about the documentary film topic this week. And, in the same few days, actor and activist Esai Morales urged viewers along with a panel consisting of House of Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), economist Robert Reich, political strategist Amy Holmes, Bill Maher to view the American Drug War film.

The American Drug War: The Last White Hope film is set for worldwide release on DVD to retail stores through the Sunset Home Visual Entertainment (SHE) on May 27th. Although, beginning April 20th, the DVD will be made available for sale exclusively at the www.AmericanDrugWar.com website and at the www.SustainableActionNetwork.org web site and through the Sunset Music Store (powered by Amazon.com). The documentary film and DVD boasts informative interviews with Tommy Chong, Freeway Ricky Ross, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Mike Ruppert, General Barry McCaffrey Celerino Castillo III, Judge James Gray, T Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, and Jello Biafra.

Kevin is available for all media interviews at 856-267-5092.

April 6, 2008 - Award Winning Documentary, American Drug War: The Last White Hope is revealed by panelist on the Real Time with Bill Maher HBO panel!

Esteemed panelist on the popular HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher refers to the American Drug War film in last episode.

Actor / Activist Esai Morales informs the Real Time audience and panel consisting of House of Representative Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), economist Robert Reich, political strategist Amy Holmes and the host Bill Maher to "look" at the American Drug War film. "I was watching Real Time like I do every week," says Don Lichterman, the head of Sunset Home Visual Entertainment (SHE) and the Sunset Holding Co., LLC., "and Esai literally told Bill (Maher) what Kevin (Booth) and I had wanted to do for weeks." The Kevin Booth Film has won four (4) consecutive film festival awards for Best Documentary Film, a two month run on Showtime Cable and will be releasing the brand new DVD to stores on May 27th this year.

The new DVD will include over three hours of bonus footage and beginning on April 20 this month, the American Drug War: The Last White Hope DVD will be made available for sale exclusively at www.SacredCow.com, the www.SunsetainableActionNetwork.org web site and at the Sunset Music Store (powered by Amazon.com). The documentary film boasts informative interviews with Tommy Chong, Freeway Ricky Ross, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Mike Ruppert, General Barry McCaffrey Celerino Castillo III, Judge James Gray, T Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, and Jello Biafra.

Award winning filmmaker Kevin Booth explores the "war on drugs" in a realistic and simplistic way. Lichterman says "there are two (2) very important modern day documentary films that people need to see and this is one of those great films." The other documentary Lichterman refers to is "The Corporation." This particular film company and the distribution companies cannot ask for a healthier initial reaction to the movie. With established actors such as (Esai) Morales taking it upon himself to speak about the films content to political leaders, to world renowned talk show hosts and to millions of HBO viewers, this is the perfect media outlet for any new DVD. Let alone one as important as the American Drug War: The last White Hope.

MARCH 2008

March 27, 2008 - Hip Hop Artist D’Cyple Explodes on the Scene with New CD at Sunset Urban!

March 26, 2008 - Sunset Records Announces The Release of Kan'Nal's "Live At The Boulder Theater" DVD As A Video Download at Amazon's Unbox!

March 25, 2008 -- Starr Cullars Live At B.B. King Blues Club Available on DVD and featured as Video Download at Amazon's Unbox

Starr Cullars Live At B.B. King Blues Club Available on DVD and featured as Video Download at Amazon's Unbox at Alamo Records / Sunset Home Visual Entertainment (SHE)

March 24, 2008 - Sunset Holding Co., partners with Sacred Cow Productions to help deliver tools for education and awareness on the war on drugs!

Kevin Booth’s American Drug War: The Last White Hope to be released on DVD May 27^th

The new controversial film AMERICAN DRUG WAR, premiered on Showtime March 5th, and is creating a storm of controversy surrounding the content.  Filmmaker Kevin Booth lost his mother to alcoholism, a friend to nicotine, and a brother to prescription pills.

The Sustainable Action Network’s goal is to raise further awareness about the effects of privately run prison systems. Don Lichterman, the founder of the Sustainable Action Network says that “once prisons became privatized in America, and started trading on Wall Street every day, the facts show gross examples that in order for these prisons to make money every year; they need to fill their facilities.” The prisons need to be filled with people in order create profits and revenues for these private companies. Lichterman then says that “Kevin (Booth) spells this out in such an easy to understand way in his documentary film that audiences will be captivated.”

There are not enough rapists and murderers to fill the hundreds of private prisons located in many states in the US. The “trickle down” effect is a natural one considering the main bi-laws of any corporation is to create revenues for that company. Since there are only so many people that commit violent crimes, the incarceration of non-violent offenders using drugs becomes an easy target for the criminal justice system.

The staff at the Barack Obama campaign has recognized this failure by answering Booth saying they "will review drug sentences to see where we can be smarter on crime and reduce the blind and counterproductive sentencing of non-violent offenders." Obama also supports the use of medical marijuana calling the War on Drugs a "failure."

This issue is especially relevant today. During the Bill Clinton Presidency, millions of people were incarcerated into the prison system. Hundreds of private prisons were also built all over the United States during that span of time. The documentary film cleverly allows the former drug czar Barry McCaffrey to tell that story, who under the Clinton administration arrested over four million people for using marijuana. Those non-violent drug offenders are still in privately owned, highly profitable prisons today. 

If you want a clear and concise look at this issue, the Kevin Booth award winning documentary is the perfect film. “This documentary needs to be available for the public to see,” says Lichterman. (Kevin) Booth will utilize (Don) Lichterman’s resources with Sunset Records (www.SunsetLabelGroup.com) and the Sunset Home Visual Entertainment (SHE) (www.SunsetHomeVisual.com) Distribution system. Sacred Cow is distributed by the exceptional Indy Film and Documentary Distribution Company, Passion River (www.PassionRiver.com). Currently, the American Drug War film is playing on Showtime all month and is also available at Showtime On-Demand.

This current rotation and future DVD release is coming off the heels of an unprecedented FOUR (4) consective festival wins for best Documentary Film. Filmmaker Kevin Booth spent over four years seeking the answer to why three of the closest people in his life, had all died in ways that made him think about the “War On Drugs” and whether it is working in the United States. Booth interviewed world leaders and activist Ralph Nader, libertarian Ron Paul, comedian (and non violent drug offender) Tommy Chong, the proclaimed originator of crack cocaine Ricky Ross (from federal Prison), former drug czar Barry McCaffrey, a former CIA Agent, a State Senator, County Sheriffs, Top Ranking Police Officers, lawyers, incarcerated prisoners and judges that stand on the frontlines of the war on drugs.

Prison jobs are not limited to cleaning highways, parks and making license plates. Many prisons field telephone calls and some telemarketing is done from prison facilities in the United States. Lichterman then asks, “When was the last time we had people working for other people for pennies or no money?” Lichterman ends by saying his ”point is that if you are purposely filling these facilities with non violent people just to have them at capacity every year, and then that same system in turns has these same people do various work labor, then that is a failure".

Just as Lichterman was astounded by finding this out by watching Booth's documentary, the answers Booth heard on his journey shocked him over the past few years. The AMERICAN DRUG WAR: The Last White Hope examines the longest and costliest so called war in the U.S. history.

Starring in interviews is Tommy Chong, Freeway Ricky Ross, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Mike Ruppert, General Barry McCaffrey Celerino Castillo III, Judge James Gray, T Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader , and Jello Biafra. For promotion copies of the DVD film and for press related issues, please contact Jennifer Billings (Jennifer.Billings@SunsetHolding.com) and / or Kevin Booth (kevinbooth@adelphia.net)

Check the Showtime listings for the AMERICAN DRUG WAR film which premiered this month on Showtime.

The Showtime Network has also made this important film available at Showtime On Demand for everyone to order at any time during the week.

The official street date for the DVD is on 5/27/2008 with over three hours of bonus footage. However, starting on 04/20/2008, the American Drug War: The Last White Hope DVD will be made available exclusively at www.SacredCow.com, the www.SunsetainableActionNetwork.org web site and at the Sunset Music Store (powered by Amazon.com).