ST. PAUL, MN, December 3, 2007 — More than 30 students, along with 10 instructors, from the McNally Smith College of Music have packaged their talents for the season of giving through their recorded holiday album, The Gift Of Hope. For the second year, the school has donated 1,500 of its CDs to the Minnesota AIDS Project, which is being used to raise AIDS awareness and funds toward the nonprofit organization‘s programs.

College senior Warren Griffin, Jr., served as executive producer during The Gift Of Hope recording and production, which he says provided him with a “real-life” experience in music business studies. Throughout the production, which ran between July and October and was recorded in McNally Smith College of Music studios, Griffin, Jr. was responsible for coordinating and overseeing the album‘s recording schedule as well as the mastering and sequencing phases. Additionally, he was responsible for album promotion, working with the Minnesota AIDS Project and its marketing relations and campaign. Griffin, Jr. was also tasked with coordinating sale and distribution opportunities, which included meetings with natural and organic foods retailer, Whole Foods Market.

“The Gift Of Hope CD is the closest and truest experience you can get to the music industry as far as learning the steps necessary for putting out an album,” says Griffin, Jr. “It has afforded us a practical application perspective every facet in recording, music technology and production, from start to finish, and is far more valuable than anything that could have been taught from any textbook.”

McNally Smith College of Music President Harry Chalmiers, who is a working guitarist, classical and contemporary music composer, also assumed an active role during the CD production. “Our college is not only about teaching music and the music business, but is also about educating human beings and putting forth graduates who can positively affect the world, a fine balance that is achieved through The Gift Of Hope CD and our affiliation with Minnesota AIDS Project,” explains Chalmiers. “This experience allows our students to utilize their musical gifts and skills, with 100% creative control, while supporting and building awareness for an important cause.”

“Minnesota AIDS Project is appreciative of McNally Smith College of Music and its students for their time and dedication to support our educational, prevention and support services,” says David Folkens, Minnesota AIDS Project Director of Communications. “It‘s outstanding that the school and its students are using their talents to help others. Thanks to their music industry knowledge and the terrific recordings they‘ve produced, our organization is able to bring in additional funds that we might not be able to obtain otherwise.”

The Gift Of Hope features a collection of traditional and original holiday compositions created and produced by McNally Smith students and faculty. All sale proceeds will go toward the Minnesota AIDS Project. Priced at $10.00, The Gift Of Hope is available at www.mnaidsproject.org/mcnally_buy.htm. It can also be purchased at Minnesota Whole Foods Market locations.

Minnesota AIDS Project envisions a world free of AIDS. Its mission is to lead Minnesota’s fight to stop HIV through advocacy, education and service. Founded in 1983, the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP) is a statewide, nonprofit agency committed to enhancing the lives of people living with HIV, prevention education for those at risk for HIV, and advocating for the rights of all affected by HIV. From community outreach and legal consultation to emergency financial assistance, MAP is a leader in the fight against HIV.

Founded in 1985, McNally Smith College of Music is devoted to excellence in music industry higher education and in developing music industry professionals. An accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, McNally Smith College of Music offers music degrees and programs in Music Performance, Recording Technology and Music Business. With 500 students and an 80-member faculty, McNally Smith College of Music students get a personalized music education that combines the art of physics with musical artistry and includes wide access to current music technology, research tools and performance facilities. McNally Smith alumni are working all over the world.

Marina del Rey, CA, December 3, 2007 - Riptide Music, a leading source of licensed music for the advertising, feature film, film trailer, television, TV promo, and videogame industries, has announced exclusive worldwide representation of the Fuel Records catalog, comprised of over 10,000 historic masters. The announcement was made today by Rich Goldman and Bob Kaminsky of RipTide Music.

Fuel Records‘ CEO Len Fico has amassed an extraordinary catalog of classic rock, blues, big band swing, Jazz and gospel recordings. Fuel currently owns– or has long-term licenses for — more than 10,000 masters. Among these titles are such all-time pop hits as The Outsiders‘ “Time Won‘t Let Me,” Vanilla Fudge‘s “You Keep Me Hanging On,” Bob Welch‘s “Sentimental Lady,” and The Buckingham‘s “King of a Drag.” Recently, Fuel placements have included the hit films “American Gangster” and “Bee Movie.”

The Fuel catalog contains recordings of Sonny Boy Williamson/ “Steady Rollin Man,” Lee Dorsey/ “Ya Ya,” Aaron Neville/ “Tell It Like It Is,” Benny Goodman/ “Stompin At The Savoy,” Fletcher Henderson/ “King Porter Stomp,” Glenn Miller/ “In The Mood,” Freddy Fender/ “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, Wilbert Harrison/ “Kansas City, Canned Heat/ “Let‘s Work Together,” and King Curtis/ “Soul Twist.”

Additionally, the catalog offers seminal music sessions from legendary artists, including Otis Rush, Son House, Junior Wells, Betty Everett, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, Doc Watson, and also includes a large collection of gospel recordings. Notable among these are songs from the Blind Boys of Alabama, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, Albertina Walker, Yolanda Adams and the Soul Stirrers.

Rich Goldman, president of Riptide Music said, “With a growing roster of celebrity talent and the addition of Fuel‘s historic masters, RipTide Music is in a great position to provide world-class choices for just about any project.”

Added Fico, “Rich and Bob and their team at RipTide Music have a great reputation, they‘re respected in this industry, and they‘re highly knowledgeable about the significance of these songs and this material. More importantly, they‘re music people…they know what these songs are about and what they mean to popular culture. They have strong credibility in matching these songs to the right media project, since they know this catalogue and these artists so well.”

ABOUT RIPTIDE MUSIC:

Riptide Music is a creative, forward thinking, Marina del Rey-based music licensing and publishing company representing over 200 accomplished composers, indie bands, singer/songwriters, celebrity artists and historic masters for licensing in television, movie trailers, videogames and advertising. Located at 4121 Redwood Ave, # 202, Los Angeles, CA, 90066, RipTide Music‘s website is www.riptidemusic.com, and the phone is 310/ 437-4380.

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ELKHART, Indiana - December 2007 – As Crown International has successfully transitioned to a lean manufacturing approach over the past few years, the company’s endeavor has not gone unnoticed. As a result of dramatically streamlining its manufacturing, further improving both efficiency and product quality, Crown recently had the distinction of being a tour site for the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME) 2007 International Conference in Chicago. more

HOLLYWOOD — EASTWEST, the industry leader in soundware development and distribution, is helping its customers give the gift of music this holiday season with its biggest sale of the year — the Holiday Sale. From now until December 31, 2007 when users shop directly from the company‘s websites (www.soundsonline.com and www.soundsonline-europe.com ), they will be eligible for discounts on new PLAY products, popular collection bundles, sample CD‘s and other virtual instrument collections. For more details, click on the homepage banners at the top of both websites.

During the Holiday Sale, users will be able, for the first time, to save on PLAY products such as Fab Four, a collection of sounds inspired by the Beatles ($276.50 (€187), regularly $395(€267)); Quantum Leap Gypsy, a collection that captures an intimate European sound with unprecedented detail ($276.50 (€187), regularly $395 (€267)); Quantum Leap Voices Of Passion, a collection featuring ethereal, passionate, flowing, mysterious, wailing and whispering alto and soprano voices of female vocalists from Wales, Syria, India, Bulgaria and America ($346.50 (€234), regularly $495 (€334)); and Quantum Leap Ministry Of Rock, a huge 20 Gig collection of Rock Drums, Basses and Guitars ($346.50 (€234), regularly $495 (€334)).

Customers will also be able to receive 50 percent off the purchase of an iLok key (discounts only applicable with the purchase of PLAY-powered products) which is required to operate any PLAY collection.

EASTWEST will also be offering increased savings on its composer bundles. In this unprecedented opportunity, users will be able to purchase EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Composer Bundle, EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold/Gold Pro XP bundle, Quantum Leap RA, Symphonic Choirs and EASTWEST/PMI Bösendorfer for $995 (€627.50) (list price $2,380 (€1,608)); EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Composer Bundle 2, EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum/Platinum Pro XP bundle and Symphonic Choirs for $1,090 (€ 736) (list price $3,950 (€2,668); and EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Composer Bundle 3, EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum/Platinum Pro XP bundle, Quantum Leap RA, EASTWEST/PMI Bösendorfer and Symphonic Choirs for $1,485 (€1003) (list Price $4,385 (€2,962)).

They will also be able to receive larger discounts on the following EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra and EASTWEST bundles: EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Platinum Bundle, EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Platinum and Platinum Pro XP ($895 (€605), list price $1995 (€1,348)); EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Gold Bundle, EASTWEST/Quantum Leap Symphonic Orchestra Gold and Gold Pro XP ($445 (€301), list price $995 (€672)); and EASTWEST/QUANTUM LEAP Bundle, Quantum Leap RA, Quantum Leap Colossus and Symphonic Choirs ($795 (€537), list price $1,785 (€1,206)).

Along with Holiday discounts on PLAY products, composer, orchestra and EASTWEST bundles, the company will also be offering savings on its distributed lines and other EASTWEST collections. In order to receive the discount, customers will need to enter the promotional code “HOLIDAY” on the checkout page and click “submit” (note: the promo code cannot be applied to PLAY products, composer, orchestra and EASTWEST bundles, these are discounted on their respective product pages). Discounts for other products will register after the “submit” button is pressed on the checkout page.

“Whether it‘s for professional or recreational use, EASTWEST‘s products are an asset to any musician‘s toolkit,” says EASTWEST Producer and Founder Doug Rogers. “All collections are user-friendly and provide the best sonic quality and realism. With our Holiday Sale, there‘s a product that fits into everyone‘s musical taste and price range.”