NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – Jun 7, 2011) –
Atlantic Records Group, the label where many of the most innovative,
ground-breaking soul, R&B, jazz and hip-hop artists have called home
for over 60 years, plans to celebrate Black Music with a year long,
interactive campaign, dubbed “I Heart Black Music.” The campaign, which
will allow fans access to various digital promotions and content, artist
interviews and more, will launch on June 13^th exclusively at www.iheartblackmusic.com,
with a special week-long “Best Of Black Music Month” feature,
highlighting past campaigns as well as classic videos from your favorite
Atlantic artists, kicking off on June 6^th.

During each
week of the campaign, the site will feature exclusive content videos
and Black Music history facts. Always an all-access company, fans will
be able to learn more about the Atlantic Records family with on-camera
interviews with staff members and executives, who will talk about their
experiences in music, how they’ve seen the Black Music culture change
over time, their favorite songs and more. What’s more, fans will also
experience an introspective take on Black Music’s style through the
decades with commentary from Pulchritude and Concepts’ Becca Alexis, who
has styled everyone from Trey Songz and Tank to Lupe Fiasco and Jamie
Foxx.

For the first time ever, the 2011 “I Heart Black Music”
campaign will commemorate and celebrate Black Music year round, instead
of the month-long celebration done in past years. Each month will see
the site being updated with new content regularly to reflect the
ever-changing Black Music culture. What’s more, a spectacular array of
current Atlantic Records Group artists will be featured including
superstars B.o.B, Trey Songz, Cee Lo Green, Janelle Monae, Wiz Khalifa,
Lupe Fiasco, Tank, Musiq Soulchild, Estelle, along with newcomers Diggy
Simmons, Hamilton Park, Wynter Gordon and Laza Morgan.

When the
music industry first united in 1979 to create the annual “Black Music
Month” celebration, Atlantic Records already had a long tradition in
presenting African-American artistry. In fact, it has been over 60 years
since the Atlantic Records Group scored its first major hit with Stick
McGhee’s 1949 smash, “Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee.” From there, Atlantic
became the preeminent R&B label of the 1950s, boasting a roster
which included the likes of Ruth Brown, Big Joe Turner, Ray Charles, the
Clovers, the Drifters, LaVern Baker and the Coasters.

Atlantic’s
influence on the course of Black Music certainly didn’t stop there. The
label pioneered the soul revolution with such legends including Aretha
Franklin, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Ben E. King, Wilson Pickett, Sam
& Dave, and Booker T. & The MGs. Jazz was represented by such
influential luminaries as John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Charles
Mingus, the Modern Jazz Quartet, and Rashaan Roland Kirk. Atlantic
continued to lead the way with Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, the
Spinners, Chic, Sister Sledge, Levert and many more.

For more information, please visit www.iheartblackmusic.com or www.atlanticrecords.com.

For press tools, please visit http://press.atlanticrecords.com.