THE ORCHARD GOES LIVE!

The Orchard to Promote "Buzz Bands" at London's Neighbourhood Venue, and release Orchard Live! Digital Compilation Series

LONDON, 18th May 2007 - The Orchard, the world’s leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music is set to launch a monthly club night, "The Orchard Live!" in collaboration with the leading London live venue, The Neighbourhood. The Orchard Live! will promote breaking UK bands, cutting edge DJ's and artists signed to Orchard distributed labels in the UK and internationally.

The launch night on May 24th features The Orchard's recent direct artist signing, Oxide and Neutrino, the DJ and MC duo who left So Solid Crew, sold over 400,000 singles and 300,000 albums and release their new Orchard distributed digital-only album "2nd Chance" on 11 June. Jay Tech, The Mighty Avatar, Natty Dreadlocks and Bare Knuckle Soul round out the launch event bill.

The following Orchard Live! event occurs on June 14th and features New York City garage rockers The Mooney Suzuki, who will be previewing songs from their June 19th release “Have Mercy.”

The Orchard will record all Orchard Live! dates for release in the “Orchard Live! at the Neighbourhood” digital compilation series, part of a suite of new original programming initiatives The Orchard will roll out during 2007, and will also represent the master recording rights for licensing use in film, television and commercials.

Commenting on The Orchard's move to support live performance, Orchard president and chief executive Greg Scholl said "It’s a vibrant time for independent live music, and we’re enthusiastic to support the London scene and our great artists. Building on the fantastic live music catalogue of thousands of independent artist recordings that The Orchard acquired from the former Digital Club Network, this is only the first of a series of innovative venue partnerships that we hope will play a role in harnessing the immediacy of digital distribution to transform the relationship between performance artists and their fans."

About The Orchard
The Orchard is the world's largest and leading digital distributor and marketer of music. The Orchard staffs offices in 27 countries and controls an unparalleled catalogue of over one million songs from 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every conceivable music genre and era. This catalogue spans international multi-platinum acts; cutting-edge, breaking bands; and iconic and historically significant regional music. The Orchard supplies music and video to the leading digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world, and executes global marketing and promotion programs locally, with experts in every music territory managing initiatives tailored to each country's unique dynamic. The Orchard works as a close business partner with its label clients, retail sales and marketing, an extensive suite of online promotional programs, synchronization placement, global royalty collection, global publishing administration, and in some cases, co-production investment capital. The Orchard also provides strategic media services to an impressive roster of digital retailers and leading consumer brands, ranging from publishing research, licensing and administration through comprehensive online and offline branding programs. The Orchard was founded over a decade ago as the first company to provide independent artists and labels with broad and fair access to distribution, and takes great pride in its commitment to fair and equal treatment for all labels, regardless of size or location.

About The Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood is West London’s premier nightclub and live music venue. Rebuilt in 2003 in the shell of the old Subterrania nightclub. Known as Acklam Hall from the 1960’s, the space - built underneath the ‘Westway’, has hosted some of the leading music acts of each subsequent generation. Conceived by Alan Grant (Notting Hill Arts Club & Cherry Jam and Ben Watt (Buzzin’ Fly & Everything but the Girl) to follow on from the success of their ‘boutique’ nightclub and restaurant Cherry Jam, Neighbourhood has hosted some of the top DJs and music acts of the new millennium, such as: BEN WATT, GROOVE ARMADA, NORMAN JAY, PHARELL WILLIAMS, 50 CENT, AKIRA THE DON, DAMON ALBARN, THE ZUTONS, RAHEEM DEVAUGHN, THE LIBERTINES, CORINE BAILEY RAE, R.E.M., HARD-FI, NATHAN HAINES, CALVIN HARRIS.