THE ORCHARD CONTINUES EXPLOSIVE WORLD MUSIC GROWTH THROUGH NEW SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE LABEL DEALS

New Signings Include 18 Chulos, Ediciones Resistencia, Propaganda Pel Fet!, Picap, Elkar, Kasba Music, Musica Global, Sonifolk, K Industria, Ovaçao, Zona Musica, Difference Music, and Enchufada

SEVILLE – October 26, 2006, – The Orchard, the world’s leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, today announced digital marketing and distribution agreements with many of the top world music labels in Spain and Portugal. The labels include Spanish imprints 18 Chulos Records, Ediciones Resistencia, Propaganda Pel Fet!, Picap, Elkar, Kasba Music, Musica Global, Sonifolk, and K Industria, and Portuguese independents Ovaçao, Zona Musica, Difference Music, and Enchufada. The announcement was made at the 2006 World Music Expo (WOMEX) Conference in Seville.

“Spain and Portugal have produced some of the world’s most appealing and ground-breaking music, from flamenco to fado to breathtaking fusions of traditional folk music with cutting-edge sounds,” said Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard. “Through our relationships with many of the most important and influential labels in the Iberian Peninsula, The Orchard is committed to marketing the rich musical heritage of this region to music fans throughout the globe.”

“We believe that digital distribution will become more and more ingrained in the coming years, and therefore it’s important for us to align ourselves with the company that is the clear leader in this area,” said Javier Jimenez, owner of Madrid-based Ediciones Resistencia, a world music leader whose roster includes Jabier Muguruza, winner of the 2006 Premios de la Musica Award for best song in Basque. “For independent companies such as ours, The Orchard gives us a presence in the top digital retail sites in the world and also serves as a key partner in helping place and market our tracks in the digital space. We look forward to continuing to work with The Orchard to make our mark in the growing world of digital distribution.”

“Working with The Orchard is a relief,” said Joao Barbosa, managing director at Portuguese world fusion imprint Enchufada, which features Buraka Som Sistema, one of the most promising underground acts of the year. “It’s one less big thing to worry about when you are making music and running a label at the same time. Marketing Portuguese music to a global audience requires an understanding of our culture and an innovative approach. The Orchard brings these qualities to the table in the most professional way.”

“With the changes that are taking place in the industry, The Orchard delivers concrete solutions that help break down geographic barriers by empowering us with technology that represents an opportunity and not a threat. This relationship allows us to retain control of our catalogue and gain not only a powerful distribution mechanism via the Internet, but also an important marketing tool,” added Dani Castellano, managing director at Propaganda Pel Fet!, a Barcelona-area label that specializes in Catalan world music artists such as Feliu Ventura, Cheb Balowski, and La Carrau.

About The Orchard
The Orchard is the world’s leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This catalogue includes titles from multi-platinum acts such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, and Daniela Mercury, as well as from breaking bands like The Hold Steady, Bedouin Soundclash, and Immortal Technique. The Orchard supplies all the leading legal digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world and markets its labels’ catalogues for sync song placements in films, commercials, and television shows. The company is owned by Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. whose portfolio companies also include eMusic and Dimensional Music Publishing. The Orchard is headquartered in New York and London, with offices in 23 countries and six continents. For more information, please visit: www.theorchard.com