Hear Music, a Starbucks backed company, are set to release a series of 'Artist's Choice' compilations compiled by Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, BB King, Johnny Cash The Rolling Stones and Sheryl Crow, that will go on sale in the chain's stores, before going on general release. The musicians involved in the project have to explain their choices on the inside of the CD cover
The idea came from Hear Music's founder Don MacKinnon, who sold his retail chain to Starbucks in 1999. MacKinnon said: "It needs to feel like when you're sitting in the living room and a friend says, "I know you like Billie Holiday but have a listen to this'".
Said artists have already made their choices and MacKinnon is not going through the tricky task of getting permission to use the songs the artists have chosen. He admits some are proving difficult, though adds many have been flattered to have been chosen by fellow artists. Even Bob Dylan was persuaded to part with a track.