Storefront Recordings Launches Thru R.E.D.

Music Industry Veteran, Jon Leshay, to launch Storefront recordings in partnership with R.E.D. Distribution.

Mandy continues to grow not only as a credible actress but as a legitimate and viable singer songwriter

Beverly Hills, CA (Billboard Publicity Wire) January 12, 2009 -- President and Founder of Storefront Entertainment, Jon Leshay, has joined forces with RED Distribution to form Storefront Recordings. The music label will officially launch with the release of Mandy Moore's follow-up album to the 2007 critically acclaimed, "Wild Hope." The new album is slated for release in April, 2009, while the label will also venture into releasing various charitable and benefit albums, soundtracks as well as unique corporate branded compilations.

The conception of this label emanates from the ongoing need for managers to protect a client's creative control. Leshay has managed Moore for the past ten years and has played a significant role in the unconventional career path she has created. "Mandy continues to grow not only as a credible actress but as a legitimate and viable singer songwriter," Leshay says. "Someone this talented and driven needs to be given every opportunity in which to see their creativity through. By forming this label, she is assured to make the music she personally wants to with no larger scale agenda. That has always been the most important and admirable asset of her career."

Howard Gabriel, Sr. VP of RED says, "We are thrilled to be working with Jon Leshay and the Storefront organization, in addition to the artistic talent of Mandy Moore. The union with Storefront represents a long tradition at RED of working with innovative and entrepreneurial organizations to look beyond the boundaries of the traditional distribution systems to grow, nurture, and develop artistic talent. We welcome Storefront and Mandy Moore to the RED family."

Leshay began his career in marketing and promotion at Music Vision and later helped launch HITS magazine. In 1989, he headed Elektra Entertainment's Alternative Music Division and went on to become Senior Vice President of Promotion for the label. He moved to Columbia Records in 1994 as Senior Vice President of Artist Development and in 1998, Warner Brothers appointed Leshay as Senior Vice President of Marketing.
He launched his own management and Music Supervision company, Storefront Entertainment in 2000, managing Mandy Moore and later adding other clients such as Switchfoot and Citizen Cope to his roster. He also served as the Music Supervisor for the film "A Walk To Remember" which went on to sell 4.5 million albums worldwide, as well as the critically acclaimed film, "Saved!" in which both starred his client, Moore.

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