Brian Stokes Mitchell's Debut CD to be Released on Newly Formed Playbill Records June 6

Playbill, the internationally recognized and authoritative publication for theatre, music and the performing arts, is expanding the reach of its famous yellow and black trademark logo in an exciting new venture with SONY BMG's Legacy Recordings, the music company's catalog division, and Sony BMG Masterworks, which is responsible for new Broadway cast recordings.

As part of the newly established relationship the two companies will join forces to create Playbill Records, which will focus on both new recordings and the very best archival material from SONY BMG's vaults.

The first release on Playbill Records will be a self-titled debut recording from critically acclaimed Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, which will be released in June of 2006.

"We are honored to build our brand with this new franchise and continue in our endeavor to showcase the very best talent there is," says Philip S. Birsh, President and Publisher of Playbill, Inc. "'Stokes' is the perfect artist to launch our label."

In terms of catalog recordings, Playbill Records will draw on the vast archives of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, and Playbill's 122 years of experience, to create an "Editors' Choice" series of releases that will include definitive compilations culled from original cast recordings, as well as a series full-length re-issues which will comprise the very best Broadway recordings in SONY BMG's vaults.

"For well over a century Playbill has been the world's most trusted source of information on the performing arts," commented Jeff Jones, Executive Vice President of Legacy Recordings. "Their name and logo are synonymous with quality, and we look forward to working closely with their entire team as we develop a broad fan-base for amazing artists such as Brian Stokes Mitchell, while at the same time introducing new audiences to the extraordinary recordings contained in SONY BMG's vast archives."

Brian Stokes Mitchell has been referred to as "nobody's copycat" and as having "an enriching musical delivery that confirms his status as one of the most luxuriant-voiced baritones in Broadway history," by The New York Times. His pop and jazz infused vocals have taken the Tony and Drama Desk Award winner from The Great White Way to the great American concert halls and nightclubs, in addition to his many accomplishments on TV and in films.

The self-titled album, Brian Stokes Mitchell, for which he participated in the arrangements and orchestrations himself, takes on some golden standards of jazz and pop, while embracing the musical-theater landmarks of his popularity with the public. For this recording, Mr. Birsh sought out 14-time Grammy winner Al Schmitt, and also signed Richard Jay-Alexander as the new label's Executive Producer.

About Playbill, Inc.: For 122 years, the Playbill Company has been the dominant magazine in the performing arts industry. Playbill Inc serves nearly 100 venues in 23 cities, including all the theatres on Broadway and all major Off Broadway venues. Its monthly circulation currently tops out as high as four million per month (not including summer months). Among Playbill's other ventures are The Playbill Club (550,000 registered members), Playbill.com (2.3 million page views per week), PlaybillArts.com, a classical website that gets 100,000 hits per week) and the upcoming Playbill Radio which created the show "Radio Playbill" for Sirius Satellite radio and will launch its own internet broadcasts and podcasts in 2006.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT: SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America. The merger last year of Sony and BMG has brought together two major labels whose catalogs of cast album recordings complement each other, and provide one of the largest and most comprehensive surveys of the Broadway musical, from 1946 to today. The SonyBMG catalog spans 60 years of Broadway history and chronicles 171 original Broadway productions. Together, the musicals represented collected an amazing 444 Tony Awards including 35 for Best Musicals, 27 Grammy Awards, and 4 Pulitzer Prizes.