INO Launches New Label

By Justin Camacho, Christian Post Correspondent Tuesday, January 18, 2005

Beginning the year with boldness, premier label INO Records, home to MercyMe, CeCe Winans, and others, has launched a new active rock imprint to be headed by key industry veteran, Steve Ford.

Ford, who’s resume includes running the marketing departments of Star Song and Myrhh Records, owning his own marketing and consulting firm, and most recently serving as General Manager at Inpop Records, will take the position of Vice President/General Manager of the yet-to-be-named, rock-focused label.

The imprint was the brain-child of INO Records' president, Jeff Moseley, who sees the incredible growth pattern of the genre in the mainstream as well as in Christian music industries.

"I am very excited to be working with Jeff again,” comments Ford. “When Jeff cast the vision for the new label and told me of the opportunities, I very much wanted to be involved. I resonate with the vision of the label impacting today's culture with music that is excellent, relevant and important. I look forward to partnering with the team at INO to take artists who may be a little outside of the box and exposing them to a bigger audience."

"This active rock niche has been served well by a small number of labels but still the genre has been underserved,” remarked Moseley. “There are opportunities for growth and impact that cannot be ignored. I want to have a voice in this community, to speak into the artistry, help cast the vision and build awareness. This is the right time to expand into this arena - with our continued relationship with Epic Records and having an executive the caliber of Steve Ford come available."

Partnering with Epic Records, the label will have distribution both in the mainstream and CBA markets, and are looking to release their first project in the spring of 2005, and anticipate about 3-4 releases in their first year.

In other news from INO, Dove-award winning rock group MercyMe will be re-releasing this quarter two of their certified Gold recordings, Almost There and Undone, in special double disc formats.

The DualDisc combines music, video and other features on a single, two-sided disc that plays on existing CD and DVD players. MercyMe's DualDiscs will include the full album on the CD side, while the DVD side will feature the full album again in high-quality surround sound, plus live concert footage, behind the scenes material, band interviews, music videos, web links and more.

Collaborating with Sony Music, INO and MercyMe will be some of the first in the industry to release on the format in both the CBA and general market.

“We are excited to celebrate with MercyMe once again, and to be one of the first to introduce the DualDisc to the CBA market,” comments INO Records president Jeff Moseley. “We believe this format holds great promise for the consumer and is one of the many synergies that will be forthcoming from the Epic/INO/Integrity relationship.”

According to a recent article in The Chicago Tribune , the DualDisc touches upon demand for an advanced product that connects the consumer with a CD experience taking them beyond the music. The cost of the DualDisc creates purchasing incentive at the low price of $18.98.

For more information visit: www.inorecords.com and www.mercyme.org