AARP and Concord Music Group Launch New Online Offerings for Music Lovers 50+

Endeavor Will Curate Music for a New Custom Internet Radio Player and Create Content for a Dedicated Music Site

WASHINGTON, July 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP and Concord Music Group have teamed up to create a new multi-media, online resource designed to help adults find the music they love in the digital age. AARP Internet Radio, a free music player provided by Slacker, features 18 free streaming channels of handpicked music catering to the musical tastes of Americans age 50+ and is the initiative's centerpiece. Its aim: to make enjoying music intuitive and fun—especially for people who have been largely underserved by conventional music sources.

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"AARP and Concord Music are uniquely positioned to help adults connect with the artists they love and become engaged in the online community of music," said Hugh Delehanty, senior vice president of AARP's media properties.  "Our internet radio is easy to use and makes new resources available to people who may not be used to getting their music online, as well as those who already are."

"Finding new music and even old favorites has become more complicated and difficult for so many people," stated Concord Music Group president and CEO, Glen Barros. "AARP is a trusted source of information and guidance. Working closely with them, we aim to help adults across the country reconnect with the enjoyment of music and the artists who create it."

Launching today on www.aarp.org, the music player's channels include an array of genres featuring rock, blues, jazz, classical, R&B, coffeehouse, classic rock, oldies, country and vocals standards, just to name a few. Users seeking music from up-and-coming artists can check out the 'Fresh Sounds' channel providing the best of what's new in popular music.  AARP Internet Radio also features a dedicated channel highlighting the music of one particular artist, which will change from month to month. The 'Artist' channel is currently streaming the music of legendary songwriter Paul Simon and AARP will also unveil new channels in the coming weeks and months, including a 'Members Choice' channel, which will allow AARP members to serve as guest DJs.

Visitors to the AARP website can open AARP Internet Radio in a separate window displaying the music player and a list of stations to choose from.  Users will have the option to play, pause or skip songs, and easily change stations.  In addition, the simplified radio player from Slacker (recently selected as PC Magazine's best streaming radio provider) allows users to multi-task, letting them stream their favorite station while working or playing online.  In the future, AARP plans to make the music player available via AARP mobile apps on portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.

In addition to the music player, AARP is also enhancing editorial content on a new AARP online music page www.aarp.org/music. Drawing from sources across the music industry, this new portal offers a collection of informative music news, reviews, artist interviews, and how-to's specifically designed for grown-up music lovers. Registered users of www.aarp.org will have the added benefit of access to the site's music community chat room, where they can connect with music fans from around the country.  

To experience AARP's Internet Radio, visit www.aarp.org/music.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

About Concord Music Group:

Concord Music Group is one of the largest independent record and music publishing companies in the world and owner of a rich and historically significant catalog of recordings.  Concord Music Group's legendary family of labels includes Concord Records, Concord Jazz, Hear Music, Fantasy, Stax, Milestone, Riverside, Specialty, Telarc, Peak, Heads Up, Prestige and Rounder Records. They include titles from some of the most admired and enduring names in music, including Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Isaac Hayes, Little Richard and Thelonious Monk. The group's current roster of world-class artists includes: Paul McCartney, Chick Corea, Paul Simon, Kurt Elling, Christian Scott, Robert Plant, Esperanza Spalding and Alison Krauss, just to name a few. In 2007, Concord partnered with Starbucks to form Hear Music, which has released records from James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello and Playing For Change among many others.

SOURCE AARP