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HITS Daily Double
"It is an exciting opportunity to be part of a label built from the ground up, especially shaped by an artist who is also a brilliant businessman, producer, writer and performer. The team we've put together is exceptional."

MR. SMITH GOES TO EXTASY

Veteran Record Exec Appointed GM
of Well-Funded Start-Up Label
There's no truth to the rumor Robert Smith's been whistling "Turning Japanese" in his sleep.

What is true is that Smith has been named General Manager of Extasy Records International, the new label launched by Japanese artist/producer/composer/writer and label CEO/President Yoshiki.

Based in the company's L.A. offices, Smith will be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the label, including sales, marketing, promotion, video, creative, publicity and sushi preparation in the office kitchen.

Prior to joining Extasy, Smith was President/COO of Musician.com, an online company providing services to working professionals and amateur musicians. From 1990-99, he was head of marketing at Geffen Records, where he played a crucial role in the development of Beck, Aerosmith, Nirvana, the Eagles, Guns N' Roses and Counting Crows, among others. He also served as VP Marketing and Artist Development for EMI, VP Marketing for Uni Records and Director of Product Management for Epic Records.

Commenting on the appointment, Yoshiki praised Smith's "long-standing career in the music industry. He has continually displayed the uncanny ability of balancing business acumen with a creative vision. He will play a vital role in shaping the future of this label—just as soon as he gets the hang of writing interoffice memos with a paint brush."

Added Smith: "It is an exciting opportunity to be part of a label built from the ground up, especially shaped by an artist who is also a brilliant businessman, producer, writer and performer. The team we've put together is exceptional. Let me put it this way: I'm high on Extasy."

Yoshiki is a renowned rock artist in Japan; his band, X-Japan, was the country's most successful group in history when it disbanded in 1998. Yoshiki has gone on to produce, write and play on CDs whose combined sales have topped 50 million units in Japan alone.

Extasy Records International, which will be distributed by Warner Bros. Records in North America, was formed in L.A by Yoshiki, who originally created Extasy in 1986 and turned it into one of Japan's largest independent labels. He also has interests in Extasy Japan, a label formed in 2000 and distributed by Warner Japan and Platinum Records, a major record company affiliated with PolyGram in Japan.