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HITS Daily Double
By cramming all 30 of Elvis’ #1 singles onto one disc, BMG and RCA are, of course, also exploiting the hugely successful marketing idea executed by Apple Corps and Capitol two years ago with The Beatles’ 1. However, the Beatles album only contained 27 tracks, whereas the Elvis will have 30. Typical German efficiency.

BMG TO TREAT ELVIS NICE

25 Years After His Death, World’s Best-Selling Artist to Be Feted with Major CD Release
It’s not often that a man dies on the toilet, and 25 years later he’s practically a saint.

Nor is it often that a man’s death is memorialized by an "unprecedented multi-platform marketing and promotion campaign." But then, most men aren’t Elvis Presley.

Realizing that during the 25th anniversary year of his death, Elvis’ recordings are just a hunka-hunka burning catalog in need of re-exploitation, BMG has determined to issue a memorial disc on RCA, elegantly titled ELV1S 30 #1 Hits. That’s a "1" in the name there. Get it?

By cramming all 30 of Elvis’ #1 singles onto one disc, BMG and RCA are, of course, also exploiting the hugely successful marketing idea executed by Apple Corps and Capitol two years ago with The Beatles1. However, the Beatles album only contained 27 tracks, whereas the Elvis will have 30. Typical German efficiency.

The multi-platform part of the campaign surrounding the Elvis compilation, which is being carried out in conjunction with Elvis Presley Enterprises (the corporate entity charged with making sure Elvis makes more money than Mickey Mouse), involves a long list of "integrated marketing partners." Big names like Bertelsmann publishing units Gruner + Jahr and Random House, AOL, Lycos and NASCAR. That’s right—them rednecks luv they Elvis.

BMG promises even more alliances are forthcoming and will involve equally big names in the automotive, sports, credit card, clothing, retail, food and beverage sectors. Can’t wait to get that zero-percent-for-six-months ElVisa to buy some Stouffer’s frozen-fried peanut butter ’n’ banana Elvis-shaped sandwiches with.

"BMG is poised to play a lead role in this year’s celebration of an artist who is not only an icon around the world but whose achievement is the benchmark by which artistic success is measured," said BMG Chairman/CEO Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, who announced the plan. "Our goal is to lead the charge in reintroducing Elvis and his music to a new generation of music fans."

"Elvis Presley left an indelible mark on our culture and a musical legacy that is second to none," said newly named RCA Music Group Chairman Bob Jamieson. "The release of ELV1S 30 #1 Hits is a testament to the profound influence he has had on several generations of artists and the hold he continues to have on the imaginations of music lovers everywhere." Of course, if it also adds a few bucks to Bertelsmann’s $17.86 billion in annual revenue, no one will complain.

Although Elvis died on August 16, 1977, BMG and RCA will go the respectful route and wait until October to release the compilation. As of this writing, it was unclear whether the Flying Elvi (the official Elvis skydivers of Elvis Presley Enterprises) would be joining the marketing effort.