VH1 AND KRIM IN THE "KNOW"

With apologies to Alanis Morissette, VH1 says You Oughta Know about the new, up-and-coming artists being spotlighted by the network, which has been breaking acts for almost a year now through video, online, editorial and retail exposure.

The latest batch of You Oughta Know artists includes Virgin’s KT Tunstall, Custard/Atlantic’s James Blunt, Epic’s The Fray and So So Def/ZLG’s Anthony Hamilton, and the VH1 visibility seems to have made them “Oughta”-matic hits. Among those who have credited the VH1 programming initiative with boosting sales of their artists are Atlantic’s Julie Greenwald and Virgin’s Jason Flom.

Said Flom: "VH1 got behind KT Tunstall from the very beginning by making her a ‘You Oughta Know’ artist, and they have never wavered in their support. They have been a huge part of this incredible story."

You Oughta Know artists get monthly endcap placement in 260 Borders Books and Music stores nationwide.

VH1 EVP Music & Talent Relations Rick Krim is bullish: “You Oughta Know has evolved nicely into a true partnership between VH1, emerging artists and their labels. We’re playing and promoting the music across all of our platforms—VH1, VH1.com and our off-air marketing campaign. Exposing our viewers to new music is a huge priority for VH1, and they’ve really responded this past year.”

*Tunstall has sold more than 75k in just three weeks of her debut, Eye to the Telescope, which has produced the hit single “Black Horse & the Cherry Tree.”

*Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” has catapulted his debut album, Back to Bedlam, into the Top 10.

*The Fray is a Denver-based “jam” band whose debut album, How to Save a Life, is now over 100k sold and selling almost 10k a week, with a single, “Over My Head (Cable Car),” crossing over to Pop from Triple-A.

*Hamilton's new album, Ain’t Nobody Worryin’, was released last year, and has sold more than 350k to date.

Previous beneficiaries include Aqualung, Leela James, Keane and Anna Nalick. Next up: Warner Bros. Records’ touted Daniel Powter.

Another VH1 initiative, Hear Music First, offers pre-release streams of new albums by Mute’s electro diva Goldfrapp, Capitol’s guitar-slinging R&B troubadour Javier and Milking Bull/EMI’s The Little Willies, featuring Norah Jones and friends. WB’s Red Hot Chili Peppers and Atlantic’s Jewel are the next acts whose new music will be previewed.