Today, Grab a Coffee and a CD at Starbucks!

Starbucks Corp. record label, "Hear Music," released its first CD today: Paul McCartney's Memory Almost Full. The record will be playing continuously today in Starbucks' 10,000 stores in 29 countries, with an estimated 6 million customers who will hear the music.

Says Mike McGuire, media analyst for Gartner Inc., Starbucks' move is bold, and the company has proved to be skilled at selling music in addition to overpriced lattes and frappes. Still, not many retailers would make the same decision says McGuire, "probably for no other reason than not wanting to drive their workers insane."

The Hear Music record label was cofounded with Concord Music Group in March. McCartney, the label's first artist, signed a one-album deal with the company. Ken Lombard, president of Starbucks' entertainment division, said, "Once we heard the album...we just knew this was a phenomenal record. It's such a reflection of his life and his career, I mean the ups and downs and the recognition of really what a remarkable journey it has been."

The CD will be on sale at Starbucks worldwide, all major music retailers, and iTunes. The album will be the first of McCartney's 21 solo albums to be sold digitally.