ABBA
Until 2022, ABBA was arguably the only major artist to never have agreed to a Kiosk release. But following interest from Italy and Spain, Giancarlo was able to work with Universal Music to secure the band's approval for Kiosk releases in Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The 2022 ABBA Kiosk initiatives were comprised of ABBA's 9x studio albums on CD, the Live At Wembley Arena 2CD set, and their Essential Collection DVD. All 11 titles were presented in digisleeve format, with the Italian collection also featuring a bonus booklet with new liner notes in Italian.
As usual, Giancarlo offered a top-to-bottom consulting service, helping to broker the deal with all internal UMG principles and the local teams in Italy and Iberia, while also overseeing the approvals process with the repertoire owner, Polar Records, in Sweden.
The campaigns have generated incremental six-figure income for UMG / ABBA, and have ensured that their catalogue was physically available again for the first time in years, in two major European markets which have seen a huge decline in physical retail outlets.
Back in 2012, during his tenure as VP International at EMI, Giancarlo was privileged to play a pivotal role in brokering an agreement between Apple Corps and EMI to release The Beatles CD and DVD catalogue via Kiosk newsstands in Italy.
This was the first time that Apple Corps had ever consented to selling The Beatles’ products via this alternative sales channel. Since that first initiative, Giancarlo has played a key role in delivering a dozen separate initiatives internationally.
In addition to multiple CD/DVD releases around Europe and Latin America, Giancarlo also helped to broker agreement between Apple Corps, Universal Music Group, and DeAgostini Publishing to release The Beatles Vinyl Collection as a Partworks release. The collection was released in Italy, UK/Eire, Japan, Spain, France and Belgium.
Featuring 23 studio, live and compilation albums on 180g vinyl, each issue of The Beatles Vinyl Collection was accompanied with an 8 page 12” booklet with bespoke notes in the local language, detailing the background of the recordings, etc.
Giancarlo’s role in these initiatives extended from initial pitches and facilitation of agreements between relevant parties, to product management (including sourcing of all materials for partners, oversight of the approvals process of all artwork - including in foreign languages - and marketing assets) - all the while liaising closely with the local UMG office, partner and Apple Corps.
Overall, The Beatles Kiosk and Partworks releases achieved sales in excess of 4,000,000 units internationally. The Beatles’ initiative and success also paved the way for many other major heritage artists to release their own Kiosk or Partworks projects.
Italy is one of Bob Marley’s biggest international markets, and so it is no shock that Italy’s #1 media group, Mondadori, have released his CD and DVD catalogue via Kiosks twice in the last few years.
The 2020 Kiosk initiative was comprised of 17 CD and DVD titles, with Issue 1 presented with a collectors box to promote repeat sales, as is the local custom.
As usual, Giancarlo offered a top-to-bottom consulting service, helping to broker the deal with all internal UMG principles and the local team in Italy, while also overseeing the approvals process with the Italian team and the US repertoire owner.
The campaign generated incremental sales equivalent to 10 years’ worth of traditional retail sales, and six-figure revenues.
The Dire Straits Kiosk initiative saw Italy’s biggest media group, Mondadori Publishing, realise a 12-issue catalogue release across Italy’s national network of newsstands, launched in October 2017.
With one title per week, and a special Collectors Box free with Issue 1, the campaign was comprised of Dire Straits’ complete CD and DVD catalogue in a single collection.
As Universal Music Group’s Consultant for all major artist Kiosk and Partworks initiatives, Giancarlo liaised with all the concerned parties at UMG and Dire Straits' management, ensuring a smooth delivery of products and tools within the project timeline.
Launched in October 2017 across 30,000+ points of sale, the collection achieved valuable incremental income to the label and the artist, and a similar project is now being considered for release through mainstream music retail channels in other markets.
Launching in May 2019, around the launch of the Rocket Man movie and local tour dates, the Elton John Collection Italian Kiosk initiative brought together 35 of Elton’s CD and DVD titles in one collection for distribution through Italian newsstands.
This gave Elton’s catalogue access to ca. 30,000 points of sale in Italy (where only 500 record stores still exist), and represents a fantastic opportunity to see many of these recently overlooked albums get a physical release in a market which has gone predominantly digital.
For the first time, all Elton’s albums were presented in digipaks, with a bespoke Collectors Box available with Issue 1. The campaign itself delivers major national press advertising across TV, Radio, Press, Online and Outdoor, carrying a significant six-figure media value.
As with his work on other Kiosk campaigns, Giancarlo offered a top-to-bottom service, reviewing and managing the deal proposal, presenting it to the label and artist and securing all necessary artist management approvals, while ensuring that all project partners get what they need, when then they need it.
This initiative represented decades’ worth of sales via traditional music retail.
To compliment the launch of the first CD/DVD Kiosk release of The Beatles catalogue in 2011 in Italy, and 2012 in Argentina, the John Lennon Collection was released via Kiosk newsstands in both markets in subsequent years, presenting the remastered John Lennon catalogue for the first time in the channel.
Following the recent Gimme Some Truth campaign, 2020 saw John Lennon’s return to Italian Kiosks with a 14 title collection comprised of CD and DVD titles, presented in CD digipaks with a Collectors Box.
As ever, Giancarlo ensured that the print partner’s proposal was well received by UMG execs and artist management, and oversaw the approvals process for all artwork and marketing assets.
Giancarlo was first involved in a Queen catalogue Kiosk release in Italy in his early days at EMI back in 2007. However, it wasn't until his return to Universal Music Group that he became more deeply involved.
Working closely with Queen's management, and especially their longtime Designer and Creative Director, Giancarlo has brokered deals for, and overseen multiple Queen catalogue Kiosk releases in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and France.
Giancarlo also played a pivotal role in brokering an agreement between Queen, Universal Music Group, and DeAgostini Publishing, for the release of Queen The Vinyl Collection. This 25 album initiative was released in Italy, Japan and Spain over a two year period.
Featuring 25 studio, live and compilation albums on 180g vinyl, each issue of Queen The Vinyl Collection was accompanied with an 8 page 12” booklet with bespoke notes in the local language, detailing the background of the recordings, etc.
Giancarlo’s role in all these initiatives extended from initial pitches and facilitation of agreements between relevant parties, to product management (including sourcing of all materials for partners, oversight of the approvals process of all artwork - including in foreign languages - and marketing assets) - all the while liaising closely with the local UMG office, partner and Queen management.
Overall, Queen Kiosk and Partworks releases under Giancarlo's care have achieved sales in excess of 3,000,000 units internationally.
In addition to Giancarlo's Kiosk work on The Beatles and Queen, he has also had the great privilege of helping Universal Music / ABKCO Records / Promotone to realise Kiosk releases of The Rolling Stones CD/DVD and LP catalogues in various deals in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.
The Rolling Stones' catalogue is so extensive that it was necessary to make a careful selection of titles, ensuring a fair balance between the ABKCO and Promotone catalogues, while ensuring a competitive and commercial offering. CD and DVD Kiosk releases have centred around a core of 32 titles, featuring the band's classic studio, live and compilation albums.
In addition to these releases, Giancarlo recently helped broker an agreement with Italy's RCS Media Group to release the 36 issue Rolling Stones Vinyl Collection on 180g vinyl - the first time that the band's vinyl albums have been released via the Kiosk sales network.
Giancarlo has offered a complete top-to-bottom consulting service on these projects, from conception and deal negotiation, through to project management (including sourcing of audio sources and artwork, and approvals for all product and marketing assets), liaising closely throughout with ABKCO and Promotone representatives, and the local releasing Universal team.
These initiatives have achieved sales well in excess of 1,000,000 units - all of which is 100% incremental in markets where physical sales have been severely effected by the decline of traditional physical retail.
While still at UMG, Giancarlo oversaw the launch of a U2 Kiosk campaign in Italy, Spain and Portugal, which brought together 18 CD and DVD titles.
The collection relaunched in Italy in 2017, with Giancarlo once again overseeing the complete approvals process, liaising closely with U2 artist management and the local Italian company.
