Starbucks is back in the holiday music business. Holiday Blend marks their first holiday album in more than a decade. (Millennials will remember that Starbucks CDs were a huge part of the brand’s merch in the early aughts!) The new seven-track collection brings together Brandi Carlile, Leon Thomas, Coco Jones, Magnus Ferrell, TRÍADA, and The Womack Sisters, who all put their own spin on seasonal classics, plus an original holiday song from boyband JYT. The album is on streaming platforms, and select locations will also play the songs throughout the holiday season, so customers can hear it during their coffee runs. And in the spirit of giving, the album’s release also comes with a $500K donation to World Central Kitchen. Music has long been part of Starbucks’ brand identity, from their acquisition of Hear Music to their partnerships with Concord Music Group and with Spotify. Now, Holiday Blend gives the brand another way to bring more music to their customers, and it arrives as more brands, like Wendy’s and e.l.f., experiment with albums as a marketing tool. (Billboard, Parade)
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