Paul McCartney's Starbucks deal

Sir Paul McCartney has signed a deal with the new Starbucks record label, it was announced yesterday (21.03.07). The former Beatle is the first artist to be signed by the coffee giant's new music venture, Hear Music. Sir Paul, 64, took part in the Seattle-based company's annual meeting via video link from London. Starbucks - the world's largest specialist coffee retailer - announced earlier this month that it was joining forces with Concord Music Group to launch new label Hear Music, which will be based in Los Angeles.Sir Paul is leaving Capitol Records who he has worked with on and off for 43 years, to join the new label.In a statement, Sir Paul said of Hear Music: "For me, the great thing is the commitment and the passion and the love of music, which as an artist is good to see. It's a new world now and people are thinking of new ways to reach the people, and for me that's always been my aim."According to reports, there had been a bidding war for Paul's new album which is now set for release in the early summer.