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EMI Classics Announces Licensing Agreement with Wiley for the Release of “Classical Music For Dummies®”

08/01/2012

Yesterday, EMI Classics and John Wiley & Sons, Inc., released “Classical Music For Dummies,” a series of releases designed to offer newcomers a perfect introduction to the world of classical music. The series will consist of five single albums dedicated to different composers, as well as a box set with 6 CDs of music and a 48-page booklet. All releases will also be available as digital downloads.

“Classical music is a timeless and enriching art form, though it can sometimes seem daunting to people who have never studied it or otherwise been exposed to concerts or recordings,” said EMI Classics Vice President Wendy Ong. “Working with Wiley and the For Dummies brand, we’ve been able to offer consumers something that will give them a great foundation of knowledge so that they can enjoy and appreciate any classical recording or concert experience.”

The five individual albums are each dedicated to a different composer – Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi and Chopin – and feature world-class recordings of the composers’ most famous works, along with biographical information and a track-by-track listening guide which tells the details of each work and offers pointers on what to listen for. The box set provides a more comprehensive overview of the basics of classical music, including 6 CDs worth of music tracing the historical development of different classical styles from the Middle Ages through Romanticism all the way up to Modernism and the present day. The accompanying 48-page booklet provides a complimentary historical summary along with information about the different musical forms and some common misconceptions about classical music.

"Wiley is thrilled to have EMI Classics once again partnering with ‘For Dummies’ to make enjoying classical music easier for everyone,” said Marc Mikulich, Vice President, Brand Management at Wiley. “The original EMI Classical Music For Dummies enhanced CD series released in 1996 was a great success, with Beethoven For Dummies reaching #2 on Billboard, the entire series winning a national homeschooling award. With that series long out of print, and a new generation of music listeners and Dummies fans to be served, the time is right for a new Classical Music For Dummies series."

About EMI Classics

EMI Classics is one of the world’s leading classical record labels, with over 100 years of experience and one of the largest and most beloved catalogs in history including artists such as Maria Callas and Itzhak Perlman.

About For Dummies®

After 20 years, more than 250 million copies printed, and millions of ebooks downloaded, For Dummies is the world’s bestselling reference series, well known for enriching people’s lives by making knowledge accessible in a fun and easy way. Loyal customers around the globe agree that For Dummies is “more than a publishing phenomenon … [it is] a sign of the times,” [The New York Times]. With more than 1,800 active topics covering everything from health to history, music to math, sports to self-help, technology to travel, For Dummies is dedicated to Making Everything Easier. The For Dummies brand presence continues to expand wherever there is a need to know, including, mobile apps, e-learning courses, a corporate custom publishing program, a robust consumer website and a licensed product line that includes consumer electronics, culinary, crafts, video, software, musical instrument packs, home improvement, automotive, game and more. For more information, visit Dummies.com. For Dummies is a branded imprint of Wiley.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Our core businesses publish scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional/trade books, subscription products, training materials, and online applications and Web sites; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

For an introductory video visit: www.smarturl.it/ClassicalForDummies

For more info visit: www.EMIClassicsUS.com

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