Music to Your Ears

When fans of Jessica Simpson, the wildly popular vocalist and star of MTV's Newlyweds reality show, shop for her first Christmas CD during October at the usual retail outlets -- music, book stores or discount department stores, they won't find it. Instead, they can pick it up along with a cup of coffee, Slurpee or fresh sandwich at their local 7- Eleven store. 7-Eleven, Inc. has teamed up with Sony to offer Jessica Simpson: A Special Limited Edition Christmas Collection exclusively during October and November at participating 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and Canada, and will be carried through December or while supplies last.

Retailing for $7.99, the CD includes a first-ever duet with sister Ashlee Simpson, a chart-topping musician and TV actor in her own right, and an exclusive acoustic version of Jessica's globally popular hit, "Angels."

"This is a musical first for 7-Eleven, and complements our strategy to offer customers new, unique or exclusive items," said Kevin Elliott, vice president of merchandising for 7-Eleven, Inc. "Jessica has become a pop phenomenon, a widely-recognized star and we are very excited to showcase exclusively in our stores her first-ever holiday CD."

Not only can Jessica fans purchase her holiday CD exclusively at 7-Eleven, but during November and December they can register at participating 7-Eleven stores to win an all-expenses-paid trip to an invitation-only private concert with Jessica to be scheduled in early 2005. The trip for two includes airfare, hotel lodging, tickets and backstage passes. Entry forms will be available Nov. 1.

"With 5,800 stores across North America and a daily destination for many of their consumers, 7-Eleven is a great retail partner for this limited edition CD by Jessica Simpson," said David Santaniello, senior vice president of strategic marketing and partnership for Columbia Records. "We look forward to collaboration on future projects as well."

Nominated for Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Album for In This Skin by the American Music Awards, Jessica will perform on the Nov. 14 awards show, to be broadcast live from Los Angeles on ABC. It was also recently announced that Jessica landed the role of Daisy Duke in the upcoming Dukes of Hazzard movie. Jessica and husband, Nick Lachey, have recently finished taping a new ABC television special, featuring her family, slated to air during the upcoming holiday season. Details TBA.

About 7-Eleven, Inc.

7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience retailing industry. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, 7-Eleven, Inc. operates or franchises approximately 5,800 7-Eleven® stores in the United States and Canada and licenses approximately 20,000 7-Eleven stores in 17 other countries and U.S. territories throughout the world. During 2003, 7-Eleven stores worldwide generated total sales of more than $36 billion. Find out more online at http://www.7-eleven.com/ .

SOURCE: 7-Eleven, Inc.

CONTACT: Kevin Gardner, of 7-Eleven, Inc., +1-214-828-7345, kgardn02@7-
11.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.7-eleven.com/