Business

ARMANI EXCHANGE AMPING UP ITS RECORD LABEL

Just as Starbucks is scaling back its music-selling ambitions, fashion label Armani Exchange is ramping its up, The Post has learned.

Focusing on the house music genre, Armani Exchange plans to begin signing acts – primarily DJs – to its nascent branded record label and hopes to ink up to four deals by next spring.

Armani Exchange previously used its label simply as a vehicle to release compilation CDs spotlighting dance-electronic music. The fashion house has also sponsored tours, most recently for DJ Tiesto, and has had DJs spin records at its stores.

Patrick Doddy, vice president of brand image for Armani Exchange, is hoping its in-store performances will be a breeding ground for signing acts to the label.

“Having DJs in our stores often translates into talent discovery at the local level,” Doddy said. “We want to find local DJs and develop them into high-profile artists.”

As it did with DJ Tiesto, Armani Exchange and its future acts will also collaborate on apparel and other merchandise that will be sold exclusively in its stores.

Armani Exchange isn’t the first company – and likely won’t be the last – to use music to extend its brand.

Starbucks last year launched Hear Music and promptly stole Paul McCartney away from EMI to release his latest record. But the coffee chain yesterday confirmed plans to curtail its in-store music operation fearing that it was becoming a distraction.

In April, The Post exclusively reported that energy drink Red Bull, hoping to fill a void with the young male demographic, was planning to launch a branded record label and hoped to sign up to four indie rock bands by year’s end.