Starbucks’ success with CDs — at a time when veteran music retailers like Tower Records were filing for bankruptcy — did not escape the attention of the recording industry. With guaranteed in-store play and a built-in distribution network of thousands of outlets, recording companies began to compete fiercely to supply one of the handful of CDs sold at any given time in Starbucks stores. Heritage artists such as Carole King, James Taylor, Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell signed exclusive deals for the initial distribution of new recordings. And Starbucks helped introduce little known groups such as the rock band Antigone Rising and international artists such as Italian pop singer Zucchero. Concord Records President Glen Barros said he turned to Starbucks for the final say on whether to sign a new singer: “If they’ll be our partner, we’ll do it.” Added another record-label executive, Starbucks is the “new cute girl that everyone wants to take to the dance.