WEA Corp. announced Wednesday that it will become the exclusive U.S. distributor for Central Park Media's anime video and audio products, effective December 1st, and will service both retailers and distributors after that date. 

 

CPM Vice President of Sales Fred Barsuglia said of the deal, 'WEA is known to be the most flexible partner for independent labels like CPM.  We consider them to be the finest distribution organization in the world, bar none, and look forward to increasing our market share due to their ability to get products onto shelves.'

 

WEA Corp. President John Esposito sees this as a continuation of past anime distribution by the company.  'By joining forces with CPM,  we hope to continue our past success in Japanese anime, as the genre appeals to future generations of viewers.' 

 

We talked to CPM Managing Director John O'Donnell about the reasons for and timing of the switch -- see 'Interview with John O'Donnell.'

 

In the photo:

(Seated left to right) John O'Donnell, Managing Director, CPM; John Esposito, President, WEA Corp.; John Madison, Executive Vice President, WEA Corp.; (Standing left to right) Roger Gold, Vice President and Associate Counsel, WMG; Masumi Homma O'Donnell, Vice President, Business Affairs, CPM; Dutch Cramblitt, Vice President, Sales, WEA Corp.; Fred Barsuglia, Vice President of Sales, CPM; John Amatucci, Director of Sales, CPM