Yo-Yo Ma Breaks New Ground With Debut Release of Songs of Joy & Peace

NEW HOLIDAY RECORDING LANDS HIGHEST BILLBOARD CHART POSITION AND HIGHEST
BILLBOARD CHART DEBUT NUMBER OF MA'S LONG CAREER WITH SONY BMG MASTERWORKS

NEW YORK, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- SONY BMG Masterworks is pleased to announce
that legendary artist Yo-Yo Ma's new holiday recording, Songs of Joy & Peace,
which was released on October 14, has garnered unprecedented Billboard chart
positions in the cellist's recording career with Masterworks. Alex Miller,
Senior Vice President/General Manager of SONY BMG Masterworks and Victor Label
Group had this to say: "It is with great pride that I announce two new
milestones in Yo-Yo Ma's 30-year recording career with our company: his
highest Billboard Chart debut ever and the highest Billboard chart position of
his career with Songs of Joy and Peace. Yo-Yo Ma's # 41 position on the
Billboard Top 200 Album charts is continued evidence of the power and passion
Yo-Yo brings to the world."

The strong numbers also helped propel Songs of Joy & Peace to the number 1
positions on Billboard's Top Classical Crossover Albums and Top Overall
Classical Albums charts.

Miller goes on to say: "Songs of Joy and Peace featuring Yo-Yo Ma and a
stellar cast of his friends is a musical party in celebration of the joys of
the holiday season. Yo-Yo's expressions of love and camaraderie are the right
emotions at this time of year and his fans, new and old, are responding in
record numbers. He has created a special kind of musical magic that
transcends classical, world, or other genres and is truly of this world as a
reflection of our best desires, hopes, and dreams. We are thrilled to be
associated with such a fantastic artist and his vision for joy and peace."

"It started with the idea of a party, a party built around the concept of joy
and the infinite varieties of joy to be found in the world," Ma recalls. "But
joy can't exist in our world without the comfort of peace. As we all draw
closer and closer together in this world, nothing is more important. So as
much as the music in this album is about joy, it is also about peace, about
the two operating in tandem. I am really excited to know that I have all
these fabulous colleagues who think the same way."

On Songs of Joy & Peace, some of the artists Ma collaborates with include
James Taylor (Here Comes the Sun), Alison Krauss (Wexford Carol), Renee
Fleming (Touch the Hand of Love), Diana Krall (You Couldn't be Cuter), Joshua
Redman (My One & Only Love), Sergio and Odair Assad (Vassourinhas),Dave
Brubeck (Concordi Laetitia),Chris Botti (My Favorite Things), and Dave and
Matt Brubeck (Joy to the World).

Songs of Joy& Peace has been chosen as a featured holiday selection at
Starbucks and will be sold beginning November 4th at select Starbucks
locations nationwide.

Also available is a special deluxe edition of Songs of Joy& Peace featuring an
expanded booklet and an exclusive DVD showcasing five music videos of Yo-Yo Ma
joining forces with guest artists James Taylor ("Here Comes the Sun"), Alison
Krauss ("The Wexford Carol"), Renee Fleming ("Touch the Hand of Love"), Diana
Krall ("You Couldn't Be Cuter") and Chris Botti ("My Favorite Things") In
addition, the Songs of Joy & Peace bonus DVD premieres a behind-the-scenes
60-minute video documenting the making of the album.

To celebrate the release of Songs of Joy & Peace, Ma teamed up with Indaba
Music, the leading social network and online collaboration tool for musicians.
Ma has recorded the melody Dona Nobis Pacem and is making it available for
other musicians to record to it - creating a virtual collaboration. The music
can be downloaded as part of a contest hosted on Indaba Music to create the
most original and interesting counter melody or most creative set of
variations. The Indaba Music community will vote for their favorites and Ma
will choose the winner who will have the opportunity to record with him.

For the latest information, visit http://www.yo-yoma.com/.

RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Masterworks Broadway
and Masterworks Jazz are labels of SONY BMG Masterworks. For email updates
and information regarding RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia
Mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz artists, promotions, tours
and repertoire, please visit www.sonybmgmasterworks.com.

SOURCE Sony BMG Masterworks

Kim Correro of Nancy Seltzer & Assoc., +1-212-307-0117, kcorrero@nsapr.com, or
Susan Schiffer of Sony BMG Masterworks, +1-212-833-4763, or
Susan.Schiffer@sonybmg.com; or Silke Zimmermann of Sony BMG Masterworks,
+49-89-41369646, Silke.Zimmermann@sonybmg.com