Universal Music Group always stated, despite their early support for Sony’s SACD format, that they would never rule out releasing their artist’s music on the competing DVD-Audio format. Today UMG announced that they were going to release 20 titles on DVD-Audio to go along with the titles they have on SACD. The exact titles were not announced which brings up interesting questions. How will UMG decide which records will be on DVD-Audio versus SACD? So far the titles for SACD have had widespread appeal ranging from much of the Peter Gabriel catalog to Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto’s classic Brazilian Jazz standard. Will the UMG DVD-Audio discs be targeted to certain genres and or audiences is yet to be determined. Contacts inside UMG did not return calls at time of publishing this story.

Silverline Records announced the introduction of “From The Front Row…Live,” a collection of 40 DVD-Audio titles. The From The Front Row…Live collection features 40 artists’ DVD-Audio titles, mixed in 5.1 surround, taken from the height of their careers and recorded at various venues around the world. Silverline Records will release classic live performances from Jerry Lee Lewis, Iggy Pop, Commander Cody, Foghat, Mountain, The Romantics, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Pat Benatar, Elvin Bishop, Humble Pie, The Alarm, Big Country, Billy Squier, 10cc, King Fish, Rick Wakeman, Canned Heat, Kansas, Greg Lake, John Sebastian, David Crosby, and Stiff Little Fingers among others. Beginning on March 25, 2003, the From The Front Row…Live series will kick-off with releases by Bachman Turner Overdrive and Pat Benatar. On April 8th, the series will continue with separate releases by Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvin Bishop and Iggy Pop.

With their first full-fledged rock album titled The Complex due out April 22 on Lava Records, Blue Man Group have joined forces with production designer Marc Brickman (Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Genesis, Nine Inch Nails) to bring their first full-production U.S. concert tour to life. The trek, will combine elements of performance art, rave culture and rock when it launches May 18 in Washington D.C., and visits such cities as Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Tickets will go on sale around April 1, though the actual on-sale dates vary by market. Updated information can be found on blueman.com. Summer dates of the tour will be announced at a later time.

Warner Vision just announced the release of Emmylou Harris “Producer’s Cut” on DVD-A, scheduled to be in stores March 24, 2003. The album features 14 songs taken from seven of Harris’ first eight albums released on Reprise Records as well as a previously unreleased duet with Johnny Cash, “Old Rugged Cross” from the Roses In The Snow recording sessions. Producer’s Cut is only available on DVD-A, but can be played on most DVD players.

DTS Entertainment is releasing five new DVD-Audio titles during April 2003, representing a wide variety of music genres. These new titles include: Insane Clown Posse - The Wraith: Shangri-La Release Date 4/08/03 • Exclusive surround re-mixes in DVD-Audio 5.1 & DTS-ES (6.1) • Includes the Juggalo Homies music video synched to the surround re-mix • Includes on-screen lyrics pages, special video images, and select Juggalo Web links Queen – The Game Release Date 4/08/03 • Brand new surround re-mixes, including the classic track Another One Bites The Dust • Surround re-mixes produced by Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Justin Shirley-Smith • On-screen photo gallery and synchronized lyrics • Features Advanced Resolution DVD-A tracks, plus DTS 96/24 for DVD-Video players