A limited edition that will be sold in the educational, gift and record trade markets, the anthology is a deluxe box set manufactured by Shorewood Packaging, a business of International Paper. Combining traditional gravure printing with modern techniques such as offset lithography, stamping and embossing as well as fabric imported from Europe, the anthology package was designed to reflect the historical events and cultural dynamics of the African experience in America.

Because of the piece's historical significance, it is housed in a customized collector's box that includes a tri-fold multi-disc package, a case-bound book with historical references of the time period reflected in the CDs and a bonus DVD chronicling the development of the anthology. Designed to ensure quality and longevity, the anthology uses several International Paper fine papers including Strathmore Renewal(R), Influence(R) dull text and Via(R) text.

"Using a variety of old-style and contemporary paper and packaging techniques, our design staff helped create a package that we hope captures the culture and history of African American music," said John Dillon, chairman and chief executive officer of International Paper. "We are proud to be a part of this musical experience."

"We are thrilled to have International Paper be the official packaging sponsor for this historically important, socially relevant and musically rich masterpiece," said Alex Miller, executive producer of the anthology and senior vice president BMG catalog.

The music collection is comprised of 80 songs on five compact discs, which divides the various African American musical influences into 10 "chapters" of a narrative, taking the listener from the chants of the Ashanti, Yoruban and other African people through to the rich choral traditions of spirituals of the 20th century. The voices and music of more than 50 artists, including Harry Belafonte, are captured in the collection. The blues of Brownie McGhee and the voices of Joe Williams, Bessie Jones and the Georgia Sea Island singers, Gloria Lynne and many others are heard in the songs, ballads, deep blues, hymns, children's songs and minstrel tunes of this collection.

International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. As one of the largest private forest landowners in the world, the company manages its forests under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFIsm) program, a system that ensures the perpetual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in nearly 50 countries and exports its products to more than 130 nations.

Buddha Records, a division of BMG Special Products, was created in September of 1998 to mine BMG Entertainment's vast back catalog utilizing BMG Distribution to reach the marketplace. Reissues include classic albums from artists such as Captain Beefheart, Lou Reed, Woody Guthrie, Waylon Jennings, Harry Nilsson with John Lennon, Willie Nelson and The Guess Who along with previously unreleased music from Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. In addition, Buddha has entered into strategic partnerships with Entertainment Weekly for a series of greatest hits CDs and VH1 for a new hits package from Gladys Knight and the Pips.

BMG Entertainment is the global music division of Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's leading media companies, with annual revenues of $17.6 billion. BMG owns more than 200 record labels in 54 countries including Arista Records, RCA Records and Ariola.

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