FROM:            MARCEE RONDAN/TODD BRODGINSKI

COLLECTIVE SOUL

NEW SINGLE “BETTER NOW” GAINS MOMENTUM ON

RADIO CHARTS–WHERE  IT’S A TOP TEN SMASH–AND VH1

            COLLECTIVE SOUL continue to build momentum with “Better Now,” the second single from their self-released album YOUTH, which has amassed sales of 200,000 copies.  The infectious song with the signature COLLECTIVE SOUL hooks received over 2500 spins at various radio formats last week and is currently in the Top Ten on both the R&R and Billboard Hot AC charts.  The track is also receiving significant airplay on AAA and Mainstream Rock stations, while the video for “Better Now” is also garnering airplay at VH1.

            COLLECTIVE SOUL–founders ED ROLAND (vocals/guitars/keyboards), DEAN ROLAND (guitars) and WILL TURPIN (bass/percussion) along with JOEL KOSCHE (guitars) and RYAN HOYLE (drums)–have sold over 10 million records and had seven major rock hits since they released their debut album in 1993.  But the success of this album has come on their own terms, as they have released it as a truly independent band on their own El Music Group.  The band paid for the recording and production of the album–and received several major label offers–but chose to do it on their own, forming their label with the help of managers Fred Croshal and Scott Welch.  “First and foremost, you have to get the perception out there to the public that when you say ‘independent,’ you’re not cheating them out of quality,” frontman ED ROLAND told Radio & Records before the album’s November ‘04 release.  “There’s merit in being the underdog too…we’re a hard working band and always have been.”

            Beyond the support from radio and from the fans (the band has essentially toured non-stop), response from the critics has been strong.  Jim Farber said in Entertainment Weekly (11/19/04) that the album “…shows they’ve retained their flair for shiny hooks and singable melodies” and calls COLLECTIVE SOUL “pop craftsmen with panache,” while Erik Himmelsbach wrote in the January/February ’05 Blender that “…these power-ballads and gritty rockers are as shiny and clean as when Collective Soul dominated the radio.”  And in a three-star review, Dan Aquilante of the New York Post called Youth “…a terrific disc that alternates between sunny Beatle-esque pop rockers with free-flow rhythms and flashes of excellent guitar power.”

            In-progress tour dates are listed below, with new dates being added regularly.  Check out www.collectivesoul.com for the latest.

Date:                          City:                                        Venue:

Tue      8/23                Dallas, TX                               West End

Thu      8/25                Oshkosh, WI                          Riverside Park

Sat      8/27                Toronto, ONT                        Mod Club

Sun     8/28                Pueblo, CO                          Colorado State Fair

Fri       9/2                   Whitecourt, AB                      Whitecourt Music Festival

Sat      9/3                   N. Tonawanda, NY                   Gateway Park

Sun     9/4                   Naperville, IL                         Naperville Last Fling

Fri       9/9                   Kahului, HI                              Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Sat      9/10                Kailua Kona, HI                     Kona Brewing Company

Sun     9/11                Honolulu, HI                            Pipeline Café & Sports Bar

Thu      9/22                New Albany, OH                 Abercrombie & Fitch

Sun     9/25                Springfield, MA                     Eastern States Expo

Sat      10/22              Las Vegas, NV                 Desert Breeze Skate Park

Sat      11/5                Atlanta, GA                            Roxy Theatre (Private)