INDIANA FROM ACCLAIMED NEW ARTIST JON MCLAUGHLIN BREAKS OUT AS THE #6 BILLBOARD DIGITAL ALBUM

Island Records today announced that INDIANA, the debut release from singer/songwriter Jon McLaughlin, was the #6 Billboard Digital Album, as well as the #1 Pop Album and the #7 Album overall last week on the iTunes Store (www.itunes.com). INDIANA, the debut album from singer/songwriter Jon McLaughlin is the first Pop Contemporary release to sell over 60% of cds digitally.

 Film and television have taken note of this dynamic young talent. His second major motion picture soundtrack placement is already under his belt this season – Jon’s first single “Beautiful Disaster” is on the opening credits of GEORGIA RULE, opening May 11th, starring Lindsay Lohan and Jane Fonda. Also, the track “Human” was just featured last night on NBC’s popular comedy SCRUBS.  DirecTV will also air a Jon McLaughlin concert special from South by Southwest on May 15^th.

Jon just wrapped a full-scale cross-country tour with Nashville-based singer-songwriter Matt Wertz.  He will head out with Johnny Lang, beginning May 30th in Jacksonville, FL. (Please see complete tour itinerary below.)

INDIANA’s title tune pays tribute to Jon’s hometown of Anderson, Indiana.  He has collaborated on the album with noted songwriters the Matrix, Jamie Houston, Grammy-nominated Marcus Hummon, Matthew Gerard, and Kevin Griffin (of Better Than Ezra).  The album was produced by Jamie Houston (Santana, Jessica Simpson, Macy Gray, The Calling) and Greg Wells (Natasha Bedingfield, Veronicas, Rufus Wainwright); and was mixed by Chris Lord Alge.

A pianist and songwriter since childhood, influenced by Ben Folds and Billy Joel, Jon’s passion was sidelined when both wrists were shattered in an accident.  He finally rediscovered his muse at the end of high school, and concentrated on honing his skills at Anderson University School of Music.  His self-titled 10-song debut album was released in 2004, on the university’s record label, Orangehaus – and Jon has been touring throughout the country ever since.  In 2005, he released an 8-song EP titled Songs I Wrote and Later Recorded which also sold well, holding the #1 spot on awarestore.com.

Hoosiers and others who have been paying over 2,500 visits per day to Jon’s myspace website (www.myspace.com/jonmclaughlin) can currently access four of his tunes: “Industry,” “Human,” “Indiana,” and “For You From Me.”  Jon has over 1,140,000 plays on his myspace site and can also be reached via www.jonmcl.com. 

TOUR SCHEDULE

Headline w/Band:

Date                City                                         Venue

Apr. 30            Indianapolis, IN                        Butler University                 

May 3              Seattle, WA                             Tractor Tavern                    

        4              Portland, OR                            Mississippi Studios            

        6              Santa Rosa, CA                       Last Day Saloon                  

        8              Los Angeles, CA                      Viper Room                          

Headline + Lang dates:

May 30            Jacksonville, Florida                 FL Theatre    w/Johnny Lang
Jun-01              Tampa, Florida                         Jannus Landing    w/Johnny Lang
       02             Myrtle Beach, SC                     HOB  w/Johnny Lang
       04             Savannah, GA                          Lucas Theatre w/Johnny Lang
       05             Melbourne, FL                         King Center  w/Johnny Lang
       07             Bossier City, LA                       Horseshoe Casino w/Johnny Lang
       08             Dallas, Texas                            House of Blues w/Johnny Lang

                   09             Oklahoma City, OK                 TBD
                   11             Des Moines, IA                        Peoples w/Johnny Lang

       12             Minneapolis, MN                     TBD   
       14             St. Louis, MO                          Pageant w/Johnny Lang
       15             Kansas City, MO                     Harrah's Voodoo Lounge w/Johnny Lang        

       16             Council Bluffs, IA                     Stir Cove w/Johnny Lang

Jun-18              Denver, CO                             TBD

       19             Salt Lake City, UT                   TBD

21             Sacramento, CA                       TBD
       22             Saratoga, CA                           Mountain Winery   w/Johnny Lang
       23             San Diego, California                Humphreys w/Johnny Lang

                   25             Los Angeles                             PROMO ONLY

                   26             Phoenix, AZ                             TBD

                   27             Las Vegas, NV                        TBD
                   29             Kelseyville, CA                        Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa w/Johnny Lang
                   30             San Francisco, CA                   Fillmorew/Johnny Lang

Contact: Karen Wiessen, 212.603.3950
email: karen.wiessen@umusic.com