February 21, 2006 - By Carly Mayberry, The Hollywood Reporter

Starbucks president Ken Lombard said the company’s content division will be relocating from its Seattle headquarters closer to the hub of Hollywood.

Last week’s disclosure came during a gathering of the non-profit Digital Coast Roundtable held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, where Lombard said its Starbucks Entertainment content unit will be relocating to Los Angeles.

The move demonstrates the company’s commitment to its entertainment strategy, Lombard said. “The opening of this office would bring a portion of the Starbucks Entertainment content team closer to the music labels and movie studios with whom they are in constant communication,” he said.

No specific location was disclosed.

The move follows Starbucks’ venture into music retailing with plans for the franchise to offer selected books in stores.

Last week in Miami, the company opened its third Starbucks Hear Music location, where coffee drinkers can have CDs custom-burned with their lattes.

Last month, Starbucks Entertainment and Lionsgate announced a marketing and distribution partnership for the film “Akeela and the Bee” (HR 1/13). The deal marked the company’s entrée into the movie business and broke new ground by giving a brand affiliate a part of a film’s profits in exchange for marketing the promotional activities.

Copyright 2006, The Hollywood Reporter. All rights reserved.