Deal Includes Grammy(R)-Winning Reggae Icon Lee 'Scratch' Perry
SANTA MONICA, Calif., and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LIONSGATE(R) (NYSE: LGF) continues to expand and
diversify its musical repertoire, adding Grammy(R) winner Lee "Scratch"
Perry to its roster in a distribution deal with independent record label
Narnack Records, it was announced today by Lionsgate Music President Jay
Faires.
The deal launches with Perry's upcoming album REPENTANCE, which is
co-produced by Andrew W.K. and features such guest artists as Moby, Don
Fleming, Chris Stein of Blondie, Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt and
several other notable acts.
"Signing a deal with Narnack is another strong step for the music team
as we replicate Lionsgate's core mission to fill underserved niches," said
Faires. "We're excited to be launching this deal with the upcoming record
by Lee 'Scratch' Perry, who exemplifies the quality and genre-bending
skills of our growing roster of musical talent."
Vice President of TV Music and A&R Russell Ziecker continued, "Our deal
with Narnack will expand our publishing outreach while providing us with
more firsthand resources for our film and television slots, utilizing
Narnack's diverse, multi-genre, and independent-spirited label roster."
Lee "Scratch" Perry is a Grammy(R) award-winning artist and producer
who was highly influential in the development and acceptance of reggae and
dub music. In his infamous studio, The Black Ark, Perry produced some of
the most significant artists in the history of reggae including the
legendary Bob Marley & the Wailers. Beyond reggae, Perry worked with iconic
rock group The Clash on their first LP in the US, producing the single
COMPLETE CONTROL and co-writing the hit POLICE AND THIEVES. He was also
featured on the #1 debut album HELLO NASTY by the Beastie Boys, who were
involved with the new documentary THE UPSETTER: THE LIFE & MUSIC OF LEE
"SCRATCH" PERRY. Rolling Stone has hailed Perry as "the first mad-scientist
producer" and Blender named the epic musician one of their Top 50 Rock
Geniuses of All Time.
Narnack Records is an independent record label that developed in N.Y.C.
and Brooklyn's underground music scene in 2001. Founded by Shahin Ewalt,
who has been in the record industry for 10 years with many established
labels, Narnack quickly became known for its A&R style of developing new
acts and fostering new projects with established legends. In March 2007,
the label moved operations to Los Angeles, which has enabled Narnack to
strengthen its foundation with a newly revitalized infrastructure and
visionary focus.
Narnack has a cutting-edge catalog of releases ranging from post punk,
experimental, garage, folk, indie rock, reggae and dance. The label touts
international super acts such as Mark E. Smith of "The Fall", Lee "Scratch"
Perry and Guitar Wolf along with local giants The Coachwhips (S.F.),
Restaurant (L.A.), Women & Children (L.A.), Langhorne Slim (NYC) and Parts
and Labor (NYC). Upcoming releases include Restaurant's RETURNS TO THE TOMB
OF GUILIANO MEDIDICI, dropping September 9th, Women and Children's REMOVED
and IRAN's SAME SONG OVER & OVER (featuring members of TV on the Radio),
which both drop October 21st.
Lionsgate's music team recently announced an unprecedented partnership
with Getty Images, providing award-winning scores for the launch of their
music-licensing venture. Continuing to expand their artist roster,
Lionsgate has signed eight-time ASCAP and seven-time BMI award-winning TV
composer David Vanacore and three time IBMA award winners The Infamous
Stringdusters. Other recent achievements include Marco Beltrami's Academy
Award(R) nominated score for the hit 3:10 TO YUMA, a prestigious line-up of
artists such as Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and the Andrews Sisters on the
Golden Globe(R)-winning television drama MAD MEN, innovative main title
covers from the likes of Linkin Park, Randy Newman and Elvis Costello on
the television comedy hit WEEDS and original end titles from Dr. Dre and
The Flaming Lips on the latest Lionsgate feature films. Lionsgate Music is
an innovative, entrepreneurial and diversified company, complementing
Lionsgate's filmed entertainment content leadership with a growing role in
all facets of music IP.
Lionsgate is the leading, next generation filmed entertainment studio
with a major presence in the production and distribution of motion
pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment,
video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company is leveraging
its content leadership and marketing expertise through a series of
partnerships that include the operation of the highly successful
FEARnet-branded VOD and Internet horror channel with Sony and Comcast, the
recent announcement of the fall 2009 launch of a new premium entertainment
channel with partners Viacom, Paramount Pictures and MGM, investment in the
leading young men's digital distribution platform Break.com, ownership of
the premier independent television syndication company Debmar-Mercury LLC
and an alliance with independent filmed entertainment production and
distribution company Roadside Attractions. Lionsgate also has forged
partnerships with leading content creators, owners and distributors in key
territories around the world, including Televisa in the U.S. and Latin
America, StudioCanal in the UK, Hoyts and Sony in Australia and Eros
International in India.
The Company generated approximately $450 million at the North American
theatrical box office in the past year and has released a string of hits
including The Forbidden Kingdom, Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns, The Bank
Job, Rambo, The Eye, Saw IV, Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?, Good
Luck Chuck, 3:10 To Yuma and War, most of which have opened at #1 or #2 at
the box office. The Company has also forged leadership positions in
television and home entertainment with the production of such
critically-acclaimed television series as Weeds and Mad Men, the
distribution of Tyler Perry's House of Payne, Family Feud, South Park,
Trivial Pursuit and The Dead Zone, among others, and approximately 7%
market share and the industry's leading box office-to-DVD conversion rate
in home entertainment. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library
of approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is an
important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the
growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous
with entrepreneurial innovation and original, daring, quality entertainment
in markets around the globe.
http://www.lionsgate.com
http://www.narnackrecords.com
Check out the new Lionsgate Music podcasts:
http://music.lionsgate.com/podcast
For further information, contact:
Sheila Vand 310-601-2626
For licensing inquires:
David Falzone 310-300-2045 dfalzone@lionsgate.com
For inquiries regarding Narnack, contact:
Ashley Salcido 323.469.2900 Ashley@narnackrecords.com
For Lionsgate corporate inquiries, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes 310-255-3726 pwilkes@lionsgate.com
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