Lionsgate Music Signs the Infamous Stringdusters, Renowned Bluegrass Prodigies, to Exclusive Long-Term Publishing Deal

Lionsgate Music Signs the Infamous Stringdusters, Renowned Bluegrass Prodigies, to Exclusive Long-Term Publishing Deal

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Lionsgate's music business continued to expand its diverse and growing artist roster with the signing of the bluegrass group The Infamous Stringdusters to a three-year worldwide publishing administration agreement, it was announced today by Lionsgate Music President Jay Faires. Lionsgate Music is an affiliate of Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) , the leading independent filmed entertainment studio.

Lionsgate will administer The Infamous Stringdusters' debut album, Fork In The Road, which earned the band three International Bluegrass Music Association (R) awards, in addition to their upcoming self-titled album set to release on June 10th. The band is currently signed to Sugar Hill Records, the label that broke Nickel Creek and Ricky Skaggs and worked with Dolly Parton.

"I was in Nashville for the Americana Music Conference last year and a friend dragged me to the Station Inn to see The Infamous Stringdusters," Faires said. "Everything about them reminded me of why I got into this business: phenomenal songs, great musicianship, and crowd reactions. It gave me goose bumps."

Taking home the "Song of the Year," "Album of the Year," and "Emerging Artist" awards at the 2007 International Bluegrass Music Association awards, The Infamous Stringdusters made a powerful mark with their debut album. The first single from their initial release has been on the bluegrass music charts for well over a year. Members of The Infamous Stringdusters have collaborated with Grammy winners Earl Scruggs and Dolly Parton, Grammy-nominated Bering Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Vanessa Carlton and many other notable acts. Their non-conventional approach and prominent musicianship has not only distinguished them from the traditional bluegrass community, but has led to an extensive touring schedule of over 150 shows per year including an upcoming month-long tour in Europe this May.

Lionsgate's music team has recently generated Marco Beltrami's Academy Award (R) nominated score for the hit 3:10 TO YUMA, provided songs from a diverse roster of artists including Bob Dylan, Miles Davis and the Andrews Sisters for the Golden Globe (R) winning television drama MAD MEN, innovative main title covers from Linkin Park, Randy Newman and Elvis Costello for the television comedy hit WEEDS, the Flaming Lips' new end title for the hit comedy GOOD LUCK, CHUCK, and Dr. Dre's end title for the action film WAR. Since receiving an Academy Award (R) nomination for Bird York's "In The Deep," penned for Lionsgate's Best Picture Academy Award (R) winning CRASH, the company has doubled the asset value of its music publishing operations. 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 independent filmed entertainment studio and is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, home entertainment, family entertainment, television programming and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of nearly 12,000 motion picture titles and television episodes is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

   www.lionsgate.com   http://lionsgate.com/?section=film   www.thestringdusters.com   www.sugarhillrecords.com    For further information, contact:   Sheila Vand   310-601-2626    For licensing inquiries:   David Falzone   310-300-2045   dfalzone@lionsgate.com    For Lionsgate corporate inquiries, please contact:   Peter D. Wilkes   310-255-3726  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: keasterling@lionsgate.com

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Sheila Vand, +1-310-601-2626, or Licensing, David Falzone,
+1-310-300-2045, dfalzone@lionsgate.com, or Corporate, Peter D. Wilkes,
+1-310-255-3726, all for Lionsgate

Web site: http://www.lionsgate.com/
http://lionsgate.com/?section=film
http://www.thestringdusters.com/
http://www.sugarhillrecords.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment