Lionsgate Signs Distribution Deal With Narnack Records

Lionsgate Signs Distribution Deal With Narnack Records

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  

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

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Sheila Vand, +1-310-601-2626, for Lionsgate; or Ashley Salcido,
+1-323-469-2900, Ashley@narnackrecords.com, for Narnack; or for licensing
inquires, David Falzone, +1-310-300-2045, dfalzone@lionsgate.com, or for
Lionsgate corporate inquiries, Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726,
pwilkes@lionsgate.com, both of Lionsgate

Web site: http://www.lionsgate.com/
http://www.narnackrecords.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment