NEW YORK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- October 23, 2006 -- The Orchard, the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, today announced a distribution agreement through which The Orchard will digitally market and distribute soundtracks and scores from Lionsgate's impressive library of motion picture and television hits.
Among the titles to be represented by The Orchard are the soundtracks to the comedy feature film "Employee of the Month" and hit Showtime television series "Weeds," currently in its second season.
Now in theatrical release nationwide, "Employee of the Month" stars Dane Cook and Jessica Simpson and features a cover of Cheap Trick's classic "Surrender" by rock's newest supergroup, Camp Freddy, composed of Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver), Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction, The Panic Channel), Matt Sorum (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver), Donovan Leitch (son of legendary folk singer Donovan), Billy Morrison (The Cult, Circus Diablo), and Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction, Alanis Morissette). The "Employee of the Month" soundtrack also includes the hit "Cobrastyle" by Teddybears as well as tracks from Sugarcult, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, and the Sammies. Major artists on the "Weeds" soundtrack include Elvis Costello, Regina Spektor, Sufjan Stevens, Rogue Wave, and Zeroleen.
In addition to the above titles, the agreement includes digital distribution rights to other soundtracks and scores from Lionsgate's extensive library, which includes Oscar® winner "Monster's Ball," "Akeelah and the Bee," "Secretary," a host of acclaimed horror films, and many other film and TV hits. At the same time, The Orchard will deepen its existing relationship as a music publishing A&R source to Lionsgate, and as a provider of tracks for use in Lionsgate film and television productions.
"Lionsgate's soundtracks will sell well digitally, and The Orchard is the most capable and forward-looking marketing company in this space, making them the logical partner for us," said Jay Faires, president of music and publishing at Lionsgate. "The Orchard's team will incorporate creative digital marketing and promotion programs into our broader campaigns for Lionsgate soundtracks and scores -- which will help our projects as well as sales of our soundtracks. We're also excited about drawing even more from The Orchard's vast reservoir of songs as an A&R source for our growing publishing company and for placement in Lionsgate films and TV shows -- it's one of the world's most comprehensive and unique catalogues of music."
"Lionsgate has consistently produced some of the world's most compelling films and TV shows, and the company's music division is having similar success with soundtracks that stand out for their quality and originality," said Greg Scholl, chief executive of The Orchard. "We share Jay's passion for great music, his independent and entrepreneurial spirit, and his commitment to seeking creative marketing approaches in the digital sphere."
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning this year's Best Picture Academy Award® for "Crash," generating two consecutive years of $300 million-plus domestic theatrical box office, operating a $500 million-plus home entertainment business and producing a broad slate of prime time television series for fiscal 2007. It is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of more than 9,000 titles is a valuable source of stable, 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 world.
About The Orchard
The Orchard is the world's leading digital distributor and marketer of independent music, with a catalogue of more than one million tracks representing 73 countries, thousands of labels, and every music genre. This catalogue includes titles from multi-platinum acts such as Green Day, Coldplay, Ray Charles, and Barenaked Ladies, as well as from breaking bands like The Hold Steady, Bedouin Soundclash, and Immortal Technique. The Orchard supplies all the leading legal digital music stores and mobile operators throughout the world and markets its labels' catalogues for sync song placements in films, commercials, and television shows. The company is owned by Dimensional Associates, the private equity arm of JDS Capital Management, Inc. whose portfolio companies also include eMusic and Dimensional Music Publishing. The Orchard is headquartered in New York and London, with offices in 23 countries and six continents. For more information, please visit: www.theorchard.com.
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