SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, together with Universal Republic Records today announced the first of many music artists confirmed for the companion album to THE HUNGER GAMES. Produced by twelve-time Grammy® and Academy Award®-winning producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett, this companion album will feature all newly written and recorded songs, based on themes embodied in THE HUNGER GAMES, from some of music's biggest and most acclaimed artists. The album will be released next year in advance of the film, which is in theaters everywhere March 23, 2012.
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Big Machine Records recording artist Taylor Swift, a four-time Grammy® Award Winner, including the 2009 Grammy® for Album of the Year, collaborated with the Civil Wars and Burnett to write and perform the lead single Safe and Sound, which was launched on iTunes on December 23rd. The song, released for fans to discover organically and promoted directly to Swift's fans through her Twitter account, shot to the top ten on iTunes overall songs chart, and pop chart within twelve hours of its debut, and was the #1 song on iTunes the same day of its release. #Safeandsound became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter soon after Swift first tweeted the news of the single's release. The single is available for purchase at: http://WWW.smarturl.it/HungerGames.
2011 Grammy® Album of the Year winners Win Butler and Regine Chassagne of Arcade Fire have written a song with Burnett entitled Horn Of Plenty, and critically acclaimed, Grammy® nominated band The Decemberists have contributed an original song,One Engine, both of which will appear on the album to be released in March.
The album will be recorded, mixed and mastered to The Code Standard developed by Burnett and his team, resulting in archival-quality, future-proof tracks that will enable the listener to experience recorded music in the best possible quality across the technological spectrum.
Said Lionsgate's co-COO and Motion Picture Group President Joe Drake, "We are thrilled to have such a hauntingly beautiful companion album taking shape- T Bone is working with these artists to create something truly incredible and unique that fits perfectly with the powerful themes of the books and the film."
Added Universal Republic President and CEO Monte Lipman, "THE HUNGER GAMES is a groundbreaking series that is nothing short of brilliant. Universal Republic is delighted to forge a creative alliance with Lionsgate to participate in this franchise's undeniable legacy."
All artist deals were negotiated for Lionsgate by Lenny Wohl, EVP Music Business Affairs, and by Universal Republic's SVP of Business Affairs Michael Seltzer.
About THE HUNGER GAMES
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. Part twisted entertainment, part government intimidation tactic; the Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which "Tributes" must fight with one another until one survivor remains.
Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she's ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
THE HUNGER GAMES is directed by Gary Ross, and produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Suzanne Collins' best-selling novel, the first in a trilogy published by Scholastic that has over 16 million copies in print in the United States alone, has developed a massive global following.
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES on March 23, 2012.
About Universal Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, Universal Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as 3 Doors Down, Amy Winehouse, Black Sabbath, Colbie Caillat, Eddie Vedder, Enrique Iglesias, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Owl City, The Rolling Stones, The Voice (NBC-TV), Gotye, Of Monsters & Men, Mayer Hawthorne, among many others.
It is comprised of innovative imprints and digital business ventures including Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), Indie Pop (Dev, The Cataracs), Lava Records (Jessie J, Black Veil Brides), SRC (Akon, Melanie Fiona), Aware Records (Mat Kearney), Brushfire (Jack Johnson, G. Love), Tuff Gong (Damian Marley, Stephen Marley), Downtown (Miike Snow), among others.
About Big Machine Records
The Nashville-based powerhouse Big Machine Label Group, led by President/CEO Scott Borchetta, includes Grammy® Award winner Taylor Swift and multiplatinum, award-winning superstars Rascal Flatts, Martina McBride and Reba; the Platinum selling and multi-award-winning trio The Band Perry as well as up-and-coming stars Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert and Eli Young Band.
About Lionsgate
Lionsgate is a leading global entertainment company with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, family entertainment, digital distribution and new channel platforms. The Company has built a strong television presence in production of prime time cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel assets. Lionsgate currently has 15 shows on more than 10 networks spanning its prime time production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as "Mad Men", "Weeds" and "Nurse Jackie" along withthe comedy "Blue Mountain State,"the upcoming drama "Boss" and the syndication successes "Tyler Perry's House Of Payne", its spinoff "Meet The Browns",the upcoming "For Better or Worse,""The Wendy Williams Show" and "Are We There Yet?".
Its feature film business has generated more than half a billion dollars at the North American box office in the past year, fueledbysuch successes asTHE LINCOLN LAWYER,TYLER PERRY'S MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILY,THE EXPENDABLES, which was #1 at the North American box office for two weeks, THE LAST EXORCISM, TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO?, KICK ASS and the critically-acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won two Academy Awards®. The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than8% market share and is an industry leader inbox office-to-DVDand box office-to-VODrevenue conversion rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 13,000 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 remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.
For further information, contact:
Lionsgate - Film Division
Kate Hubin Piliero
310-255-4064
khubin@lionsgate.com
Lionsgate - Corporate Inquiries
Peter D. Wilkes
310-255-3726
pwilkes@lionsgate.com
Universal Republic- Public Relations
Jay Wilson
212-373-0684
Jay.Wilson@umusic.com
Universal Republic- Public Relations
Kimberly Harris
212-373-0701
Kimberly.Harris@umusic.com
Big Machine Records
Jake Basden
615-324-7769
Jake.Basden@BigMachineMail.com
SOURCE Lionsgate
