Russell Ziecker Promoted to Senior VP, Television Music and A&R at Lionsgate
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<p>SANTA MONICA, Calif., and <location>VANCOUVER</location>, British Columbia, <chron>Sept. 30</chron> /CNW/ -- Russell Ziecker has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Television Music and Artists & Repertoire at Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, it was announced today by Lionsgate Music <person>President Jay Faires</person>.  In his new role, <person>Mr. Ziecker</person> will head up Lionsgate's television music and spearhead in-house television music supervision, including music for all the Company's television productions, among them Lionsgate's iconic television series Mad Men (AMC), which just won its second consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, the critically-acclaimed Weeds (Showtime), Crash (Starz!), the new series Nurse Jackie (Showtime) and the upcoming series Blue Mountain State (Spike.)</p>
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<p><person>Mr. Ziecker</person> has also been instrumental in developing a branded, live-touring business for Lionsgate with the launch of the Mad Men Live Revue.  The production showcased at the El Rey Theatre in <location>Los Angeles</location> last October and the MGM Grand in <location>Las Vegas</location> this past January.  The project is expected to expand with a wider rollout over the next year.</p>
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<p>"As Lionsgate continues to build its content leadership, we have a tremendous opportunity to align our films and television series with some of the best music in the business," said Faires.  "Russell has the experience and expertise to blend our diversified portfolio of television shows, which includes some of the most iconic programming in the industry, with fresh, original and memorable music that enhances our brands.  Finding the right music for our television and film properties is a critical component of our content creation initiatives.  The talent distinguishing our television shows should be matched by the talent driving our musical repertoire."</p>
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<p>Ziecker began his career in the music industry as a bass player in a number of bands, followed by a more-than-ten-year stint as a music publisher at both Chrysalis Music Group and Virgin Music Publishing.  His experience includes work with such acts as Nirvana, Jane's Addiction and Stone Temple Pilots.  After managing several major-label artists in the mid-1990s, Ziecker rediscovered the powerful combination of music and pictures; he released more than 75 different titles as President/COO of <location>Milan</location> Records/BMG, among them the soundtrack to the television series Frasier and the Man-Ray chill-out compilation.  Ziecker then managed US operations for SYN, the Tokyo-based music production company owned by Duran Duran's Simon LeBon.  SYN specialized in high-profile commercial and advertising music production, which prepared Ziecker for his next venture- starting his own music production company, FUZZ Music and Sound Design, which he ran for five years before joining Lionsgate.</p>
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    About Lionsgate
    
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<p>Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) is the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment, video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. 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 platform assets, including TV Guide Network in partnership with JPMorgan's One Equity Partners and <person>Allen Shapiro</person>, the Epix multiplatform channel expected to launch in <chron>October 2009</chron> with partners Viacom and MGM, the FEARnet branded horror channel with partners Comcast and Sony, and the KIX and Thrill branded action and horror channels in Asia.  Its feature film business achieved a number one box office opening weekend in <chron>September 2009</chron> with the eighth film in the <person>Tyler Perry</person> franchise, I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF, with the sixth film in the SAW franchise opening in <chron>October 2009</chron>.  The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and leads the industry in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion rate.  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 remains synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world.</p>
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    About Lionsgate Music
    
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<p>Lionsgate Music oversees music for Lionsgate's film and TV slate, builds the Company's music publishing assets and releases its soundtracks and scores.  The music team has received two Oscar nominations for Marco Beltrami's score for 3:10 TO YUMA and for Bird York's song "In The Deep" for Best Picture Academy Award Winner CRASH.  Current and upcoming projects include the soundtrack for PRECIOUS, to be released through Interscope Records and featuring a lead track from Mary J. Blige.  PRECIOUS is directed by <person>Lee Daniels</person> (MONSTER'S BALL) and presented by Oprah Winfrey and <person>Tyler Perry</person>.  The film has already attracted significant buzz, winning the Audience Award at this month's <location>Toronto</location> Film Festival in addition to winning the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.  Additional upcoming projects include the <person>Jim Sheridan</person> film BROTHERS, scheduled for release in December featuring music from U2, as well as music for such upcoming films as THE EXPENDABLES, starring <person>Sylvester Stallone</person>, <person>Jason Statham</person> and Jet Li, FIVE KILLERS, starring <person>Katherine Heigl</person> and <person>Ashton Kutcher</person>, KICK ASS, starring <person>Nicolas Cage</person>, and Academy Award winning director <person>Paul Haggis</person>' THE NEXT THREE DAYS, starring <person>Russell Crowe</person>.  The Lionsgate Music team is also working on the Starz! television series Crash, featuring music from Paul McCartney and The Doors, the third season of AMC's Emmy-winning series Mad Men, scored by the critically lauded composer <person>David Carbonara</person>, and its live musical revue, Mad Men Live Revue, which premiered last fall to rave reviews at Los <person>Angeles' El</person> Rey Theatre, with more productions upcoming.</p>
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    www.lionsgate.com




    

For further information: Jim Merlis or Bobbie Gale of BIG HASSLE MEDIA, [phone], for Lionsgate; or Corporate Inquiries, Peter D. Wilkes of Lionsgate, [phone], [email protected] Web Site: http://www.lionsgate.com