Lionsgate Announces Signing of Platinum Act Hawthorne Heights to Joint
Venture Publishing Deal

    



    
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<p>SANTA MONICA, Calif. and NEW YORK, <chron>Dec. 3</chron> /CNW/ -- Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation studio, has acquired rights through its joint venture with Wind-up Records' music publishing affiliates to songs written by innovative independent recording stars Hawthorne Heights.  The announcement was made today by Lionsgate Music <person>President Jay Faires</person>. The deal was negotiated by Executive Vice President/General Manager <person>Lenny Wohl</person>.</p>
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<p>Hawthorne Heights, formed in <location>Dayton</location>, Ohio in 2001, building a strong following across the U.S. via repeated self-booked tours. The band was one of the first acts with the vision to embrace social networking as a tool in building an audience, and to this day continues to maintain an extraordinary level of accessibility to its fans via these platforms. Their debut album The Silence In Black And White was certified platinum for sales of 1,000,000 copies by the RIAA. The follow-up, If Only You Were Lonely, had an impressive debut at #3 on the Billboard 200 in 2006, going on to sell over a half-million copies and receiving gold certification. Hawthorne Heights recorded a third album for Victory Records in <chron>August 2008</chron> titled Fragile Future. The band's Wind-up Records debut, Skeletons, was produced by <person>Howard Benson</person> (My Chemical Romance, Daughtry) and will be released in spring 2010.</p>
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<p>"As we begin to build the music publishing  side of our business, it is exciting to work with songwriters who have built their story from the ground up and to plan the next  exciting stage of their career," said Faires.  "As an innovative and entrepreneurial company, we are always looking to align ourselves with equally entrepreneurial creative voices."</p>
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<p>Wind-up Records' <person>Ed Vetri</person> said, "We are very pleased to be working with Jay and Lionsgate Music Publishing on our publishing deal with Hawthorne Heights. The band has a strong following through their autonomous spirit and has built its success in true do-it-yourself fashion.  In addition to a strong tour following, they have embraced social networking technologies, which have generated a committed and passionate fan base. We look forward to building on this foundation by bringing their fans the best Hawthorne Heights album to date."</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.  Its most recent release, PRECIOUS, has already generated remarkable per screen averages at the box office in limited release and expanded to 629 screens on <chron>November 20</chron>.  The Company's home entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and is an industry leader 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, released through Matriarch/Geffen 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 generated rave critical reviews and remarkable per screen averages at the box office in its limited release rollout.  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, 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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    About Wind-up Entertainment
    
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<p>Wind-up Entertainment Inc. is a privately owned company that was founded in <chron>March 1997</chron>. Wind-up Records, a subsidiary of Wind-up Entertainment, is currently the largest independently owned and operated label in the <location>United States</location>. The label's roster features Evanescence, Seether, Finger Eleven, Hawthorne Heights, Cartel, the entire Creed repertoire, and more than a dozen developing artists which include Company of Thieves, Stars of Track and Field, Thriving Ivory, Civil Twilight, Pilot Speed and others. Wind-up Entertainment also houses the publishing concerns Sakyamuni Music Publishing, LLC, Bodhi Music Publishing, LLC and Renfield Music Publishing, Inc., as well as Pronto Merch, LLC, a full-scale retail, on-line and tour merchandising company. Wind-up Entertainment also operates Wind-up Artist Development Corporation and Wind-up Touring, LLC.</p>
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    www.lionsgate.com
    www.hawthorneheights.com
    www.myspace.com/hawthorneheights
    www.winduprecords.com


    
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<p>  For corporate inquiries, please contact Peter D. Wilkes Lionsgate 310-255-3726 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>  For more information contact: Catie Monck Wind-up 212-895-3140 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>  For more information about Lionsgate Music please contact: Jim Merlis or <person>Bobbie Gale</person> BIG HASSLE MEDIA 310.204.0200 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> / <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>
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For further information: Peter D. Wilkes, Lionsgate, [phone], [email protected]; Catie Monck, Wind-up, [phone], [email protected]; For more information about Lionsgate Music, Jim Merlis, [email protected], or Bobbie Gale, [email protected], both of BIG HASSLE MEDIA, [phone] Web Site: http://www.lionsgate.com