New York, NY; Columbia Records; May 18, 2009 – In a significant
multiplatform deal, Columbia Records will be the official music partner
of Twentieth Century Fox Television’s eagerly anticipated new comedy
musical series “Glee.” As part of the deal, Columbia will release music
from the show – as both single tracks and soundtracks – on iTunes and
other digital platforms as well as in retail outlets.
From Ryan Murphy, creator of “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee” features an amazingly
talented and diverse cast from the worlds of stage and screen and a
soundtrack of hit music from past to present. Each episode of the series
features an eclectic selection of hits from genres spanning pop, R&B,
hip-hop, country, Broadway and rock and roll, reinterpreted through the
lens of Murphy’s modern sensibility and razor-sharp wit. The Los Angeles
Times calls it “a lighthearted satire with a deep emotional center that
is often reflected in its wide-ranging songbook,” and Entertainment
Weekly raves that “it’s witty and high-spirited – a canny mix of
‘American Idol’ with scripted punchlines and excellent acting.”
Commented Ryan Murphy, “‘Glee’ is about a passion for music and how it
can inspire people to great heights. Anything goes in the musical world
of McKinley High – all kinds of people and all kinds of music come
together to change people’s lives. There are no borders, no boundaries,
no formats – just great songs and the joy that performing and
experiencing them can produce.”
“‘Glee’ is a smart and challenging yet totally mainstream platform for
the most innovative use of classic and contemporary pop seen on
television,” said Rob Stringer, Chairman, Columbia/Epic Label Group. “We
are thrilled we have the opportunity to be partners on the show’s
musical journey!” Added Steve Barnett, Chairman of Columbia Records,
“‘Glee’ will be a key focus for the Columbia A&R, Marketing and Sales
teams. We have a unique opportunity to build a great musical franchise
with ‘Glee.’”
“Finding the right music partner for this series was key, and our head
of music, Geoff Bywater, did a fantastic job of bringing Columbia
Records to the table,” remarked Twentieth Century Fox Television
Chairmen Dana Walden and Gary Newman. “Rob’s energy and passion for what
we believe will be an exciting and long-lasting music brand was
incredibly impressive. Columbia is a worldwide music powerhouse, and we
couldn’t ask for better collaborators on the musical extensions of this
series.”
In a broadcast first, a special preview of “Glee” will air Tuesday, May
19 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) following “American Idol” on FOX. Cast
performances of “Rehab” and “Don’t Stop Believin’” will be available for
purchase on iTunes starting May 19 and throughout the summer leading up
to the show’s premiere. Additional bonus preview tracks of future songs
from the series are scheduled for a late summer release. The first
soundtrack album will be released this fall (TBA).
“Glee” follows an optimistic high school teacher, WILL SCHUESTER
(Matthew Morrison), as he tries to refuel his own passion while
reinventing the high school’s glee club and challenge a group of
outcasts to realize their star potential. It’s not an easy task when the
pitch-imperfect club includes MERCEDES (Amber Riley), a forceful
diva-in-training; ARTIE (Kevin McHale), a geeky guitarist; KURT (Chris
Colfer), a dramatic soprano; TINA (Jenna Ushkowitz), a punk rocker; and
self-proclaimed “star” RACHEL (Lea Michele), a perfectionist
firecracker.
McKinley’s cruel high school caste system prevents the glee club from
flourishing, so Will recruits FINN (Cory Monteith), the quarterback with
movie star looks, to join the group even though he wants to protect his
reputation with his holier-than-thou girlfriend, QUINN (Dianna Agron),
and his arrogant teammate, PUCK (Mark Salling). With harsh criticism
from everyone including Will’s tough-as-nails wife TERRI (Jessalyn
Gilsig) and McKinley’s egotistical cheerleading coach SUE SYLVESTER
(Jane Lynch), he is determined to prove them all wrong and lead the glee
club to the greatest competition of them all: Nationals.
About Columbia Records: One of the most respected and successful record
labels in the world, Columbia Records is home to established superstars
and exciting new talent. Columbia Records is a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Sony Music Entertainment.
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a
roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local
artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog
that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony
Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of
America.
Twentieth Century Fox Television, a division of News Corp., is a leading
supplier of entertainment content domestically and around the world.
Contacts:
Benny Tarantini / Columbia Records
212.833.5858 –
Benny.Tarantini@SonyMusic.com
Chris Alexander / Twentieth Century Fox Television
310.369.2733 –
Chris.Alexander@Fox.com