Fontana to Soar With Eagle Rock

Fontana to Soar With Eagle Rock

Indie Distributor to Handle Music DVD and Audio Titles; Vivendi Visual Entertainment to Distribute Non-Music DVD Range

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Fontana, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Eagle Rock Entertainment, it was announced today by Jim Urie, President of Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD), Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Fontana, Terry Shand, Executive Chairman and CEO, Eagle Rock Entertainment, Geoff Kempin, Chief Operating Officer, Eagle Rock Entertainment and Mike Carden, President of North American Operations, Eagle Rock Entertainment.

As part of the deal, Fontana will distribute a wide range of music DVD and audio products from Eagle Rock, while its sister company, Vivendi Visual Entertainment (VVE), the award-winning home entertainment division of UMGD, will distribute the extensive line of non-music DVD titles from Eagle Media.

"Eagle Rock has quickly emerged as the home to not only many of the world's most beloved artists, but to an incredibly innovative and dynamic executive team," stated Mr. Urie. "This deal demonstrates the breadth of services that UMGD can provide its partners like Eagle Rock, who have chosen to take the next great step in their storied history with us."

Ron Spaulding added, "We are delighted to be partnering with Terry, Geoff and Mike. Eagle Rock represents one of the premiere distribution opportunities in independent music and this deal will extend Fontana's reach even further."

Terry Shand said, "Geoff and I believe Fontana and VVE will significantly extend the outlet reach of our buoyant music DVD catalogue and provide the right fit for our growing non-music range."

Mike Carden, President of Operations, North America, added, "Considering the diversity of products we market (music DVD concerts and documentaries, Eagle and Armoury Records as well as factual and comedy visual labels) we feel we will benefit from an extended reach to those accounts to which we currently don't sell."

ABOUT FONTANA

Fontana Distribution, the independent arm of UMGD, provides unparalleled sales and marketing support, as well as back office services, for a diverse roster of labels and their artists. Fontana distributes more than 60 labels including American Gramophone, Angeles Records, Big Vin, Delicious Vinyl, Ipecac, Mad Science Recordings, Nitro, Quango, Rendezvous, Six Degrees, SMC, Telarc, Trustkill, Upstairs Records, Vagrant Records, VP Records, Warcon, and many others. In addition, Fontana distributes select projects from UMG labels worldwide.

ABOUT EAGLE ROCK

UK based Eagle was formed in 1997 and is now the biggest independent rights owner in music DVD worldwide, specializing in Hi-Definition concerts and performance based documentaries. Every genre of music is catered for within such well established brands such as "Live at Montreux", mining a quality Jazz and Rock archive of mostly Hi-Definition shot concerts and "Classic Albums", now over 30 in number detailing the story behind the recording of the greatest albums in rock history.

Eagle Vision continues to sell one of the all-time top selling music films "Up in Smoke" and has other strong Hip-Hop titles in Eminem at Madison Square Garden and the Jay-Z "Reasonable Doubt" story.

Eagle Records continues to market a solid stable of artists ranging from John Mayall, Gary Moore and Mink DeVille through to 'live' soundtracks from Asia, Toto, Cat Stevens, Yes and Deep Purple.

Armoury Records is a new addition to our stable. Artists include Cradle of Filth, Twisted Sister and Napalm Death with more to come.

Eagle Media is the umbrella label for such comedy hit series as "The Man Show" and 'factual' films such as "The Unofficial History of Harley Davidson Motorcycles" and "American Civil War - A Union Divided," made by its production company, Eagle Media Productions.

Contact:
Maria Ho-Burge
Universal Music Group
212-331-2569
Maria.Ho-Burge@umusic.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Universal Music Group

CONTACT: Maria Ho-Burge of Universal Music Group, +1-212-331-2569,
Maria.Ho-Burge@umusic.com

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