Lil Jon & The Orchard Announce Comprehensive Marketing, Digital Distribution and Brand Services Pact
August 05, 2008
NEW YORK & ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On the heels of its milestone TVT Records acquisition, The Orchard, a global leader in digital music and entertainment, today announced a comprehensive pact with Lil Jon.
Lil Jon, the "King of Crunk", is a multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning recording artist, producer, brand guru and record company mogul. He, along with his group The East Side Boyz, helped usher in the "dirty south's" crunk movement, selling in excess of 12 million records in the U.S. alone. As a superstar producer, Lil Jon has produced some of the biggest hits of the past decade, including Usher's "Yeah" and Ciara's "Goodies," along with his own smash songs "Get Low" and "Lovers & Friends". Lil Jon markets his own energy drink with Crunk!!! Energy Drink; his own wine, Little Jonathan Wineries; has a multi-pronged endorsement and brand agreement with Oakley that includes his own limited edition sunglasses, Lil Jon Zero; and has acted as a spokesperson and product endorser for Heineken and Subway Restaurants. Lil Jon's BME Recordings is the label home of Gold and Platinum recording artists E-40, Lil Scrappy, Trillville, Crime Mob and others.
As part of the deal, The Orchard will digitally reissue Lil Jon's back catalogue (which it now owns through the TVT acquisition), including Put Yo Hood Up, Kings of Crunk and 2004's smash Crunk Juice. Lil Jon will provide new content as a part of this campaign.
Lil Jon will also apply his proven creative talents in support of Orchard's Brand Entertainment group, working with brands and agencies to develop innovative new lifestyle-oriented marketing and promotion programs. In addition, Lil Jon and The Orchard have committed to collaborate on additional opportunities including select A&R and production support to Orchard artists and labels. Lil Jon and The Orchard are committed to collaborating on new business ventures wherever possible in the future, which may include The Orchard providing marketing and distribution support for new future Lil Jon recordings or compilations.
As a part of the accord, Lil Jon has withdrawn his multi-million-dollar objection to the TVT sale proceedings, and agreed to TVT's transfer of his artist recording agreement to The Orchard. The Orchard has in turn, released Jon from all future obligations under this previous TVT contract and agreed that Lil Jon owns all rights in the master recordings for his forthcoming and highly anticipated album "Crunk Rock". As a current and future business partner of Lil Jon's, The Orchard is ecstatic that Lil Jon will now become the hottest free agent in the music industry.
"I walked into The Orchard and came away with the sweet taste of freedom!" said Lil Jon. "Others talk, The Orchard does. I expect to do great things with them, and look forward to my future."
"Record companies today are taking more rights and a bigger piece of an artist's career without regard to the long term relationship with and financial health of their artists. The Orchard has spoken loud and clear about their commitment to doing right by artists and have set the foundation for a positive ongoing relationship with Lil Jon with this landmark release," said Doug Davis of The Davis Firm, PLLC, who negotiated the agreement on behalf of Lil Jon.
"Crunk ain't dead," said Greg Scholl, President & Chief Executive Officer of The Orchard.
About The Orchard®
The Orchard (NASDAQ: ORCD) controls and globally distributes more than 1.1 million songs and over 3,000 hours of video programming through hundreds of digital stores (e.g. iTunes, eMusic, Google, Netflix, V CAST) and mobile carriers (e.g. Verizon Wireless, Vodafone, Bell Canada, 3). With operation in 27 countries, The Orchard drives sales for its label, retailer, brand, and agency clients through innovative marketing and promotional campaigns; brand entertainment programs; and film, advertising, gaming and television licensing. A pioneer in digital music and media services, The Orchard fosters creativity and independence. For more information, please visit us at www.theorchard.com.
The Orchard is a registered trademark and The Orchard logo is a service mark of Orchard Enterprises NY, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Forward Looking Statements
This release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding The Orchard's expectations regarding future events and operating performance within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the ability of The Orchard to distribute certain products and artist recordings. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements as they speak only as of the date hereof, and The Orchard undertakes no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances except as may be required by law. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in The Orchard's most recent periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts
Media:
USA
Deana Graffeo, +1-646-237-3780
Mobile: +1-917-374-3857
dgraffeo@theorchard.com
or
Europe
Simon Lait, + 44 (0)1832 720 292
Mobile: + 44 (0)7785 596 593
simon@theorchard.com
or
For Lil Jon:
Tamar Juda, +1-646-753-0830
tamar.juda@gmail.com
or
The Davis Firm, PLLC
+1-212-414-4200
+1-212-414-8852 (fax)
ddavis@davisfirm.net
