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We have some more information on the forthcoming Narnia project…

EMI Music – the world’s largest independent music company – recently announced plans to partner with Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media to produce two soundtracks of music inspired by what is one of 2005’s most anticipated films, a live action adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ best-selling classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

EMI Music’s Nashville-based EMI CMG will release both “inspired by” soundtracks and has announced an all-star line up for the first in the series of releases: an Inspirational soundtrack CD, Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, featuring recordings from artists that combined have sold in excess of 23 million albums.

Five-time Grammy Award Winner Steven Curtis Chapman leads the pack with the project’s debut single and video, “Remembering You,” which will release to Christian radio formats nationwide on August 5th. Jars of Clay (“Waiting for the World to Fall”), Jeremy Camp (“Open Your Eyes”), TobyMac, Nichole Nordeman (“I Will Believe”), Rebecca St. James (“Lion”), Delirious (“Stronger”), Kutless, Bethany Dillon (“Hero”), Chris Tomlin (“You’re The One”) and David Crowder Band round-out the line up thus far. The Inspirational CD will release on September 27th.

A second soundtrack of songs inspired by the film will release October 25th and feature mainstream pop and rock artists.

Regarding his participation in the soundtrack, Steven Curtis Chapman commented, “So much has already been brilliantly communicated by C.S. Lewis with this story, so writing for it was kind of an overwhelming task,” said Steven Curtis Chapman. “This story leaves me with wanting to remember what it means to experience Spring or new life. “Remembering You” is a song from the perspective of a lot of the characters at the end of the story saying, ‘whenever I see the first signs of spring, I’ll be remembering you, Aslan, the story and what is to come.’”

“EMI CMG’s partnership with Disney and Walden Media holds an unprecedented visibility and marketing opportunity for the participating artists, allowing their music to reach a global audience,” stated EMI CMG’s President and CEO, Bill Hearn. “Disney and Walden Media have shown a tremendous amount of passion for the music and we are excited for them to incorporate this ever-expanding genre that perfectly compliments the theme of the film.”

Promotions for the Inspirational Inspired-by project began recently, when HarperCollins, publisher of the Chronicles of Narnia book series hosted a celebration in New York for the forthcoming movie release in conjunction with the American Booksellers Association.

Sparrow Records singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon premiered her song, “Hero,” from the project at that celebration. Promotions will also include soundtrack music being featured as part of the interactive marketing plans with www.narnia.com and its development of NarniaMusic.com, which will feature artist interviews, shots from the studio, song samples, promotions and more.

Read More about the artists involved!

EMI CMG will release two soundtracks of songs inspired by one of the year’s most anticipated films, a live action adaptation of the best-selling C.S. Lewis classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The projects are being produced through a partnership between EMI CMG’s parent company, EMI Music, and the film’s producers, Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media, according to a joint press release.

The film will be released worldwide on Dec. 9. The first project, a soundtrack of original songs inspired by the film featuring Christian artists is scheduled to be released on Sept. 27. The artists who will be participating on this album include:

· Steven Curtis Chapman
· tobyMac
· Nichole Nordeman
· Jars of Clay
· newsboys
· Jeremy Camp
· Rebecca St. James
· Chris Tomlin
· Delirious?
· Bethany Dillon
· David Crowder Band

This album will be followed by a soundtrack featuring mainstream pop and rock artists, which is scheduled to be released on Oct. 25. “EMI CMG’s partnership with Disney and Walden Media holds an unprecedented visibility and marketing opportunity for the participating artists,” said Bill Hearn, EMI CMG President and CEO. “Disney and Walden Media have been hands on partners in the creative process for this recording. Their passion for the music is contributing to an extensive marketing campaign for this soundtrack, integrating it seamlessly into the marketing effort surrounding the film’s release.” In addition, EMI CMG Distribution and Walt Disney Records (WDR) also announced a partnership that will give CBA retailers access to Walt Disney Records’ vast library of family-friendly audio products. “Walt Disney has created movie classics and beloved animated characters that have been loved from generation to generation, and with Baby Einstein, Playhouse Disney and the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia, Disney continues to be the most recognized and sought-after brand in family entertainment,” said Rich Peluso, president of EMI CMG Distribution.

“We are pleased that Disney has allowed us to partner with them in bringing selected content to the CBA market.” Added Robert Marick, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, Walt Disney Records, “We are pleased to have EMI CMG deliver our valuable brand to serve the Christian retail marketplace with our diverse line of music and products. EMI CMG holds an impressive track record in the marketing and distribution of children’s products to Christian retail and shares our goal of offering consumers quality choices in family friendly entertainment. Our new partnership will augment WDR’s existing distribution agreement with Universal Music & Video Distribution. We are excited for the immense opportunity that lies ahead and we welcome EMI CMG’s experienced sales, marketing and distribution team.”

Christian music’s reigning artist of the year, its hottest act and its most-often honored performer will join together with more than a dozen other Christian recording artists — plus the winners of two Christian music talent searches — at the 23rd annual Night of Joy, Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.

During two evenings of music and theme park fun, a total of 21 acts will present concerts at stages throughout the Magic Kingdom. Night of Joy begins at 7:30 p.m. (after regular park hours) and continues until 12:30 a.m.

MercyMe, the 2004 GMA Music Awards’ Dove-Award Artist of the Year, tops a talent-laden lineup that also features Mark Hall and Casting Crowns, who are individually and collectively nominated for more than a dozen Dove Awards, including “Artist of the Year,” in 2005. Completing the triumvirate is Steven Curtis Chapman, a five-time Grammy Award winner whose 47 Doves make him Christian music’s most decorated performer.

But the artists with award-winning resumes don’t stop there. The lineup also features tobyMac, Cece Winans, newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Nicole C. Mullen and Donnie McClurkin. Among them, they’ve earned 11 Grammy Awards and more than 60 Dove Awards.

Six other acts are among the nominees for Gospel Music Awards in 2005: Mark Schultz, Tree 63, Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, Kutless and Further Seems Forever. This year’s GMA Music Awards will be presented by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on April 13 in Nashville.

Rounding out the lineup of recording artists will be Superchic[k], stellar kart and Vicky Beeching.

Exciting News

Night of Joy 2005 will feature exciting new elements as part of the event:

As an exclusive for Night of Joy guests, some of the top Christian Music artists performing at the event will debut live performances of music inspired from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media’s upcoming blockbuster release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Walt Disney World and the GMA will collaborate on two events this year. Walt Disney World Entertainment will provide judges for the GMA’s 31st Annual “Music in the Rockies” event (July 31 – Aug. 6, 2005); and one of the over-all winners from the Rockies event’s annual Spotlight talent competition will come to perform at Night of Joy.

Night of Joy 2005 will also be a stage for the winner of another national Christian music talent search. Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off 2005 is a competition for youth church Gospel choirs — groups with members’ ages 10 to 20 — from selected cities. Groups will perform during the Sing Off 2005 tour during July, with the winners being announced in August. Teen Gospel sensation Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, national spokewoman for the Gospel Sing Off, will also perform with the winner at Night of Joy.

Something for everyone

As in previous years, the Night of Joy lineup for 2005 is musically diverse, with pop, rock, urban, Gospel and praise and worship. Ten acts will perform each evening.

Tickets go on sale March 25. Single-night tickets are $37.95 plus tax (in advance) and $42.95 plus tax (at the gate, if available). Two-night tickets are $61.95.

Walt Disney World Resort has presented Night of Joy annually since 1983. More than 100 Christian music artists have performed before a combined audience of more than 800,000 people in the Magic Kingdom.

For more information or to purchase tickets for Night of Joy at Walt Disney World, guests can call 407-W-DISNEY or go online to check out http://www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy .

Just the Facts

* What: Night of Joy at Walt Disney World

* Dates: Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept 10.

* Times: 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.

* Details: 21 Contemporary Christian music acts at the Magic Kingdom.

Sept. 9: Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Audio Adrenaline, Mark Schultz, Nicole C. Mullen, Big Daddy Weave, Matthew West, Vicky Beeching and a contest winner from the Gospel Music Association’s “Music in the Rockies” event.

Sept. 10: newsboys, tobyMac, Donnie McClurkin, Cece Winans, Kutless, Tree 63, Superchic[k], Further Seems Forever, stellar kart, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard and a contest winner from the Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off 2005.

* Ticket Prices: Single-night tickets are $37.95 plus tax (in advance) and $42.95 plus tax (at the gate, if available). Two-night tickets are $61.95.

* On Sale Date: Tickets go on sale March 25.

* For More Information: For more information or to purchase tickets for Night of Joy at Walt Disney World, guests can call 407-W-DISNEY or go online to check out http://www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy