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Warner/Chappell Music Signs 2008 Oscar Award-Winning Singing/Songwriting Duo Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
| Source: Warner Music Group
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - February 29, 2008) - Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the global music
publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE : WMG ), today announced a
worldwide publishing agreement with singing/songwriting duo Glen Hansard
and Marketa Irglova, winners of the "Best Original Song" Oscar for "Falling
Slowly" from the critically acclaimed independent Irish musical film,
"Once," at the 80th Academy Awards, held in Los Angeles on February 24.
Under the agreement, Warner/Chappell Music will administer Hansard's and
Irglova's catalog of work, including songs written by Hansard as a member
of the band The Frames, music from Hansard's and Irglova's debut album,
"The Swell Season" and songs from the "Once" soundtrack, as well as their
future compositions.
Their Oscar victory was the latest in a string of awards the pair have
captured in the wake of "Once." Most recently, the film "Once" won the
Independent Spirit Award for "Best Foreign Film" on Saturday, February 23
and in January, "Falling Slowly" was named "Best Song" at the Critics'
Choice Awards. In December the "Once" soundtrack was voted "Best Music From
A Film" by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. The album also
garnered two Grammy nominations this year. In 2007, the film won the "World
Cinema Audience Award" at the Sundance Film Festival.
In making the announcement, Glen Brunman, Executive Vice President and Head
of Creative (U.S.) for Warner/Chappell Music, said, "Glen's and Mar's songs
have touched so many who have seen the film 'Once.' Now that they have
joined the Warner/Chappell family, we are excited to help their songwriting
partnership flourish. Glen's work with The Frames will continue to rock and
we'll make sure that it reaches an even wider audience."
Hansard began busking on local Dublin streets at the age of 13 while,
Irglova, a Czech singer, songwriter, musician and actress, began playing
music at the age of seven. Hansard first came to widespread public
attention as guitar player Outspan Foster in the Alan Parker film, "The
Commitments." In 2006, Hansard and Irglova released "The Swell Season" to
critical acclaim. Both singer/songwriters appeared on the "I'm Not There"
soundtrack with their version of Bob Dylan's "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere,"
released on October 30, 2007.
Twenty-year-old Marketa Irglova began taking music lessons as a child on a
piano her parents bought for her. When she was nine, her father bought her
a guitar and she immediately began playing and learning songs by ear,
cultivating her songwriting skills and developing a talent for playing
multiple instruments.
About Warner/Chappell Music
Warner/Chappell Music is WMG's award-winning global music publishing
company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog included standards such as
"Happy Birthday To You," "Rhapsody in Blue," "Winter Wonderland," the songs
of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music of Dido,
Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Nickelback, Red
Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, T.I. and others. Warner/Chappell Music is a
leader in creating innovative strategies for marketing and promoting its
songwriters and their music. The company's extensive catalog makes it a
natural first stop for A&R executives and record producers, feature film
and television production companies, and others looking to record or
license some of the world's greatest music.