Fontana Goes Hollywood With WaterTower Music

LOS ANGELES, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Fontana, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with WaterTower Music, the award-winning in-house recording label of Warner Bros. Entertainment. The announcement was made today by Ron Spaulding, President of Fontana, and Jason Linn, President of WaterTower Music.

"We are delighted to partner with a true music man like Jason," stated Mr. Spaulding. "Since founding the company in 2000, Jason has created many of the most successful and award-winning soundtracks and scores in the business. His ability to offer a tremendous selection of artists and music and provide audiences a dynamic new way to connect with the movies they love is unmatched. Everyone at Fontana looks forward to playing a key role in the next chapter of this already storied company."

"WaterTower is poised for significant growth thanks to our exciting slate of upcoming releases and unique position within the business," commented Mr. Linn. "And I believe the potent combination of our projects with Fontana's marketing and digital innovation will continue to drive WaterTower forward."

Formerly known as New Line Records, WaterTower Music's most recent successes include a Grammy nomination for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," a Golden Globe nomination for best original score for "The Informant!" and a Broadcast Film Critics nomination for "Sherlock Holmes."  Additionally, WaterTower's soundtrack to "Valentine's Day," which opened at #1 at the box office with the biggest President's Day weekend opening in history, features the brand new song "Today Was a Fairytale" from multi-platinum sensation and multiple Grammy award winner Taylor Swift.

Under the New Line Records moniker, the label has released over 70 titles, including the film soundtracks to "Hairspray," "Sex and the City," "Elf," "The Notebook," "He's Just Not That Into You," "The Departed," "Wedding Crashers," "Sideways," "The Hangover," "Rock of Ages: Broadway Cast Recording" and "Invictus," among others.

WaterTower is actively developing music projects for popular Warner Bros. brands such as DC Comics, Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes, as well as for the television shows "Supernatural" and "The Mentalist." Its 2010 release schedule will also include "Sex and the City 2," "Inception," "Going the Distance," and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."  For more information on WaterTower, go to www.watertowermusic.com.

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 80 labels including Eagle Rock, Downtown, Vagrant Records, American Gramophone, Kedar Entertainment, Last Gang, Savoy Label Group, ESL, Music World, Delicious Vinyl, Ipecac, Six Degrees, SMC, Upstairs Records, VP Records, and many others. In addition, Fontana distributes select projects from UMG labels worldwide.

SOURCE Universal Music Group