NEW YORK, NY, Feb 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.