Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 on DVD/BD in March

Four years after Jennifer Lawrence first appeared on the big screen as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, Lionsgate’s critically acclaimed series, based on the YA book series hit, comes to a thrilling film conclusion in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, will arrive on DVD, Blu-ray Combo pack, on March 22, 2016, the company announced.

With $647 million worldwide box office and counting, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 is the blockbuster climax of the series that set the world on fire and enthralled millions of devoted fans across the globe. With a critically acclaimed cast including Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence (Best Actress, Silver Linings Playbook, 2012), Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth), Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables), Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson (Best Actor, The People vs. Larry Flynt, 1996), Emmy nominee Elizabeth Banks (TV’s “Modern Family”), Academy Award winner Julianne Moore (Best Actress, Still Alice, 2014), Academy Award winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (Best Actor, Capote, 2005), Golden Globe winner Jeffrey Wright (HBO’s “Angels in America”), with Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci (Best Supporting Actor, The Lovely Bones, 2009), and Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), The Hunger Games franchise is a worldwide phenomenon earning over $2.9 billion at the box office worldwide.

Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen, who began her journey fighting to survive the brutal Hunger Games, and rose to lead the rebellion against Panem’s tyrannical president (Donald Sutherland). Now, Katniss and a team of rebels from District 13 prepare for the final epic battle that will decide Panem’s future.

WNET Announces American Masters Pictures

Recently, at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, WNET, parent company of New York's public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, announced the launch of its first theatrical imprint, American Masters Pictures, for documentaries co-produced by the American Masters series, executive produced by Michael Kantor.

The first three films under the banner have their world premieres at Sundance: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You (Day One), Louis Black and Karen Bernstein's Richard Linklater – Dream is Destiny (January 26) and Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack's Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (January 26). The three documentaries will have their exclusive U.S. broadcast premieres on PBS as part of the American Masters series with Lear and Angelou slated for fall 2016 . Cinetic Media negotiated the deal on behalf of the Linklater filmmakers.  No word on DVD or Blu-ray releases.

"When Michael approached me with the idea for American Masters Pictures, I thought it was a natural progression for the series, which has always worked with independent filmmakers," said Stephen Segaller, vice president of programming at WNET. "Our commitment to the independent film community is real and we want it to continue to thrive."

Macbeth Arrives on DVD/BD on March 8

The critically acclaimed interpretation of one of literature's most famous and compelling characters Macbeth, directed by Justin Kurzel (The Snowtown Murders, The Turning, upcoming Assassin's Creed), and starring Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave, X-Men franchise) and Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose, The Dark Knight Rises, Contagion, Inception), arrives March 8 on Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Produced by Academy Award winners Iain Canning and Emile Sherman of The King’s Speech, and Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 79% critics rating, this film attracts genre enthusiasts and movie fans alike.

Macbeth (Fassbender), Duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife Lady Macbeth (Cotillard), Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

IGGY POP's "POST POP DEPRESSION" OUT MARCH 18 ON REKORDS REKORDS/LOMA VISTA

“A lot of geezers my age don’t work out of their comfort zone anymore because once you become legendary you don’t want people challenging you.”–Iggy Pop

The existence of the sublimely secretive desert opus conceived by Iggy Pop and Joshua Homme was confirmed this week to an unsuspecting studio and viewing audience of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

And now the world can know: March 18 will see the release of Post Pop Depression (via Rekords Rekords/Loma Vista/Caroline International), the 17th Iggy Pop album, and a worthy addition to the twenty two album legacy spawned with the immortal trilogy of The Stooges, Fun House and Raw Power, spanning massively influential solo outings including 1977’s opening 1-2 combo of The Idiot and Lust For Life, and 1990’s gold-certified Brick By Brick.

The first Iggy Pop album co-created with producer/guitarist/songwriter/multi- instrumentalist /bandleader Homme, Post Pop Depression began with a succinctly worded text from Iggy to Joshua, and was realized in seclusion with Homme’s enlisted aid of his Queens Of The Stone Age bandmate and Dead Weather-man Dean Fertita and Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.
Both became instantly integral in creating and shaping the Detroit meets Palm Desert by way of old Berlin vibe of Post Pop Depression: Interweaving with and augmenting even more superhuman than expected Iggy vocal performances and Homme’s tapestry of guitar, bass, piano and backing vox, Fertita’s talent for wringing the most out of only the most essential notes worked in seamless tandem with Helders’ pushing himself and his new bandmates to unforeseeable heights and depths.

"Good Dinosaur" Stampedes in on Blu-ray Combo Pack on February 23

From Pixar Animation,  the studio that recently brought you "Inside Out" comes the hilariously heartwarming tale of unlikely friendship. GOOD DINOSAUR, the perfect adventure for the whole family, stampedes to libraries on Blu-ray Combo Pack on February 23, 2016 via Disney Home Entertainment.

Extensive bonus features include the Academy Award Nominated Theatrical Short "Sanjay's Super Team," Making-of Featurettes, Deleted Scenes and More!

Pet Shop Boys Back in April with "Super"

Pet Shop Boys are back and will release their new album Super on x2 Records via Kobalt on

April 1, 2016. Produced and mixed by Stuart Price in Los Angeles, the album was written in London and Berlin. The record features twelve new Tennant/Lowe compositions including the lead single, “The Pop Kids,” evoking the London club scene of the early 90s.
Super will be available on CD and vinyl from B&T.

And, the band has confirmed a four night residency at London’s Royal Opera House on July 20-23. Entitled “Inner Sanctum,” the site-specific concert series will be staged by longtime PSB designer Es Devlin and choreographer Lynne Page. The band notes, “It was fantastic to be back in the studio with Stuart Price continuing from where we left off with Electric and we’re thrilled with the results. It’s also very exciting to take electronic music into the Royal Opera House—such a grand and beautiful venue. These will be four very special nights for us and our only UK concerts this year.”

Joe Bonamassa Reveals "Blues of Desperation" CD Plans

Grammy-nominated blues-rock guitar icon Joe Bonamassa announces his brand-new studio solo album. Blues of Desperation (J&R Adventures/Universal Music), which will be released March 25, 2016. Like his previous solo disc, 2014’s Top 10 Billboard hit Different Shades of Blue, this record features all-original material, and it sees the maverick superstar guitarist, singer and songwriter tossing away the rule book as he continues to reinvent and redefine the blues-rock genre like no other artist working today.

“I want people to hear my evolution as a blues-rock musician,” says Bonamassa, “somebody who isn’t resting on accomplishments and who is always pushing forward and thinking about how music can evolve and stay relevant.”

The writing sessions for Blues of Desperation took Bonamassa back to Nashville, where he’d composed Different Shades of Blue, to work with some of Music City’s top tunesmiths, people like James House, Tom Hambridge, Jeffrey Steele, Jerry Flowers and Gary Nicholson.

“These are some of the best guys in the business,” Bonamassa raves. “Lyrically, you’ll hear the proverbial trains, mountains, valleys and other blues references about heartbreak and loneliness but there are also some poignant moments about getting away from the stressful, crazy demands of life and losing yourself with your special someone. I think anybody will be able to relate.”

Music Box Films Sets a March 1 DVD Release Date for FLOWERS

FLOWERS is an intensely poetic meditation on love, pain and memory, all expressed through the

metaphor of cut flowers, a typically simple gesture here charged with emotion Directed and co-written by Spain’s Jose Mari Goenaga and Jon Garaño, its themes are reflected through the unexpected reverberations of a tragedy that impacts three women very differently, while examining the all-too-human feelings associated with romance, loss, remembrance and missed connections.

Ane (Nagore Aranburu) lives a quietly unfulfilled life, trapped in a seemingly loveless marriage, until she suddenly begins to receive bouquets of flowers anonymously, once a week. Meanwhile, Tere (Itziar Aizpuru) wants nothing more than a grandchild, but her only son Beñat (Josean Bengoetxea) and his wife Lourdes (Itziar Ituño) have other plans. A sudden, tragic event jolts all of their lives into a new reality, and flowers start to appear anonymously once again, but this time, instead of passion, they represent an emotional memory.

“We live surrounded by flowers. Flowers at weddings, and at funerals, flowers on the table, flowers on walls, in a garden, or by the road. It’s as if we’re constantly turning to their image to say what often can’t be expressed in words. Few images serve to convey such a large variety of things. Depending on the context in which they’re given, the meaning of these flowers can change dramatically. And depending upon who sees them, or who receives them, the meaning can also differ,” offer filmmakers Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga. “FLOWERS arose from this ambiguity and these possible meanings. We found it interesting to explore how something like a bunch of flowers, at first so stripped of meaning, can become the clearest of messages.”

Ra Ra Riot's "NEED YOUR LIGHT" CD Out February 19

Need Your Light (out via Barsuk Records), is the fourth full-length album from Brooklyn, NY’s Ra Ra Riot.  And the new album sees the band;  Wes Miles (vocals), Mathieu Santos (bass), Milo Bonacci Beta Love. (guitar), Rebecca Zeller (violin), and Kenny Bernard (drums), getting back to their house party roots without abandoning the more heady soundscapes they explored with 2013's

With a dedicated fan base, big supporters at radio and press, and an extensive touring history, the band will be supporting the February 19, 2016 release of Need Your Light throughout all of 2016.

Genre: ROCK/POP
UPC: 655173116029
Packaging: CD wallet
Redeye Music

Pure Flix Signs Long Term Distribution Agreement with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment

Faith-based film company Pure Flix Entertainment (Pure Flix) and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) announced today a long term, multi-year distribution services agreement. Under the arrangement, UPHE will exclusively handle sales and distribution services for the Blu-ray, DVD, Electronic Sell-through and Video-on-Demand platforms of Pure Flix new release films as well as for its diverse catalog of titles across the USA.    Pure Flix will oversee consumer marketing to support UPHE, and will continue to manage sales, marketing and distribution for the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA).

The pact will begin with the January 26, 2016 home entertainment release of Woodlawn, starring Sean Astin, Sherry Shepherd, Nic Bishop, C. Thomas Howell, Caleb Castille, and Academy Award winner Jon Voight, which is widely available today on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD and On Demand. Also on deck in 2016 is the highly anticipated God's Not Dead 2, starring Melissa Joan Hart, Jesse Metcalfe, David A.R. White, Hayley Orrantia, Ernie Hudson, Sadie Roberts, Robin Givens, Maria Canals-Barrera, and Fred Thompson, with special appearances by Pat Boone, Ray Wise, Governor Mike Huckabee, and Newsboys. Uni has not stated whether their 28 day holdback street date policy for public libraries will apply.

Boo! A Madea Halloween to be Distributed by Lionsgate

Tyler Perry Studios announced today that they have started production on a new Madea film, Boo! A Madea Halloween, which will be distributed by Lionsgate. The film releases October 21st, 2016 in theatres (DVD/BD release date tbd).  Tyler Perry will write, produce, direct, and star in the latest project with the popular character Madea. Ozzie Areu and Will Areu will also be producers on the film. The film's origins date back to when Perry and Chris Rock conspired to include a fictitious Madea Halloween movie in Rock's film Top Five. Lionsgate then approached Perry and suggested that they make the movie for real.

In Boo! A Madea Halloween, Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a hilarious, haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens.

"We are thrilled to reunite with the iconic Tyler Perry, one of the greatest creative forces in entertainment and a beloved and cherished member of our Lionsgate family," said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairs Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger. "'Boo! A Madea Halloween' brings together two great Lionsgate traditions -- Madea and a Halloween movie -- and we know that audiences will find the combination outrageous, hilarious and unbeatable."

Perry will play the roles of "Madea," in addition to the roles of "Joe" and "Brian." The film will also star Bella Thorne as "Rain," Cassi Davis as "Aunt Bam," Patrice Lovely as "Hattie," Andre Hall as "Quinton," Yousef Erakat as "Jonathan," Lexy Panterra as "Leah," Diamond White as "Tiffany," Liza Koshy as "Aday," Brock O'Hurn as "Horse," Jimmy Tatro as "Sean," JC Caylen as "Mikey," Kian Lawley as "Bean Boy," and Mike Tornabene as "Dino."

Production is under way in Atlanta.

TRUMBO Announced for DVD & BD

A blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter fights back after being jailed for his political beliefs in Trumbo, coming to Blu-ray & DVD for public libraries on March 15, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Inspired by the colorful life and legacy of Oscar-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo (Roman Holiday, Spartacus), Trumbo is an astonishing portrait of an often forgotten chapter of American history. A sharp and timely true Hollywood story, the riveting biographical drama is directed by Emmy Award winner Jay Roach (HBO's "Recount," "Game Change") and features Emmy and Tony-winning actor Bryan Cranston in a bravura performance that inspired Lou Lumenick of New York Post to declare, "Highly Entertaining. Bryan Cranston Towers." Trumbo on Blu-ray and DVD features a revealing look into Bryan Cranston's transformation to Dalton Trumbo and an insightful examination of the famed writer.

In 1947, Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) was Hollywood's top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. Trumbo (directed by Jay Roach) recounts how Dalton used words and wit to win two Academy Awards and expose the absurdity and injustice of the blacklist, which entangled everyone from gossip columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren) to John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Otto Preminger. The film also stars Diane Lane, John Goodman, Louis C.K., Elle Fanning, and Michael Stuhlbarg.

The Danish Girl Arrives in March on DVD, BD

With love comes the courage to be yourself in The Danish Girl, coming to Blu-ray and DVD for

libraries on March 29, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Inspired by the lives of Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener, the remarkable love story is "a cinematic landmark," according to Variety's Peter Debruge. The Danish Girl on Blu-ray and DVD comes with an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette about the making of the film. The Focus Features release is nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Actor (Eddie Redmayne), Best Supporting Actress (Alicia Vikander), Best Costume Design (Paco Delgado), and Best Production Design (Production Designer, Eve Stewart; Set Decorator, Michael Standish).

Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Academy Award nominee Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) star for Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech and Les Misérables). In the 1920s, a strong and loving marriage evolves as Gerda Wegener (Vikander) supports Lili Elbe (Redmayne) during her journey as a transgender woman. Through the other, each of them finds the courage to be who they are at heart. "Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander are sensational!" declares Access Hollywood's Scott Mantz, while Debruge of Variety raves, "Redmayne gives the greatest performance of his career."

Also starring Ben Whishaw (Skyfall), Sebastian Koch (Homeland), Amber Heard (Zombieland), and Matthias Schoenaerts (Far from the Madding Crowd), The Danish Girl is a moving and sensitive portrait that Lou Lumenick of The New York Post calls "a remarkable and timely story."

Panic! at the Disco's "Death of a Bachelor" Out Now

This week, Panic! At The Disco released their highly anticipated fifth studio album, Death Of A Bachelor (Fueled By Ramen/DCD2 Records), which shot up the charts as soon as it came out! The

album that has been heralded a most anticipated 2016 release by Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Forbes, FUSE and more. The album is now available worldwide – libraries, click here to purchase “Death Of A Bachelor” now via Baker & Taylor at Titlesource 360 .

The band will also bring their theatric spectacle across the United States this summer as they co-headline an expansive 40+city tour with Weezer. The Weezer & Panic! At The Disco Summer 2016 Tour will feature special guest Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness hitting major markets like Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and many more.

Death Of A Bachelor is the follow up album to Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! which made a top 2 debut on the SoundScan/Billboard 200 upon its 2013 release. The new album features current single “Victorious” which launched at No. 1 overall and on Billboard + Twitter’s Trending 140 charts just hours after its release while also accumulating over 24 million plays. Previously released track “Hallelujah” has since accumulated almost 50 million streams to date. Musically, the album is a powerhouse full of boisterous anthems with huge choruses, slick production, and compelling samples. In frontman Brendon Urie’s words, the album sounds like Frank Sinatra taught DJs to write rock ‘n roll.

PBS to Release "American Experience : Bonnie & Clyde" on DVD

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing “AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Bonnie and Clyde” on DVD. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow had been on a year-long crime spree, leaving a trail of dead bodies in their wake, yet were little more than a local curiosity until photos of the couple were discovered at a hastily abandoned hideout in 1933. The image of a beret-clad Bonnie, cigar in mouth, pistol in hand, striking a defiantly provocative pose, would soon achieve near mythic status. Overnight, the country became transfixed by the scandalous images and press accounts of their improbable escapes and illicit romance. Bonnie and Clyde would join the ranks of celebrity gangsters like John Dillinger, ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd, and ‘Baby Face’ Nelson, ‘public enemies’ who emerged during the Great Depression to capture the country’s imagination. But their newfound notoriety would force the outlaw lovers to take even greater risks as the hunt to capture them kicked into high gear.

“AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Bonnie and Clyde” will be available on DVD February 16, 2016. The DVD run time is 60 minutes and the SRP is $24.99.

Clyde Chestnut Barrow was born in the Texas cotton belt on March 24, 1909, one of seven children of itinerant farmers who soon settled on the outskirts of Dallas in a poor backwater slum known as “the devil’s back porch.” Clyde chafed at the prospect of a life of poverty and picked up the bad habits of his older brother, Buck, who had already settled into a life of petty crime. But the brothers quickly escalated from stealing chickens to armed robbery.

EAGLES Guitarist, Glenn Frey, Dead at 67

From the band's website this afternoon;

 

 

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016.

Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis, Acute Ulcerative Colitis and Pneumonia.

The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery.

Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide.

Cindy Frey | Taylor Frey | Deacon Frey | Otis Frey|
Don Henley | Joe Walsh | Timothy B. Schmit | Bernie Leadon | Irving Azoff

 

 



Fellow founding Eagles member Don Henley issued a statement following the sad news, in which he called Frey “the one who started it all.”   Henley praised his fellow musician’s work ethic, “encyclopedic” knowledge of music, and devotion to his family.

“He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry; and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. “But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven. He loved his wife and kids more than anything. “We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow.  We brought our two-year ‘History of the Eagles Tour’ to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone. I’m not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet. It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. “Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some.”

2016 New Year's Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic to Get CD, DVD & Blu-ray Release

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the CD and DVD/BD releases of the recording of one of the world's most famous classical music events: the 2016 New Year's Concert with the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Latvian conductor Mariss Jansons. The live recording will be available on January 22. The DVD and Blu-ray will be available on February 5 from Baker & Taylor AV.

Few other concerts can claim to generate such tremendous international interest as the New Year's Concert from Vienna. Under the direction of some of the leading conductors of our day the Vienna Philharmonic rings in the New Year with a gala concert that is broadcast from the magnificent setting of the Golden Hall in Vienna's Musikverein to over ninety countries around the world and watched by more than fifty million viewers. The 2016 New Year's Concert is conducted by the maestro Jansons, the third time that he has presided over this event. He made his acclaimed debut in 2006, before returning six years later for a concert that was described by the Viennese daily Der Kurier as "a red-letter day in the annals of music" and as "one of the finest concerts of recent decades," a concert worthy of being "ranked alongside the legendary New Year's Concerts under Karajan and Kleiber." Jansons made his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic in 1992, and since then he has been one of those select conductors with whom the orchestra feels a particularly close bond.

Classic Disney "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" Arrives on Blu-ray



Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be available for the first time ever on Blu-ray Combo Pack February 2, 2016.

This special release will feature in-depth Brand New bonus material including “In Walt’s Words: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Iconography,” “@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess,” “The Fairest Facts of Them All: 7 Facts You May Not Know About Snow White,” “Snow White in Seventy Seconds,” “Alternate Sequence: The Prince Meets Snow White", and much more!

Order now from Baker & Taylor and watch the new trailer below-

 

Concord Music Acquires HighTone and Bandit Records

Concord Bicycle Music is pleased to announce it has acquired the catalog of prized independent Americana, folk and blues label HighTone Records and, in a separate transaction, the recorded music assets of Bandit Records, the late George Jones’ label imprint.

The HighTone catalog, which was obtained from Shout! Factory, includes over 350 master recordings from renowned artists such as Buddy Miller, The Blasters, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Dick Dale, Robert Cray, Joe Lewis Walker, Gary Stewart, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rosie Flores, Tom Russell, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Dale Watson and many others.

Founded in Oakland, CA in 1983 by Bruce Bromberg and Larry Sloven, HighTone quickly became a home for the early 80’s burgeoning west coast underground roots music scene when its first release, bluesman Robert Cray’s Bad Influence, was a surprise hit and went on to sell over a million copies. Expanding rapidly, HighTone released a series of superb blues, folk, rock and country albums while carving out a niche in the roots music style that would become known as Americana. HighTone also houses imprints including Testament Records and Highwater Blues & Gospel that specializes in American roots music such as country, rockabilly, western swing, blues, and gospel.

She's Beautiful When She's Angry Makes DVD Debut

SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY is an insightful, rousing and often humorous account of the birth and rise of the women’s liberation movement in the late 1960s through to its contemporary manifestations in the new millennium. Following a nationwide theatrical release, the documentary makes its DVD debut on March 1, in celebration of Women’s History Month.

Directed by Mary Dore, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY combines rarely-seen archival footage, a classic soundtrack of the era and the first-person stories of the protests, poetry slams and community meetings that engineered the women’s liberation movement and the meaningful social change it sought. Embracing the grassroots movement that proclaimed “the personal is political” and the women who dared to get furious about it, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY is not only a tribute to past bravery and determination, but also a warning and urgent rallying cry to the next wave of those determined to ensure equal rights for all.

Capturing the exhilaration felt by a generation of women who challenged and shed age-old gender role limitations in a surge of rebellious energy, SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY features commentary from such women’s issues activists and writers as Chude Pamela Allen, Judith Arcana, NonaWillis Aronowitz and Fran Beal. Despite episodes of internal discord, including challenges to leadership and disparity of focus, the movement nevertheless became the voice for the many strands feminism, from the particular demands of women of color to the struggles over issues of class and lesbian rights.

PBS to Release "Independent Lens : The Black Panthers; Vanguard of the Revolution"

PBS Distribution will release “INDEPENDENT LENS: THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION” on DVD and Blu-ray. Change was coming to America and the fault lines could no longer be ignored; cities were burning, Vietnam was exploding, and disputes raged over equality and civil rights. A new revolutionary culture was emerging and it sought to drastically transform the system. The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense would, for a short time, put itself at the vanguard of that change. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson (Freedom Summer, Freedom Riders) thoroughly examines The Black Panther Party, as he sifts through the fragmented perceptions of the movement and the Party itself.

“THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION,” will be available on DVD and Blu-ray February 16, 2016. The DVD and Blu-ray run time is approximately 120 minutes. The DVD SRP is $24.99 and the Blu-ray SRP is $29.99.

“THE BLACK PANTHERS: VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION” is the first feature-length documentary to explore The Black Panther Party, its significance to the broader American cultural and political awakening for black people, and the painful lessons wrought when a movement derails. Master documentarian Nelson goes straight to the source, weaving a treasure trove of rare archival footage with the voices of the people who were there: police, FBI informants, journalists, white supporters and detractors, and Black Panthers who remained loyal to the party and those who left it. Featuring Kathleen Cleaver, Jamal Joseph, and dozens of others, this film is an essential history and a vibrant chronicle of this pivotal movement that gave rise to a new revolutionary culture in America.

Sony Classical Announces "Kung Fu Panda 3- Music from the Motion Picture" CD Release

Sony Classical has announced the release of the Kung Fu Panda 3 - Music From The Motion Picture on CD January 22, 2016. The album features the film's original score by Academy Award

winner Hans Zimmer (Interstellar, Man of Steel), who previously co-composed the score for Kung Fu Panda 1 and 2. DreamWorks Animation will release the film Kung Fu Panda 3 nationwide in theaters on January 29, 2016, DVD/BD release date is tbd.

"Working on these films has always been such a treat, and this latest installment is no exception. I'm thrilled to be back for Kung Fu Panda 3, and can't wait to share that excitement with audiences and families everywhere," said Zimmer. 

No stranger to composing for animated films, Hans Zimmer earned an Academy Award® for the 1995 film The Lion King. His animated film credits also include the previous Kung Fu Panda films (co-composed with John Powell), the Madagascar films, Rango, Megamind, and The Simpsons Movie. Some of Zimmer's most notable works include his scores for Rain Main, Driving Miss Daisy, Thelma & Louise, Crimson Tide, The Thin Red Line, Gladiator, Mission: Impossible II, Hannibal, Pearl Harbor, Tears of the Sun, Spanglish, The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon, and The Lion King, for which he won the Academy Award. Upcoming projects include Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Little Prince, and Inferno.

"Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin" Out February 26

Legacy Recordings is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin on Friday, February 26, 2016. Willie Nelson's new album of pop standards, penned Willie Nelson was honored in November 2015 with a two-day celebration in Washington, DC, culminating in a star-studded tribute concert (scheduled for broadcast on PBS on January 15, 2016).

by America's legendary songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin, follows the selection of Willie as the 2015 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. The first country artist ever to receive the distinguished Gershwin Prize,

President Jimmy Carter, who was unable to attend the concert, wrote in a letter read by host Don Johnson to the crowd that Nelson's music has "enriched the lives of people far and wide for decades" and that the songwriter is truly worthy of this "prestigious and well-deserved award."

"To get a Gershwin award for anything is great but to get one for songwriting is especially great because Ira and George Gershwin were just fantastic writers. They wrote some of the greatest songs ever," said Willie Nelson in response to receiving the Gershwin Prize. "The Gershwin songs have been here for many many years. When I was just a small guy, I remember hearing all these great Gershwin songs and they'll be around forever because great music like that just does not go away."

Willie Nelson's distinctive down home delivery and heartfelt vocal stylings mesh perfectly with the exquisite construction, unforgettable melodies and sublime romance of the Gershwin brothers' songs especially selected for Summertime.

Dave Stewart Announces "Sweet Dreams Are Made of This - A Life In Music" Memoir

If life is an adventure, DAVE STEWART has always pushed way beyond its limits.

In his new memoir; SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS: A Life in Music, out in hardcover and audio Tuesday, February 9 via New American Library (NAL), an imprint of Penguin Random House, the singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and co-founder (with Annie Lennox) of the groundbreaking pop-rock duo Eurythmics takes readers on a guided tour of his intense funhouse. Including a foreword by friend and collaborator Mick Jagger, the book–an atmospheric portrait of a golden age in music that lays bare all the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll–is packed with unforgettable never-before-told stories featuring the likes of Bob Dylan, Elton John, Stevie Nicks and Daryl Hall.

The memoir provides readers a behind-the-scenes look at the prolific musician, songwriter, and producer’s career that has spanned three decades and more than 100 million album sales. The audio version is narrated by Stewart with the Mick Jagger foreword read by Andy Garcia.

Featuring never-before-seen photos, SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS is the first and only memoir published by a member of Eurythmics. It possesses a songwriter’s rhythmic grace, a performer’s sense of adventure, and a producer’s astute sense of perspective.

"My All American" Arrives for Public Libraries in March

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment has announced the upcoming release of  My All American arriving on DVD, and Blu-ray combo pack for public libraries on March 22, 2016.

Directed by acclaimed screenwriter Angelo Pizzo (Hoosiers, Rudy), My All American is an inspiring tribute to a real-life triumph of the human spirit, packed with skin-of-the-teeth victories and losses, unforgettable characters and heartfelt traditional values. An uplifting and exhilarating tale of personal determination and team spirit, My All American on Blu-ray combo pack and DVD also comes with a pair of revealing behind-the-scenes peeks at a movie that will inspire and entertain the entire family.

An unlikely football hero faces unexpected challenges with grit and grace in My All American, the true story of Freddie Steinmark. Although deemed too small as an athlete, Freddie (Finn Wittrock – The Big Short, "American Horror Story") dreams of playing football and brings a fight to the game that is noticed by legendary coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart – The Dark Knight, Olympus Has Fallen), leading to a scholarship to play college football. With dedication and grueling practices, a victorious season is within reach, but Freddie then receives a shocking diagnosis and discovers what it truly means to have the heart of a champion.

Secret of Their Eyes Announced for a March 22 Release for Public Libraries

After more than a decade, the unsolved murder of a young woman comes to a shocking conclusion in Secret in Their Eyes, coming to DVD and Blu-ray combo pack for public libraries on March 22,

2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. From STX Entertainment (The Gift), Secret in Their Eyes is a powerful and unforgettable thriller based on the Academy Award-winning film El Secreto de sus ojos (Best Foreign Language Film, 2010) that will have audiences riveted until the last mind-bending twist. With a star-studded cast and an Oscar-nominated writer-director at the helm, Secret in Their Eyes on Blu-ray and DVD includes feature commentary by the filmmakers, a look behind the scenes at the making of the movie and an exclusive interview with actress Julia Roberts.

Academy Award-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Academy Award-winners Nicole Kidman (The Hours) and Julia Roberts (Erin Brockovich) star in this intense thriller that explores the murky boundaries between justice and revenge. A tight-knit team of investigators — Ray (Ejiofor), Jess (Roberts) and their supervisor Claire (Kidman) — is torn apart when Jess's teenage daughter is brutally and inexplicably murdered. After obsessively searching for the elusive killer every day for 13 years, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he's certain will resolve the case. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul.

Idris Elba Starrer, "Second Coming" Out February 9 from Film Movement

As busy, working parents, Jackie and Mark haven't been intimate in quite some time. However, Second Coming follows the close knit family over the course of a year as they navigate their way through family life and cope with an unexplainable pregnancy and is directed by celebrated British playwright, Debbie Tucker Green.

Jackie abruptly discovers that she is pregnant. She knows it's not her husband Mark's, but claims she hasn't been with anyone else either. The unnerving side effects of her pregnancy begin to affect her mental state, creating turmoil within the family that is only made worse by Mark's fury.

Second Coming stars one of the hottest actors in Hollywood today, Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation, Avengers, Luther, Pacific Rim, The Wire), and BAFTA-nominated actress Nadine Marshall (Random, Waterloo Road, Old Jack’s Boat) in a powerful drama about a family embroiled in crisis

"Idris Elba gives a powerful performance in an impressive homegrown slice-of-life drama that's tinged with unease...driven by confident, searching writing." - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Returns with "Super Daniel!" from PBS

PBS Distribution announced today it will release “DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD: SUPER DANIEL!” on DVD February 2, 2016. “SUPER DANIEL!” features nine stories from the hit PBS KIDS series DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, one of which is a bonus tale!

ZOOM! Grab your cape and watch Daniel pretend to be Super Daniel! In the story “Super Daniel,” Dad Tiger forgets to take his lunch to work. Helping to save the day, Daniel, along with Grandpère, heads to the clock factory to ensure dad gets his lunch. Along the way, Daniel has several super adventures with his friends Prince Wednesday and Miss Elaina. Also included on this new DVD is the bonus story “Goodnight Daniel.” In this tale, Daniel is pretending to be Super Daniel when Dad Tiger lets him know he needs to get ready for bed. Young fans can follow along as Daniel takes a bath, puts on his pajamas, brushes his teeth, and gets into bed – just in time for Mom Tiger to read him a bedtime story, “Superheroes Go to Bed Too.”

One of the key ingredients that makes this series a standout is its groundbreaking use of catchy musical strategies, grounded in Fred Rogers’ landmark social-emotional curriculum, that reinforce each theme and that preschoolers and parents both sing – and use – together in their daily lives. Some of the strategies kids will learn from the stories on this DVD include, “When a friend doesn’t want to play with you, you can find something else to do,” and “Try to solve the problem yourself and you’ll feel proud.” DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, which debuted in September 2012, airs daily on PBS KIDS.

NOW That's What I Call Rock! CD Announced

NOW That's What I Call Rock!, the latest installment in the massively popular NOW multi-artist Friday, January 22, 2016 from Universal Music Group and their joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment. .  The new NOW Rock collection gives music fans the opportunity to enjoy a carefully curated eclectic selection of chart-topping best-selling hits. The anthology brings together a variety of acts spanning the spectrum of contemporary rock music to create an all-encompassing listening experience. NOW Rock offers something for every rock music fan, from alternative to hard rock, providing a panoramic view of the current rock soundscape.

hits anthology series, will be released on

NOW Rock also includes a new installment of NOW's enormously-popular "What's Next" developing artist initiative, debuting up-and-coming new artists who represent the future of the rock genre. First launched as a bonus feature on NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 32, NOW's "What's Next" has introduced a number of major developing artists to the NOW audience with proven successes including Walk The Moon, Hot Chelle Rae, Hunter Hayes, Capitol Cities, A Great Big World, Shawn Mendes and others.

Former Smithsonian Folkways Chief , Richard James Burgess, to Lead A2IM Indie Music Org

 A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music, has named Richard James Burgess as its

new CEO. Burgess, who most recently headed up all business aspects of the non-profit Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, brings a unique set of qualifications for guiding A2IM's growing membership, as Independent labels step into prominent leadership roles within the music industry. Membership has grown by nearly 20% in the last two years, and now comprises 382 label and 171 associate members.

"Richard James Burgess is the best man to lead the next decade of growth for the Independent community. Burgess brings a unique perspective as the business head of Washington, DC--based Smithsonian Folkways, the venerable independent label that has roots dating back to the 1940s. Independent labels have a vital role commercially and culturally, and have introduced virtually every new music genre in the last century. Independent label musicians today range from the yet-to-be-discovered rural singer-songwriters or rock bands playing local clubs to the world's biggest stars like Adele and Taylor Swift." - Tom Silverman, TommY BoY

"This search called for a unique, diverse set of skills: experience generating business in the indie space, first-hand understanding of indie labels' needs, a strong command of current rights debates, and comfort with both digital partners and the artist community. Burgess's wide range of credentials made him stand out." - Martin Mills - Founder and Chairman, Beggars Group

"LEGEND" Out from Universal Home Entertainment on March 29

A pair of ruthless upstarts, Reggie and Ronnie Kray, both played by Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury

Road, The Revenant) have the time of their lives, ruling over London in the middle of the Swinging '60s in Legend, available on DVD and Blu-ray on March 29, 2016 for public libraries, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

In an amazing double-barreled performance, Hardy is mesmerizing as the gangster twins, dominating the East End of London for years, until a police investigation, Ronnie's self-destructive tendencies, and the disintegration of Reggie's marriage threaten to destroy the empire they built. An edgy and action-packed true story, Legend on Blu-ray and DVD also comes with filmmaker commentary and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this instant classic.

From Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential, Man on Fire) comes the true story of London's most notorious gangsters, twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy, Mad Max: Fury Road). As the brothers rise through the criminal underworld, Ronnie advances the family business with violence and intimidation while Reggie struggles to go legitimate for local girl Frances Shea (Emily Browning, Sucker Punch). In and out of prison, Ronnie's unpredictable tendencies and the slow disintegration of Reggie's marriage threaten to bring the brothers' empire tumbling to the ground.

Passion River Announces DIFRET DVD Library Release

 

Passion River films has announced the 2/2/16 library exclusive release of DIFRET.  From executive producer Angelina Jolie Pitt comes the award-winning drama DIFRET, based on the inspirational true story of a young Ethiopian girl and a tenacious lawyer embroiled in a life-or-death clash between cultural traditions and their country's advancement of equal rights.

 

When 14-year-old Hirut is abducted in her rural village’s tradition of kidnapping women for marriage, she fights back, accidentally killing her captor and intended husband. Local law demands a death sentence for Hirut, but Meaza, a tough and passionate lawyer from a women’s legal aide practice, steps in to fight forher. With both Hirut’s life and the future of the practice at stake, the two women must make their case for self-defense against one of Ethiopia’s oldest and most deeply-rooted traditions. DIFRET paints a portrait of a country in a time of great transformation and the brave individuals ready to help shape it.

JD Souther's "John David Souther" Re-issued by Omnivore

Before he was co-writing #1 Eagles hits like “Best Of My Love,” “New Kid In Town,” and

“Heartache Tonight” with Glenn Frey and Don Henley, JD Souther formed Longbranch / Pennywhistle with Frey when they were roommates. Their downstairs neighbor was a fellow by the name of Jackson Browne, who took Souther to audition for his boss, David Geffen, who had recently formed the Asylum Records label. After hearing two songs, Geffen told Souther to “go make a record.” And, that’s exactly what he did.

John David Souther arrived in 1971, and was immediately a critical success and established Souther as a, if not the songwriter to watch. (He would later be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame 42 years later…)

Co-produced by Souther and Fred Catero (who had recently finished Santana’s Abraxas), John David Souther featured 10 originals;  all stunning, and many of which would be covered by artists like Bonnie Raitt (“Run Like A Thief”) and his old friends the Eagles, who released “How Long” as the first single from their 2007 comeback and multi-platinum smash, Long Road Out Of Eden.

Tedeschi Trucks Band Out With "Let Me Get By" on 1/29

On January 29, 2016 the Tedeschi Trucks Band, led by the husband-and-wife team of singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi and guitar virtuoso Derek Trucks, will cap an extraordinary and transformative year with the release of Let Me Get By, their third full-length album and debut for Fantasy Records. Listen to the lead album track "Anyhow” below from B&T.

In addition, the special, 2-Disc deluxe version of Let Me Get By includes an 8-track bonus disc featuring live recordings from the legendary Beacon Theatre in New York City, alternate mixes, early song takes and additional studio material, along with an expanded booklet containing exclusive studio and live photos, all housed in a custom-designed vintage amp box (photo attached). The 10-track standard version and 18-track deluxe version are both available for pre-order

Recorded at Swamp Raga Studios, the band’s home studio in Jacksonville, Florida, Let Me Get By is an absorbing, self-assured, artistic leap forward. Playing with an economy of power and uncommon grace, the 12-piece outfit—one of the most deeply skilled and admired musical ensembles in the world—explores themes of independence, love and release.

Let Me Get By is an album of firsts; in addition to being the first TTB record Trucks produced on his own, and the first on which he and Tedeschi wrote all the songs within the TTB family, it’s Trucks’ first album since his 15-year run as a member of the Allman Brothers concluded when the group disbanded last year. In Trucks’ own words, "That’s what I hear in the music on this new album - this feeling that we’re now putting 100% of what we have into this band, not going back to anything else, everyone giving it their all.”