ON YOUR FEET! OCR Annnouced

MASTERWORKS BROADWAY proudly announces the release of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of ON YOUR FEET!. Recorded live from Broadway's Marquis Theatre, the album is produced by seven-time Grammy Award-winning global superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19-time Grammy -winning producer, musician, and entrepreneur Emilio Estefan. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of ON YOUR FEET! will be released April 29, 2016.

Of the cast album, Emilio Estefan says, "Recording this live, we captured the emotion that transcends from the stage every night on Broadway. Listening to the cast album will take you right inside the theatre and makes you feel like you are in the audience with all the great energy."

ON YOUR FEET! is a new Broadway musical that follows the Estefans' journey to superstardom, set to their chart-topping, smash hits, including "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," "Conga," "1-2-3," "Get On Your Feet," "Mi Tierra," "Don't Want To Lose You Now," and "Reach," in addition to an original song, "If I Never Got To Tell You," written by Gloria and her daughter Emily Estefan.

RACE Announced for June 28 Library Release

Follow Jesse Owens on his journey to the remarkable 1936 Berlin Olympics in RACE, arriving on 

Blu-ray and DVD on June 28, 2016 for Public Libraries, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The riveting biographical sports drama about athlete Jesse Owens, who won a record-breaking four Olympic gold medals, is an uplifting depiction of the track and field sensation's struggles and triumphs.

RACE on Blu-ray and DVD features a revealing behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and insightful commentary from Owen's three daughters who collaborated with filmmakers to accurately portray their father's remarkable journey.

The incredible true story of Olympic legend Jesse Owens is vividly brought to life in RACE. In his epic quest to be the greatest athlete in history, Owens (Stephan James, Selma) chooses to compete in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where he must overcome not only elite competition, but also the brutal racial climate of Adolf Hitler's Germany. Also starring Jason Sudekis (We're the Millers) and Academy Award® winners Jeremy Irons and William Hurt, RACE is a film about courage, determination, tolerance, friendship and trust.

Tegan and Sara Announce "Love You to Death"

Tegan and Sara have announced their forthcoming album Love You to Death recently. Recorded in Los Angeles, Love You to Death is the band's 8th studio album and once again finds the group working with producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Beck, Ellie Goulding). It is slated for release on June 3rd while the first taste of music from the album is due April 8th, from Warner Bros Records

Love You to Death is the follow up to Tegan and Sara's pop breakthrough album Heartthrob, which featured the singles "Closer", which was certified gold in the US, and "I Was a Fool". In addition to this, the band were featured on the LEGO Movie single "Everything is Awesome" with The Lonely Island, and were invited to perform that song as part of the 2015 Oscar telecast.

Born in Calgary, Alberta and now residing in Vancouver, BC, Tegan and Sara have sold over 1 million albums and collected 7 Gold certifications, 1 Double Platinum certification, 3 Juno Awards, 2 Polaris Prize nominations, and a Grammy nomination.

Daniel Tiger' Next Adventures Announced for DVD

PBS Distribution announced it is releasing “DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD: DANIEL GOES CAMPING” on DVD April 5, 2016, and Bake & Taylor AV will have it for your library.   “DANIEL GOES CAMPING” features three stories from the hit PBS KIDS series DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD, one of which is an extended adventure!

Grab your pajamas, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight – it’s time for some fun-filled nighttime adventures. In the three stories featured on this DVD, join Daniel as he goes camping with O the Owl and Dad Tiger, has a royal sleepover at Prince Wednesday’s castle, and goes on a nighttime walk through his neighborhood! In the stories “Backyard Camping” and “Daniel’s Sleepover,” Daniel and his friends learn that when something is scary it’s best to “see what it is, you might feel better.” Using this strategy, Daniel learns that items that look scary at first can turn out to be fun.

In the third story on this DVD, “Nighttime in the Neighborhood,” which is an extended adventure, Daniel is going to a pajama party at the library. While the family walks to the library, Daniel learns what’s special about nighttime. From pretending to play with the stars, to encountering fireflies, a nightingale, and crickets, Daniel and his family have a grr-ific time as they make their way to the library for games and a story.

NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol 58 Announced

The world’s best-selling, multi-artist album series, NOW That’s What I Call Music! has gathered

today’s biggest hits for NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 58, to be released April 29, 2016 by the Universal Music Group.

NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 58 features 16 major current hits from today’s hottest artists, including The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Zayn, Selena Gomez, Kelly Clarkson, Ellie Goulding, The Chainsmokers w/Rozes, G-Eazy x Bebe Rexha, Bryson Tiller, DJ Snake w/Bipolar Sunshine, Alessia Cara, Robin Schulz w/Francesco Yates, Troye Sivan, James Bay, and Rachel Platten, plus six free up-and-coming “NOW What’s Next” New Music Preview tracks.

Each numeric NOW release features "NOW What's Next" bonus tracks, previewing tomorrow's biggest hits. NOW 58 showcases hot new tracks from Andrew Grant, Bibi Bourelly, That Poppy, Phoebe Ryan, Jodie Abacus, and Chris Lane.

As previously announced, NOW That’s What I Call Music! will also release NOW That's What I Call Broadway! on April 29. NOW’s first collection celebrating Broadway’s best features 18 top original cast recordings from many of the Great White Way’s most legendary shows.

The Okee Dokee Brothers Gear Up for May CD Release and Tour

The Grammy-winning The Okee Dokee Brothers; "a sort of two-man Nitty Gritty Dirt Band for the kindiesphere" (Paste), continue to entice families and children to get outside and get moving with their latest album, 'Saddle Up,' out May 13. Inspired by their own 30-day horseback trek along the Continental Divide, the duo produces fun, engaging and interactive family-friendly shows across the U.S., adding summer dates with stops in hometowns both past (Denver) and present (Minneapolis), New York City, D.C., the Midwest and the East Coast.

Mixed with songs from the Grammy-winning 'Can You Canoe?' and the Grammy-nominated 'Through The Woods,' families can expect hours of entertainment featuring lyrics that are "playful, engaging and subtly filled with life lessons" (Chicago Tribune).

"Fastball" Flies into Theatres This Weekend, DVD/BD Soon

FASTBALL , the movie opens theatrically in 28 cities today.   DVD and Blu Ray release date is announcing soon from Kino, so check out the trailer now (below from B&T).

 

As explained in the fascinating new documentary FASTBALL, that seemingly arbitrary distance is actually a nearly perfect balance point between the two players on either side of the ball. From that distance, a pitch thrown as fast as a human being can possibly throw – somewhere just above 100 mph if you are an elite pitcher – is delivered at a speed that is right at the threshold for how quickly the most talented of hitters can see, process, and react to the pitch. At that highest level of execution, batters and umpires alike swear the ball “rises” as it reaches home plate – something that physics tells us is impossible.

That’s just one of the mysteries, myths, and memories investigated and revealed in FASTBALL, based on the original idea by the film’s Producer, Thomas Tull, who also produced the feature film “42” and who is a Board Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The film features interviews with dozens of former players, from legendary Hall of Famers to up-and-coming All-Stars. FASTBALL documents the history of the “fastest” pitcher – from Walter Johnson’s famous speed of 122 feet per second, to Bob Feller’s post-war record of 98.6 mph, to Nolan Ryan’s “officially” clocked best of 100.9, to the current speed gun king Aroldis Chapman’s 105.1.

Fifty Shades of Black Revealed for April 19 on DVD/BD

Marlon Wayans takes on the hilarious titular role of Mr. Christian Black in the side-splitting Fifty

Shades of Black, coming to DVD and  Blu-ray combo pack on April 19, 2016 for libraries, Day and Date with the retail release ! A bold and raunchy comedy, Fifty Shades of Black on Blu-ray, DVD is loaded with outrageous UNRATED deleted scenes not shown in theaters as well as a behind-the-scene featurette about Mr. Black himself.

Christian Black (Marlon Wayans, Scary Movie, White Chicks) has it all: power, success and an intense desire to get freaky. Into his life comes Hannah (Kali Hawk), a young, virginal girl who may not be as innocent as she first seems. Only one gets to come out on top in this hilarious film, featuring appearances from Mike Epps, Fred Willard and Florence Henderson. Plus, get ready to laugh so hard, you'll spank yourself silly with outrageous unrated deleted scenes! Fifty Shades of Black is a laugh-a-minute comedy!

A fun and sexy love story that's way shadier than gray, Fifty Shades of Black boasts incredible comedic talent including Marlon Wayans (Haunted House, White Chicks), Kali Hawk (Bridesmaids, Couples Retreat), Fred Willard (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, American Wedding), Mike Epps (The Hangover, Next Friday), Affion Crockett (Wedding Ringer This Means War), Jane Seymour (Wedding Crashers) and Florence Henderson (The Brady Bunch).

"The Witch" Arrives on May 17 from Lionsgate on DVD/BD

The Witch, the ground-breaking horror film “Certified Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes and winner of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award, will be available on May 17 on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate.

A Puritan family banished to the edge of the known wilderness suspects an unseen, unspeakable evil is at work after the disappearance of one of their five children. Drawing from actual accounts of witchcraft and possession in New England, the critically acclaimed film features authentic settings and a creepy atmosphere. From debut writer-director Robert Eggers and theatrically released by A24 Films, The Witch stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Viking Quest), Ralph Ineson (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Katie Dickie (TV’s “Game of Thrones”).

New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life with their five children, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. The Witch is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own fears and anxieties, leaving them prey to an inescapable evil.

"ARLO GUTHRIE: ALICE’S RESTAURANT 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT out now on DVD by PBS Distribution

Out now, PBS Distribution released “ARLO GUTHRIE: ALICE’S RESTAURANT 50TH

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT” on DVD and Blu-ray. Fifty years ago, in 1965, Arlo Guthrie took out the trash following a “Thanksgiving dinner that couldn’t be beat.” The hilarious account of actual events that precluded Arlo from military service in 1966 went on to become Alice’s Restaurant, a platinum-selling record in 1967, and a full-length motion picture in 1969. Today it’s as much a part of Thanksgiving tradition as cranberry sauce. For the first time in a decade, folk icon Arlo Guthrie brings The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree in its entirety to the stage.

The program is currently available on DVD and Blu-ray and has a run time of approximately 120 minutes. The DVD SRP is $24.99 and the Blu-ray SRP is $29.99. 

In 1965, Arlo, the 18-year-old son of legendary musician Woody Guthrie, and his friend were spending Thanksgiving with Alice and Ray Brock at the couple’s home in a former church in the Berkshires. Alice asked the boys to take a load of trash to the town dump. When they arrived, they found that the dump was closed, so they threw the trash down a nearby hillside. Guthrie turned the story of his subsequent arrest, court appearance, and rejection from military service into “Alice’s Restaurant,” a musical monologue lasting over 18 minutes.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to Distribute eOne DVD/BD Releases in the USA

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and Entertainment One (eOne) have announced that SPHE will distribute eOne’s specialty label, Momentum Pictures, across physical and digital home entertainment platforms globally (excluding Canada).

Momentum Pictures’ current release slate includes The Program, from director Stephen Frears, and starring Ben Foster; Forsaken, starring Kiefer Sutherland and Donald Sutherland; and All Roads Lead to Rome, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. SPHE will also manage USA distribution for eOne television titles on DVD and Blu-ray, including Haven and Bitten.

“We are pleased to be working with Sony who have a proven track-record of success in the U.S. home entertainment market,” said Nelson Kuo-Lee, Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President, Global Film Group, Entertainment One. “Our new distribution agreement rounds out our plans for home entertainment globally, strengthens our relationship with retail and ideally positions us as consumer behavior evolves.”

FOUR PRIESTS ARE EXILED TO A SEASIDE TOWN TO ATONE FOR THEIR PAST SINS in THE CLUB

From acclaimed Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín (Academy Award Nominee, No) comes the highly lauded film THE CLUB, a taut, blackly comic drama that revolves around a group of priests that are exiled to a small village to atone for the sins of their pasts. Directed and co-written by Larraín, THE CLUB functions as an insightful commentary on individual responsibility and organized religion, as well as an artfully relevant examination of what happens when those two combustible elements are combined.

In a secluded house in a small Chilean seaside town live four unrelated men—Vidal (Alfredo Castro), Ramirez (Alejandro Sieveking), Silva (Jamie Vadell), and Ortega (Alejandro Goic)—and the woman who tends to the house and their needs. All former priests, they have been sent to this quiet exile by the Catholic Church to purge their past sins, the separation from their communities being the worst form of punishment meted out by the Church. The men keep to a strict daily schedule devoid of all temptation and spontaneity, each moment a deliberate effort to atone for their wrongdoings. Their fragile stability is disrupted by the arrival of an emissary from the Vatican (Marcelo Alonso) who seeks to understand the effects of their isolation, along with a former victim of the priests’ abuse (Roberto Farias). Both bring with them the outside world from which the men have long been removed, and the secrets they had thought were deeply buried.

Where Spotlight, winner of the 2016 Best Picture Academy Award, follows the commendable efforts of the journalists in Boston who revealed the depth of the Catholic Church’s sexual abuse scandal, Larraín uses his unique perspective and cinematic style to delve directly into the psyches of the men committing unspeakable crimes under the Church’s umbrella. As said by Bilge Ebiri of New York Magazine of THE CLUB, a Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, “For a brief, agonizing moment, you share the spiritual quicksand with these disgraced men.”

Nonesuch to Release Two New Pat Metheny Albums on May 6: "The Unity Sessions" & "Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny"

Nonesuch Records will release a pair of new albums from guitarist, composer, and bandleader Pat Metheny on May 6, 2016. Metheny is well-known as a musical collaborator, and both records feature friends and colleagues with whom he has worked for years.  The Unity Sessions is taken from a filmed performance with Pat Metheny Unity Group that was recently released on DVD; the set comprises 13 songs by Metheny, one he co-wrote with Ornette Coleman, and one well known standard by Ray Noble.

And Cuong Vu Trio Meets Pat Metheny joins the guitarist with a trio led by longtime Pat Metheny Group trumpeter Cuong Vu.  The release comprises five tunes written by Vu plus one by Metheny and one by Andrew D'Angelo.

In 2013, for the first time since 1980, Metheny recorded with a band that highlighted tenor saxophone. The resulting Unity Band, which went on to win him his 20th Grammy Award, featured Chris Potter on sax and bass clarinet, longtime collaborator Antonio Sanchez on drums, and Ben Williams on bass. Metheny then took that same ensemble into new territory with the addition of his Orchestrion and a focus on more through-composed material and christened the ensemble Pat Metheny Unity Group. The Group's first record, Kin (←→), was released by Nonesuch back in 2014 and was named the best jazz album of the year in the DownBeat Readers Poll Awards. The Group went on a world tour of more than 150 cities; and at the end, they hunkered down in a small Manhattan theater to film new performances of music from the original Unity Band, the expansive Kin(←→), and touchstones from the entirety of Metheny's music catalog. The results were released on DVD last year as The Unity Sessions, and now Nonesuch releases the album of the same name.

"The Witch" Unleashes Its Unholy Curse on Blu-ray and DVD on May 17

The Witch, the ground-breaking horror film “Certified Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes and winner of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival Directing Award, will be available on May 17 on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) from Lionsgate. A Puritan family banished to the edge of the known wilderness suspects an unseen, unspeakable evil is at work after the disappearance of one of their five children. Drawing from actual accounts of witchcraft and possession in New England, the critically acclaimed film features authentic settings and a creepy atmosphere. From debut writer-director Robert Eggers and theatrically released by A24 Films, The Witch stars Anya Taylor-Joy (Viking Quest), Ralph Ineson (Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Katie Dickie (TV’s “Game of Thrones”).

New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life with their five children, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another. The Witch is a chilling portrait of a family unraveling within their own fears and anxieties, leaving them prey to an inescapable evil.

Featuring audio commentary with the director, a behind-the-scenes featurette and more, The Witch will be available on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD) and DVD (plus digital) for the suggested retail price of $24.99 and $19.98.

"Jane Got a Gun" Takes Aim on DVD, BD on April 26

Academy Award winner Natalie Portman (Black Swan, Star Wars Episodes I-III, The Professional) stars in Gavin O’Connor’s action-packed western Jane Got a Gun, available on Blu-ray  and DVD from Anchor Bay Entertainment April 26.

Hailed as a “sturdy, well-crafted genre piece” by the Los Angeles Times, Jane Got a Gun also stars Joel Edgerton (Black Mass, The Gift, The Great Gatsby), Ewan McGregor (August: Osage County, The Island), Rodrigo Santoro (Focus, 300: Rise of an Empire), Noah Emmerich (TV’s “The Americans”, Little Children), and Boyd Holbrook (Gone Girl, Run All Night). The screenplay is written by Brian Duffield (Insurgent), Anthony Tambakis (Warrior) and Joel Edgerton, with story by Brian Duffield.

Jane Hammond (Natalie Portman) has built a life on the rugged western plains with her husband Bill "Ham" Hammond (Noah Emmerich) and young daughter. When Ham stumbles home riddled with bullets after a run-in with the relentless John Bishop (Ewan McGregor) and his gang, she knows they will not stop until her family is dead. In desperation, Jane turns to Dan Frost (Joel Edgerton), a man from her past, for help. Haunted by old memories, Jane’s past meets the present in a heart-stopping battle for survival.

Melissa Etheridge Set to Release New Concord Album on Legendary Stax Records

Concord Music Group has announced that acclaimed singer-songwriter and activist Melissa Etheridge is scheduled to release a new album honoring Stax Records in August or September 2016. Etheridge; an Oscar and two-time GRAMMY winner, is currently recording at Royal Studios in Memphis on what will be her first album since 2014’s critically lauded This Is M.E.

Along with original material, Etheridge’s ambitious Concord release will feature interpretations of classic songs from the legendary Stax catalog, celebrating its artists and legacy and spotlighting the vital role Stax Records played in the Civil Rights Movement. Engineered by Lawrence "Boo” Mitchell, son of famed music producer Willie Mitchell, the as-yet-untitled project will include a number of top Memphis musicians, including the Hodges Brothers.

"We are delighted and honored to welcome Melissa Etheridge to the Concord family,” says album co-producer and Concord Label Group President, John Burk. "She’s an incredible talent with her own unique blend of rock and soul that’s perfectly suited to interpret some of the classic Memphis repertoire that was foundational to both genres.”

Etheridge says, "It is such an honor to work with John Burk and Concord Music Group. I can see how well the company serves its artists, and it’s the perfect place for me to make my first musical concept album. Stax is like the Bible of rock ’n’ roll, and to pay tribute to that label, to see the roots of that music and to sing an Otis Redding song is such an amazing experience. I am so thrilled – I can’t wait to get started.”

Sophie Lowe and Beau Knapp Star as a Couple on the Run in 'What Lola Wants"

A “swell, unavoidably Tarantinoesque twist on the outlaw-journey-as-aphrodisiac recipe” (LA Daily News), What Lola Wants arrives on DVD  April 19 from Anchor Bay Entertainment. Written and directed by Rupert Glasson (Coffin Rock), the film stars Sophie Lowe (“The Returned”) as Lola, Beau Knapp (Southpaw) as Marlo, Dale Dickey (Iron Man 3), Charles S. Dutton (Alien 3) and Robert Taylor (“Longmire”). 

Sixteen-year-old Lola Franklin (Lowe) runs away from home and her Hollywood royalty parents, but allows the world to believe she has been kidnapped. Intent on making her way across the country, she meets a boy, Marlo (Knapp), in a New Mexico diner. They fall instantly in love. But when Marlo learns of the reward for Lola's safe return, he must decide between collecting the reward for her return, or escaping his own life in a ruthless crime ring to help her continue her mysterious getaway.

JEREMY PIVEN CLOSES UP SHOP AS HARRY SELFRIDGE IN Mr SELFRIDGE: THE FINAL SEASON

PBS Distribution announced today it is releasing the final season of the acclaimed MASTERPIECE series “MR. SELFRIDGE” on DVD and Blu-ray May 17, 2016. The clock nears closing time as mercantile genius Harry Selfridge faces creditors, swindlers, mob bosses, irate relatives, and spurned mistresses in the farewell season once again starring three-time Emmy winner Jeremy Piven (Entourage) as the man who revolutionized the world’s retail experience.

“MR. SELFRIDGE: THE FINAL SEASON” will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on May 17th, 2016. The run time of the program is approximately 420 minutes on 3 discs. The SRP for the DVD is $39.99 and $49.99 for Blu-ray.

Since the premiere season in 2013, Mr. Selfridge has wowed audiences and critics alike, much as the original Harry Gordon Selfridge did with his trend-setting, taboo-busting palace of commerce, Selfridge & Co., which opened in 1909 on London’s Oxford Street. Shopping has never been the same since.

 “A treasure box of tales about love, loss, ambition, and the spirit of a new age,” enthused The Wall Street Journal during Season 1; “lush and lovely,” murmured The Los Angeles Times about Season 2; “visually glorious,” gushed the New York Daily News for Season 3.

Walt Disney Records Releases Zootopia Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Walt Disney Records released the Zootopia soundtrack which features score by Oscar-winning composer, Michael Giacchino and the end-credit song "Try Everything" performed by Grammy-winning artist Shakira.  Zootopia,a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard ("Tangled," "Bolt") and Rich Moore ("Wreck-It Ralph," "The Simpsons") and co-directed by Jared Bush ("Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero"), opened in theaters on March 4, 2016.

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it's a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn't so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve the mystery.

Award-winning composer Michael Giacchino marks his first-ever feature collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios for "Zootopia." Featuring an 80-piece orchestra and conductor Tim Simonec, Giacchino's score reflects the diversity of the world.

Yo-Yo Ma And The Silk Road Ensemble Releases New Album Featuring Special Guests

 The latest album by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble will surprise and delight, with guest performers and imaginative sounds that transform the traditional musical landscape. Sing Me Home is the sixth album by the Grammy-nominated Silk Road Ensemble and its founding member and guiding light Yo-Yo Ma — available from Sony Music Masterworks on April 22, 2016.
Sing Me Home is a companion album, developed and recorded alongside The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, a documentary feature from Oscar and Emmy-winning director Morgan Neville that tells the story of the Ensemble and Silkroad, its parent organization. The Music of Strangers is slated for theatrical release in June.

Produced by Silk Road Ensemble member Johnny Gandelsman and Grammy Award winner Kevin Killen (U2, Kate Bush, Elvis Castello, David Bowie), the album examines the ever-changing idea of home, with original and traditional tunes composed or arranged by members of the Ensemble's unique collective of global artists. Each piece invites listeners to explore the "music of home" through the individual experiences of Ensemble members, many of whom are immigrants. The result is a compelling collection of innovative and deeply moving tributes to the rich cultural heritage of the Balkans, China, Galicia, India, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Mali, people of the Roma, Syria, and the United States.

Michael Keaton To Play Stan Hurley In AMERICAN ASSASSIN

CBS Films and Lionsgate  announced that Academy Award-nominee Michael Keaton (Birdman, Spotlight) will star in the adaptation of Vince Flynn's massive bestseller AMERICAN ASSASSIN. Acclaimed filmmaker Michael Cuesta (Kill The Messenger, Homeland, L.I.E.) will direct the thriller from a screenplay by Stephen Schiff (The Americans, Ultimate Rush). Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers, Deepwater Horizon, Red) and Nick Wechsler (The Road, Magic Mike) are producing the film.

Cold War veteran Stan Hurley (Keaton) would be the most feared training officer in the CIA if more than a handful of people at the agency knew that he existed. As AMERICAN ASSASSIN begins, Deputy Director Irene Kennedy tasks Hurley with training Mitch Rapp, a black ops recruit devastated by the loss of his fiancée to a terrorist attack. As Rapp's training progresses, the pair is dispatched on a joint mission with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative from starting World War III in the Middle East.

Published by Atria Books and in mass market paperback by Pocket Books, both imprints of Simon & Schuster, AMERICAN ASSASSIN is one of fourteen novels set in the world of counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp. Every single one has been a New York Times bestseller, the three most recent entries have been number one New York Times bestsellers and the series has sold nearly twenty million copies to date.

"Stan Hurley is one of the pillars of the Vince Flynn universe and a favorite character for millions of readers, so casting him was a daunting challenge," said Cuesta, who continued. "To have an actor as intelligent and gifted as Michael Keaton bring this beloved character to life is a thrill for everyone involved in AMERICAN ASSASSIN and a cause for celebration amongst 'Hurley' fans the world over."

Alan Jackson Keepin' It Country -- Live At Red Rocks DVD Releases in May

Eagle Rock Entertainment will proudly present Keepin' It Country – Live At Red Rocks from Country music superstar Alan Jackson on DVD on May 6, 2016. [MSRP $14.98].

Keepin' It Country – Live At Red Rocks was filmed on May 17, 2015 before an at-capacity crowd at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO, in the midst of Jackson's 25th Anniversary Keepin' It Country tour. With a career spanning 23 albums deep (including two Christmas collections, two gospel albums, and his highly acclaimed The Bluegrass Album), Jackson's insightful lyrics and inspired songwriting reflect the feelings of everyday life. That honesty has earned him the adulation of generations of fans.

The 26-song rich set features performances of timeless classics from across his career ("Gone Country," "Good Time," "Small Town Southern Man," "Chattahoochee," "Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning)," "Remember When," "Where I Come From," "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere," "Mercury Blues"), as well as songs from Jackson's 2015's smash album Angels And Alcohol, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country chart and #5 on the Top 200 ("You Never Know," "Angels And Alcohol").

Anchor Bay Acquires "Where to Invade Next" Home Entertainment Rights

Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today the acquisition of the US home entertainment distribution rights to WHERE TO INVADE NEXT from Academy Award-winning director Michael Moore, a provocative and hilarious comedy in which Moore will stop at nothing to figure out how to actually make America great again. Anchor Bay Entertainment, a leading distributor of independent feature film and television content, is also the home entertainment division of Starz. 

Just in time for election season, America's favorite political provocateur, Michael Moore, is back with his new film, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT. Honored by festivals and critics groups alike, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT is an expansive, hilarious, and subversive comedy in which Moore confronts the most pressing issues facing America today and finds solutions in the most unlikely places. The creator of FAHRENHEIT 9/11 and BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE has returned with an epic movie that’s unlike anything he has done before—an eye-opening call to arms to capture the American Dream and restore it in, of all places, America.

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH “FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR, SEASON 3" DVD

PBS Distribution has announced it is releasing “FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. SEASON 3” on DVD. Today’s leading artists, authors, politicians, activists, business moguls, architects and journalists will discover their fascinating family stories going back many generations in the new third season of the critically acclaimed series “FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR.” Professor Gates, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University and director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, continues exploring the mysteries, surprises and revelations hidden in the family trees of 28 of today’s most intriguing cultural trailblazers.

“FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. SEASON 3” will be available on DVD April 12, 2016. It has a run time of approximately 600 minutes on 3 discs. The DVD SRP is $39.99. 

“There is something essential in human nature that drives us to wonder where we came from,” said Gates. “We can’t truly know ourselves until we know something of our origins. With new DNA technology we can learn more about this past and go further back than ever before, and we hope that the new season will inspire people to find out more about their own personal family stories, and spark an interest among young people in genetics, anthropology, history, and the pursuit of science.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Announced for April 5 DVD & BD Release

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is arriving soon on DVD and Blu-ray. And you can plan now for this Spring!

As announced this morning by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger at The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the epic movie will be available for public libraries to lend out on Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on April 5, 2016.

The film shattered box office records upon its debut, eventually grossing over $926 million domestically and $2.05 billion worldwide. Featuring new heroes and villains, along with classic characters, thrilling action, and a heartfelt story, Star Wars: The Force Awakens connected with fans around the world and deepened the mythology of Star Wars.

Teodor Currentzis, MusicAeterna and Patricia Kopatchinskaja Release New Album

Sony Classical is pleased to announce the new release from conductor Teodor Currentzis and his orchestra and choir MusicAeterna is out now. Testament to their versatility and broad musical command, this album brings together two diverse masterworks from two giants of Russian music – Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto Op. 35 and Stravinsky's Les Noces – and presents their first musical collaboration with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja.

Greek-born but Russian-based, conductor Currentzis has found a kindred maverick spirit in the exceptional Moldovan-Austrian violinist Kopatchinskaja, as is evident in their fresh interpretation of Tchaikovsky's cornerstone of the violin repertory. Known for their instinctive and ground-breaking interpretations across an extensive range of musical eras, Currentzis, Kopatchinskaja and MusicAeterna have performed together several times since this first project and consistently garnered audience and critical acclaim. Spiegel Online recently wrote: "No matter whether it is Mozart or Stravinsky, there is nothing that Teodor Currentzis cannot do at present. And things get even better when the conductor works with the idiosyncratic violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja – together they make a heavenly duo."

The album also presents a rare masterwork from another Russian composer: Stravinsky's Les Noces. Written for solo voices, choir, pianos and percussion, the work celebrates a peasant wedding and was originally written as ballet music in 1917, though in its present form it was not seen on stage until 1923. Currentzis again employs the authentic Russian folkloric influences that were central to his recent interpretation of Le Sacre du printemps and which he considers fundamental to understanding Stravinsky's music. The native Russian-speakers that make up the exceptional MusicAeterna choir also bring another level of understanding and authenticity to this most Russian of Stravinsky's works.

Supergroup "case/lang/veirs" Announce June Album Release

Several years ago k.d. lang sent an email to Neko Case and Laura Veirs on a whim. It read simply, "I think we should make a record together." Though the three musicians were barely more than acquaintances "Laura and I both responded immediately," recalls Case. "There was no question."

But now there is an answer. 'case/lang/veirs,' a new album by three phenomenal, self-driven artists will be released June 17 on Anti- with an extensive tour to follow. 'case/lang/veirs' features fourteen new, original songs written by the artists over a period of two-and-a-half years. It was recorded in Portland, OR where lang and Veirs both live, and produced by Tucker Martine with the group. Sessions commenced in lang's loft with a view of Mount St. Helens, and in Veirs' dining room and backyard studio.

Full of stunning harmonies and spellbinding rhythms, 'case/lang/veirs' draws inspiration from alluring, mysterious subjects: a supermoon, the tumbledown story of 70s singer Judee Sill, and the "best kept secret" in Silver Lake, to name but three. Anti- is sharing the album's lead track "Atomic Number," which features vocals by all three singers, today. Listen and share below from B&T.

WMG and Crush Music Announce Joint Music Venture, Kicks off With New WEEZER Album

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced the creation of a joint venture with Crush Music co-founders, Jonathan Daniel and Bob McLynn. The first act signed to the newly established label is the multi-platinum-selling band Weezer, who will be released via WMG’s Atlantic Records. Future Crush Music label releases will be released via Atlantic or Warner Bros. Records.

Daniel and McLynn are responsible for discovering Crush Music’s major acts, including Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco, while revamping the careers of megastar Sia, San Francisco’s Train, and indie-alternative staple, Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. Since its establishment as a management company in 2002, Crush Music has grown into a full-service music company that has key staff in radio, digital, TV/film, brand partnerships, PR, and content production. Crush Music's highly innovative marketing staff, overseen by CMO Dan Kruchkow, will work all releases in conjunction with either the Atlantic or Warner Bros. team. Crush’s A&R staff, helmed by Evan Taubenfeld, will continue to focus on unearthing and building talent.

 “We’ve had a great relationship with Atlantic and the entire global Warner Music team over the years, developing and breaking artists such as Panic! at the Disco, Travie McCoy/Gym Class Heroes, and more,” said McLynn. “So when it was time to find a partner for our new label venture, we knew WMG would be a natural fit.”