Image Entertainment And Smile Records Sign Exclusive 10-Year License Agreement

Image To Distribute Titles From Newly-Formed Power Pop Label

16-Aug-01

Image Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISK), a leading licensee and distributor of DVD programming in North America, today announced the signing of an exclusive 10-year licensing agreement with newly formed Power Pop music label, Smile Records.Smile Records was created with a focus on Power Pop and plans to develop a brand identity within this music genre not unlike Motown accomplished with the ""Motown sound.""Image and Smile Records launched the label to pop fans this week during the renowned ""International Pop Overthrow"" in Los Angeles. The label will release product from well-known artists in the genre such as ""The Knack,"" which will be among the Company's first releases in September, in addition to emerging new artists including L.A. pop stalwarts ""Supremium"" and ""The Andersons"". Other recent signings include ""The Stand,"" ""Oranges"" and ""Smash.""Tony Valenziano, President and founder of Smile Records, commenting on the agreement, said, ""Smile is very pleased to be working with Image in a deal that not only benefits the artists, but benefits the music as well. Image is the right company at the right time to get the Smile sound out to people who just love great pop music.""Martin W. Greenwald, Image's President and CEO, stated, ""With the signing of the Smile Records agreement, Image further states its position as a leading independent provider of music programming throughout the world, not only in the home video and broadcast arena, but now with an emphasis placed on audio-only formats."" Image's Vice President of Sales, Barry Gordon, stated, ""The music on the Smile Records label is stellar and the timing is right for a worldwide resurgence of this genre. With Image's distribution and Smile Records' pulse on what's the best of the best in pop music, we will bring this sound to a whole new market of kids who missed it the first time around and the die-hard pop fans who will definitely love that it's back with a vengeance.""Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading aggregator of content for DVD with nearly 1,500 Image-exclusive DVD titles in release. The Company also has exclusive videocassette, broadcast, streaming video and downloading rights for certain properties. The Company maintains its distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nevada and is one of the largest distributors of DVD programming in North America. Image has distribution agreements in Japan, China and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, and throughout most of Europe for select programming on DVD and videotape as well as for broadcast. Additionally, the Company owns and operates an e-commerce subsidiary, DVDPlanet.com.

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