We have some more information on the forthcoming Narnia project…
EMI Music – the world’s largest independent music company – recently announced plans to partner with Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media to produce two soundtracks of music inspired by what is one of 2005’s most anticipated films, a live action adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ best-selling classic, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
EMI Music’s Nashville-based EMI CMG will release both “inspired by” soundtracks and has announced an all-star line up for the first in the series of releases: an Inspirational soundtrack CD, Music Inspired By: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, featuring recordings from artists that combined have sold in excess of 23 million albums.
Five-time Grammy Award Winner Steven Curtis Chapman leads the pack with the project’s debut single and video, “Remembering You,” which will release to Christian radio formats nationwide on August 5th. Jars of Clay (“Waiting for the World to Fall”), Jeremy Camp (“Open Your Eyes”), TobyMac, Nichole Nordeman (“I Will Believe”), Rebecca St. James (“Lion”), Delirious (“Stronger”), Kutless, Bethany Dillon (“Hero”), Chris Tomlin (“You’re The One”) and David Crowder Band round-out the line up thus far. The Inspirational CD will release on September 27th.
A second soundtrack of songs inspired by the film will release October 25th and feature mainstream pop and rock artists.
Regarding his participation in the soundtrack, Steven Curtis Chapman commented, “So much has already been brilliantly communicated by C.S. Lewis with this story, so writing for it was kind of an overwhelming task,” said Steven Curtis Chapman. “This story leaves me with wanting to remember what it means to experience Spring or new life. “Remembering You” is a song from the perspective of a lot of the characters at the end of the story saying, ‘whenever I see the first signs of spring, I’ll be remembering you, Aslan, the story and what is to come.'”
“EMI CMG’s partnership with Disney and Walden Media holds an unprecedented visibility and marketing opportunity for the participating artists, allowing their music to reach a global audience,” stated EMI CMG’s President and CEO, Bill Hearn. “Disney and Walden Media have shown a tremendous amount of passion for the music and we are excited for them to incorporate this ever-expanding genre that perfectly compliments the theme of the film.”
Promotions for the Inspirational Inspired-by project began recently, when HarperCollins, publisher of the Chronicles of Narnia book series hosted a celebration in New York for the forthcoming movie release in conjunction with the American Booksellers Association.
Sparrow Records singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon premiered her song, “Hero,” from the project at that celebration. Promotions will also include soundtrack music being featured as part of the interactive marketing plans with www.narnia.com and its development of NarniaMusic.com, which will feature artist interviews, shots from the studio, song samples, promotions and more.