LEE DANIELS, WARNER UNVEIL NEW EMPIRE

Warner Recorded Music and director/writer/producer Lee Daniels have created a global joint venture that encompasses soundtracks, artist signings and other recorded-music projects.

Lee Daniels Music/Warner already has a Grammy for The United States vs. Billie Holiday.

“At Warner, we’ve built a thriving environment for creative pioneers and inspired entrepreneurs. Lee is an artistic visionary who has crafted some of the most powerful, moving and captivating works of our era,” said Warner Recorded Music CEO Max Lousada. “Music has always figured prominently in his productions, driving the narrative of great films such as Precious and The Butler while playing a central role in his influential TV series, Empire. The Billie Holiday soundtrack was a fantastic way to start our relationship, and we’re looking forward to working with Lee on an exciting series of projects inspired by his deep musical knowledge and impeccable taste.”

Amanda Ghost, whose AI Film and Unigram are backed by Len Blavatnik’s Access Industries, was integral in setting up the partnership and launching the joint venture. “The Billie Holiday project has already shown us the kind of impactful experiences that will come from this collaboration, and there are some very special movies and music on the way," she said.