STARRING ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE AND EMMY AWARD, GRAMMY AWARD AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD WINNER QUEEN LATIFAH, EMMY AWARD NOMINEE BENJAMIN BRATT AND NEWCOMERS JUDE DEMOREST, RYAN DESTINY, BRITTANY O’GRADY AND AMIYAH SCOTT, WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNER LENNY KRAVITZ, SUPERMODEL/ACTRESS NAOMI CAMPBELL AND GRAMMY AWARD-NOMINATED MUSICIAN AND ACTOR TYRESE GIBSON
NEW YORK, NY (Nov 10th, 2016) – Republic Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television announce a partnership to present music from STAR, a new series featuring original music and stunning music performances, set for a special premiere on Wednesday, Dec 14 (9:00-10:00 PM) on FOX.
Created by Academy® Award and Golden Globe® nominee Lee Daniels – co-creator and executive producer of broadcast’s No. 1 drama, EMPIRE – and Tom Donaghy (“The Whole Truth”), STAR follows three talented singers – running from their pasts and desperate for a new start – with ambitions of stardom, as they navigate the cut-throat music business on their road to success. But reality soon dawns on the girls’ fantasies, and they start to learn that ambition often comes at a cost.
“Monte Lipman and his team at Republic Records continue to be at the forefront of what’s new and evolving in today’s current music scene,” commented Daniels. “They know how to push boundaries and take risks – which is the essence of this new series and our group of girls. We’re looking forward to what is going to be a beautiful collaboration.”
“Monte, Tom and everyone at Republic demonstrated a passion for STAR that impressed us all,” commented Mark Pearson, Executive Vice President, Brand Management and Digital, TCFTV. “They understood the show, they had a vision for what to do with our performers and they offered really innovative A&R and marketing ideas. Republic is the perfect musical partner for Lee and Tom’s inspired new series.”
Watch the official trailer for STAR HERE
About the partnership, Republic Records Co-Founder and Chief Executive Monte Lipman adds, “We’re extremely proud of our strategic alliance with Fox-TV and Lee Daniels. Lee has become a force of nature whose artistic vision not only reflects modern culture and social consciousness, but helps define it. His fearless approach to the creative process inspires a generation.”
“Fox stands out as a market share leader in television and music with unparalleled influence across both,” comments Republic Records EVP/GM West Coast Tom MacKay. “This is an exciting collaboration with massive cultural implications, and we’re working together to create a soundtrack that lives up to that promise.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON STAR CONTACT:
Marisa Bianco // Republic Records
Chris Alexander // FOX
ABOUT STAR
Meet STAR (newcomer Jude Demorest), a tough-as-nails young woman, who came up in the foster care system and decides one day to take control of her destiny. Star tracks down her sister, SIMONE (newcomer Brittany O’Grady), and her Instagram bestie, ALEXANDRA (newcomer Ryan Destiny), and together, the trio journeys to Atlanta with the hope of becoming music superstars.
Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award, Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award winner Queen Latifah (“Bessie,” “Bringing Down The House”) stars as CARLOTTA, a surrogate mother to the young crew that includes COTTON (newcomer Amiyah Scott). Emmy Award nominee Benjamin Bratt (“24: Live Another Day,” “Law & Order”) plays JAHIL, a down-on-his-luck talent agent looking to revitalize his career, who’s taken a certain interest in Star. The series will also feature guest star and Grammy Award winner Lenny Kravitz (“Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “The Hunger Games”).
ABOUT REPUBLIC RECORDS
A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Sabbath, Florence + the Machine, Gotye, James Blake, James Bay, John Mellencamp, Keith Richards, Nickelback, Of Monsters and Men, Seth MacFarlane, The Weeknd, Zendaya, among many others. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures including American Recordings (The Avett Brothers), Brushfire (Jack Johnson), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), John Varvatos Records (Zac Brown Band), Lava Records (Jessie J, Lorde), Monkeywrench (Pearl Jam), Casablanca Records (Stromae, Tïesto), NBC's The Voice, School Boy Records (PSY, Sheppard), among others. In addition, Republic maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with country powerhouse Big Machine Label Group which is comprised of Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line) and Dot Records (Maddie + Tae).
ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION
A 21st Century Fox company, Twentieth Century Fox Television is one of the industry's most prolific suppliers of primetime television programming and entertainment content, including Dan Fogelman’s new smash hit, “This Is Us;” the No. 1 series on broadcast television, “Empire,” from Lee Daniels, Danny Strong and Brian Grazer; the five-time Emmy Award-winning blockbuster comedy “Modern Family”; the pop culture phenomenon “American Horror Story”; the hit comedies “Fresh Off The Boat” and “The Last Man On Earth”; and the longest-running primetime scripted series in the history of television, “The Simpsons.” The studio’s cable production division, Fox 21 Television Studios, is responsible for the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning “Homeland”; the critically acclaimed “The Americans” (with FX Productions); and Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s sensation “The People V. OJ Simpson” which kicked off the “American Crime Story” anthology. Twentieth Century Fox Television is a division of Fox Television Group, led by Chairmen and CEOs Gary Newman and Dana Walden.
