Two music industry powerhouses, The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc. and IMG Artists, are joining forces to expand the artistic platforms in which the public can experience the talents of leading performing artists, film and television composers, and music producers, it was announced today by The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc. the leading music agency for film and television; and IMG Artists, the global leader in performing arts management and booking. The two companies will exclusively offer their distinguished rosters of clients the ability to explore additional avenues of artistic expression and collaboration, including film, television and multi-media live events.

Michael Gorfaine and Samuel Schwartz, partners and co-owners of The Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency, Inc. and Jeff Fuhrman, President and COO of IMG Artists and Elizabeth Sobol, IMG Artists\' Senior Vice President and Associate Director, will oversee the joint venture. The two companies represent some of the most sought-after talent in the creative community with Gorfaine/Schwartz representing composers, songwriters and music supervisors and producers including John Williams, Hans Zimmer, James Newton Howard, Ennio Morricone, Thomas Newman, James Horner, Mike Post, James Taylor, Randy Newman, Dave Stewart, and Glen Ballard. IMG Artists represents such stellar performers as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, The Bolshoi BalletRenée Fleming, The Joffrey Ballet, Anna Netrebko, Sir James Galway and Pilobolus.

The idea for the collaboration was first seeded during production of the award-winning film The Red Violin. Gorfaine/Schwartz represents John Corigliano, who composed the Academy-Award winning score, and IMG Artists\' Sobol manages violinist, Bell, who worked for more than two years as artistic advisor and soloist on the score. The tremendous success of the movie\'s Oscar-winning soundtrack was the catalyst for a closer working relationship between the two companies and ultimately led to the formation of the new venture in order to create additional opportunities for their artists.

"Both of our companies have been in business for more than two decades. In our own 25 years in business, we have never done anything like this. There is no other company like IMG Artists, and that is why we are moving forward. It is a perfect fit," says Samuel Schwartz of Gorfaine/Schwartz.

"Our admiration and respect for Gorfaine/Schwartz and our excitement about the possibilities of what we can achieve together is unbridled," adds Fuhrman.

"In the rapidly evolving world of performing arts, this partnership allows us to go outside the traditional roles that management and booking agencies usually play. Through the avenues of Gorfaine/Schwartz, our clients will have opportunities in the film and television world, while IMG Artists can offer Gorfaine/Schwartz\' clients access to the global arena for live events," says Sobol. "And more importantly, the venture will provide a platform for artistic collaborations between composers, performing artists, producers and other creative artists. No other performing arts management company can offer such broad opportunities for its artists," adds Sobol.

"Additionally," adds Michael Gorfaine of Gorfaine/Schwartz, "IMG Artists\' global presence will allow our clients new channels of distribution to present their works to live global audiences in innovative ways. Furthermore, working together we can now present this unparalleled set of services to an even broader array of prospective clients."

Before the ink is even dry, Gorfaine/Schwartz and IMG are already collaborating on the following projects:

Dave Stewart Songbook – The partnership will handle the international tour for the Dave Stewart Songbook, which premieres at London\'s Tower Music Festival on Saturday, July 14th. Dave Stewart, joined by a spectacular group of musicians and a 30 piece orchestra, will perform and showcase some of his amazing catalogue of work, including many of the hits he wrote with Annie Lennox (his longtime partner in Eurythmics), as well as those pieces co-written or recorded with artists including Mick Jagger, Gwen Stefani, Bono, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Beyonce, George Harrison and Joss Stone.

Not the Messiah – The partnership is handling the international tour of Not the Messiah, an oratorio, in which the story of the Messiah is given a magnificent Monty Python treatment. The spectacle by Eric Idle and John Du Prez of "Spamalot" fame is complete with an orchestra, chorus, vocal soloists and bagpipes with Idle and Du Prez performing – and unfurls in Toronto, with the Toronto Symphony, June 1st, June 2nd and June 4th, 2007.

August Rush – The partnership is working with Warner Bros. on concert presentations based on the movie August Rush, scheduled to be released on October 19th. The film celebrates the power of music and features artists such as John Legend, Robin Williams, Chris Botti, Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina and John Ondrassik.

The partnership is developing a number of soundtrack opportunities for performing artists as well as creating recording projects which are collaborations between preeminent film composers and instrumentalists.

Says Sobol, "The whole landscape of performing arts has changed radically over the last decade, it is a terrain now profoundly marked by porous borders. Much of the most interesting and compelling work is being done by artists who seek collaboration and who cross boundaries. The creation of this new venture is our response to those changes, it will be a place to nurture and cultivate artists whose artistic vision reaches beyond the normal limits of their genres."

Based in Los Angeles, Gorfaine/Schwartz is the leading talent agency for composers, songwriters and music supervisors in film and television with more than 38 of the 50 top-grossing films of all time having been scored by Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency clients. As top agents in their field, they have expanded the agent\'s role to become industry power brokers. Based on a philosophy that a long-range strategic plan is as important as a business deal, they have created lucrative and creatively satisfying careers for their clients, while playing a key role in stimulating and expanding the market for the product which has positively impacted the business of film music.

IMG Artists is majority-owned by financier, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Barrett Wissman. The company is the global leader in the arts management business. With offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia, IMG Artists delivers an array of international capabilities including the management and touring of the finest musicians, dance companies, orchestras, and attractions; development and operation of music and arts festivals; consulting, advisory and event management work for governments, arts institutions, concert halls and corporations; and production of critically acclaimed audio/visual projects. With an unparalleled degree of artistic and managerial talent, IMG Artists is committed to breaking new ground in the ever-evolving performing arts world. Dynamic and diverse, IMG Artists will continue to seek out distinctive partnerships and craft collaborative initiatives in the years to come.