10/19/98

CONTACT: Michael Jensen at (626) 585-9575 or Susan Stewart at (530) 823-5962

LOS ANGELES, CA - Gold Circle Entertainment, the Omaha-based company formed by Gateway 2000 co-founder Norman Waitt Jr., has entered the film music business with the formation of Compass III Records, a new label dedicated to film scores and soundtracks. Independent music supervisor and film music executive Randy Gerston has been named its President.

Gold Circle is the parent company of Waitt's rapidly growing family of entertainment holdings, which also include numerous radio and television stations. Formed in 1996, with longtime American Gramaphone Records veteran Michael Delich as President, its Samson Music imprint has focused primarily on the signing and development of significant new artists. Gold Circle Entertainment seeking entry into the soundtrack market, was introduced to Vasi Vangelos, whose Vangelos Management represents some of Hollywood's foremost film composers and music supervisors. Vangelos in turn introduced them to Randy Gerston, and the new venture was born.

Shortly following his music supervision of the phenomenon, "Titanic", Gerston departed his post as Senior Vice-President of Music at Rysher Entertainment. Prior to Rysher, he was the in-house music supervisor at James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment, where he supervised the music for several films including "Strange Days" and "True Lies".

In addition to his duties with Compass III, Gerston has concurrently started his own independent music supervision company, Seehear, which will operate within the Gold Circle Entertainment family. Seehear's first project is MGM's "The Mod Squad", starring Claire Danes.

"Randy and I have a shared vision for Compass III and how it should develop," says Gold Circle's Delich. "We plan to focus on films which feature music that truly excites us. Whether a traditional score, or a song compilation, we want each of our projects to be a vital souvenir of the movie going experience."

Compass III will utilize all of Gold Circle's resources including marketing, publicity, sales and administration. Compass III will be distributed domestically through Sony owned, RED Distribution. Compass III's releases will also benefit from the recent establishment of Gold Circle's international office in the Netherlands. Under the direction of Frank van Houten, Gold Circle Entertainment International is setting up a network of partners for distribution worldwide.

"I'm looking forward to working with Norm, Mike and the impressive team of record industry professionals that they have assembled," comments Gerston. "As a longtime fan of film music, I'm ecstatic that they share my enthusiasm, and I'm confident we can create a heightened awareness for this often under-marketed genre. I'm aware that there are other labels releasing film music, however, we feel that our philosophy and company synergy presents an approach that will appeal strongly to film studios, composers and their agents."

Compass III will be located in Gold Circle's new Santa Monica, California, offices. The initial project for Compass III Records will be Joel McNeely's extraordinary score to the Warner Brothers film "The Avengers", which the label will market simultaneously with the home video release and cable premiere.

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