IFC AND MCCOURY MUSIC INSPIRE FANS WITH MONEYLAND FILM COMPETITION

New York, NY - July 22, 2008 - Blending traditional and contemporary roots music, passion for democracy and social justice, and an appreciation for the power of grassroots creativity, IFC and McCoury Music have launched a competition aimed at inspiring music fans to create their own short film interpretations of the songs from McCoury Music's new album, Moneyland. Fans of the new album are invited to enter into the short-form film competition at www.LivinginMoneyLand.com. The winning film for each song will be awarded cash prizes. A grand prize winner chosen among each of the song finalists will be aired on IFC and IFC.com.

To learn more, watch today's episode of LUNCHBOX on www.IFC.com, the network's daily web series (visit http://www.ifc.com/video/Web-Series/Lunchbox/1683647215 for the archived episode) featuring Del McCoury and his producer Stan Strickland talking with Jim Shearer about the new Moneyland album and why they feel so passionately about this project.

"Moneyland is a powerful compilation album of thought-provoking, legendary music and IFC is proud to participate in and promoting this contest, giving aspiring film makers an opportunity to motivate change in our world," said Jennifer Caserta, executive vice president and general manager of IFC.

Featuring new music from bluegrass legend Del McCoury along with songs new and old by Country Music Hall of Famers Merle Haggard and Emmylou Harris, National Heritage Fellow and Bluegrass Hall of Famer Mac Wiseman, Grammy winner Tim O'Brien and more, Moneyland offers a hard-hitting look at issues of economic and social injustice through music. With songs ranging from the blistering title track to a grassy interpretation of the Beatles' "When I'm 64" to the Haggard classic "If We Make It Through December" to the gritty small-town tale of Chris Knight's "A Train Not Running," Moneyland serves up music that's both convincing and filled with vivid imagery ripe for translation on film-especially in the hands of everyday people.

"It just seemed like a natural connection," says Del McCoury, a Grand Ole Opry member who, together with his band, owns more International Bluegrass Music Association awards than any other artist and has taken his music to venues well beyond the bluegrass faithful. "The problems that Moneyland talks about are going to take a lot of work and creativity to solve, and creating short films to go along with each of the songs is a great way to get people thinking about these issues, and encourage them to get involved in creating solutions."

IFC News is also creating a segment on the issues addressed in the Moneyland album including an additional interview with Del McCoury scheduled to air later this month. For details on the film competition, including entry information, visit www.LivinginMoneyLand.com.

About McCoury Music

Founded in 2003, McCoury Music is a full-service label named for its owner-one of the most respected musicians in American popular music. Starting with a critical early 1960s apprenticeship with the Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe, Del McCoury became a legendary figure in the genre as a part-timer before taking on a full-time musical career in the company of his sons, Ron and Rob, in the early 1990s. Since then, he and his band have become the most-awarded group in the history of the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual awards while bringing their music to audiences far beyond the bluegrass faithful. They've shared the stage with opera singers and jam bands, appeared on prime time and late night television, and toured extensively across North America and around the world, earning a Grammy award and numerous other honors along the way. In addition to releasing Del's own music, McCoury Music has scored with releases by Ron McCoury, bluegrass veteran Larry Sparks and, most recently, Country Music Hall of Fame member Merle Haggard.

About IFC

IFC (The Independent Film Channel) is the first and only network dedicated to independent film and related programming, 24 hours a day, uncut and uncensored. Operating under the mantra 'always, uncut,' IFC presents feature-length films, "cult classics," thought-provoking original documentaries such as At the Death House Door and This Film Is Not Yet Rated, shorts, animated series, exclusive web series, and television's most comprehensive independent film library. The network also offers some of the most innovative and edgy original series on television, including the sketch comedy "The Whitest Kids U' Know." Providing a voice for independent thought not found anywhere else on television, IFC broadens the audience for independent film and supports the independent film community through its exclusive live coverage of notable film events like the Independent Spirit Awards. The network's On Demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC's original series in HD before they air on the linear network. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media's NYC studios and post-production facilities.

Del on Front Page of Tennesseean Life Section

08/28/2008

Bluegrass legend Del McCoury doesn't like to talk politics for fear of offending anyone. He doesn't like to sing about politics, either. So he doesn't touch the topic, even on his searing, working man's protest collection called Moneyland.

Read article here

American Profile Picks Moneyland

06/18/2008

American Profile
Our Picks provides reviews of new DVDs, CDs and books that our readers would enjoy.
"Bluegrass titan McCoury corralled his musical friends and cherry-picked tunes pointing to the plight of rural America in this "concept" collection that decries the gap between those who have and those who don't..."
Read More

Another Moneyland Blog

06/18/2008

Visit The Austin Chronicle and see the Moneyland Blog
Read More

Talking Rural Pennsylvania Blues

06/18/2008

String Theory Media
Talking Rural Pennsylvania Blues
"A rare and remarkable confluence of bluegrass and presidential politics occurred this week when, in the midst of the pre-Pennsylvania primary, Barack Obama vs. Hillary Clinton "bittergate brouhaha, an advance recording by Del McCoury and his sons came my way. Without endorsing any candidate or party, the album called Moneyland speaks to the same issues Obama was explaining. It's a more artful expression of those ideas than Obama's, who was speaking off the cuff and not with his usual precision. But McCoury, one of my musical heroes, is stepping forward boldly with a message that sounds exactly like what Obama (whom I continue to support incidentally) was trying to say..."Read More

Nashville, TN&Modern day bluegrass patriarch Del McCoury adds a new dimension to his role as a musical leader on July 8, 2008 when his family owned McCoury Music label, distributed by powerhouse RED Distribution (a division of SonyBMG) releases Moneyland, a timely multi-artist collection that offers a hard-hitting look at today's economic injustice through a thoughtful selection of six new (or newly recorded) songs, mixed with eight neglected gems and classic favorites. Framed by excerpts from two of Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era "fireside chats," Moneyland revitalizes country and bluegrass music's connections to the lives of hardworking people in ways that honor the past, look to the future and challenge listeners to act in the present.

Moneyland's musical bookends are found in Bernard "Slim" Smith's Depression era classic, "Breadline Blues," as the original 1931 recording at the start of the album is matched by a new "Breadline Blues 2008," featuring McCoury, the legendary Mac Wiseman, Grammy winner Tim O'Brien and the harmonies of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings. Between the two, the collection explores the hardships of rural and small town working people and their families. Familiar names and songs abound-the Del McCoury Band brings two original songs to the table, Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard supplies the 1973 classic "If We Make It Through December" and the more recent "What Happened?," which appeared on his McCoury Music bluegrass debut of last year, and the set includes Emmylou Harris's and Rodney Crowell's glistening take on his "Mama's Hungry Eyes"-but there's also room for Dan Tyminski's 2001 recording of "Carry Me Across The Mountain," based on a true Depression era story, Haggard and Marty Stuart's searing "Farmer's Blues," Chris Knight's "A Train Not Running," a more recent tale of economic devastation, and more. Yet whether new or old, bluegrass, country or something else, each song contributes to the profound impact of Moneyland.

That impact is more than musical, and it doesn't take long to learn that for McCoury, the new album is more than just a thematic collection-it's a project that reflects deep and abiding concerns shaped both by observation and experience. "I grew up on a farm myself, back during the late '40s, and we raised everything. We raised hogs and chickens, had dairy cows, we shipped milk. Times were good for the farmer in those days, but now the farmers are just hanging on&by their fingernails."

"It's sad to me that country kids can't stay in their hometowns any more. There's no opportunity, there are no jobs, there's just nothing. And at the other end of life, there are a lot of people losing the pensions they worked for-that happened to my wife, Jean-and there are more people relying on Social Security than ever. You know, we have a little fun on this album with that Beatles song, 'When I'm 64,' but really, it's no joke. It used to seem like 60 was really old, but nowadays, it feels more like middle age, and to have a lot of years ahead of you without being sure that what you spent a lifetime working for, like a pension or Social Security, is going to be there-well, that just doesn't seem right."

Yet as pointed as the critique is, and as sharp as the thoughts and stories embedded in Moneyland's songs are, Del and his associates-his manager, Stan Strickland shares executive producer credits with Del, while Strickland produced the project with Del's sons, Rob and Ronnie-never lose sight of two key points: first, that the album's musical artistry be as compelling and irresistible as its sentiments are strong, and second, that it be not only critical, but inspirational, too. While Moneyland's stories may tell of trials and even desperation, they're never without hope-along with plenty of incisive wit and flashes of humor.

"Moneyland has a message that people need to hear and think about," McCoury says reflectively. "And, especially in an election year, take action on. This isn't about party politics, it's about doing what's best for our country and everyone in it, not just a lucky few."

Featuring Songs by: The Del McCoury Band | Merle Haggard Emmylou Harris | Bruce Hornsby | Chris Knight  Patty Loveless | Marty Stuart Dan Tyminski | Mac Wiseman Special Guest Appearances: Rodney Crowell | The Fairfield Four Tim O'Brien | Gillan Welch | David Rawlings

Modern day bluegrass patriarch Del McCoury adds a new dimension to his role as a musical leader on July 8, 2008 when his family owned McCoury Music label, distributed by powerhouse RED Distribution (a division of SonyBMG) releases Moneyland, a timely multi-artist collection that offers a hard-hitting look at today's economic injustice through a thoughtful selection of six new (or newly recorded) songs, mixed with eight neglected gems and classic favorites. Framed by excerpts from two of Franklin Roosevelt's Depression-era "fireside chats," Moneyland revitalizes country and bluegrass music's connections to the lives of hardworking people in ways that honor the past, look to the future and challenge listeners to act in the present.

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