Author: Newsroom
SANTA MONICA, Calif., November 17, 2023 – In anticipation of today’s worldwide release of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, global content leader Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF.A, LGF.B) has teamed up with Spotify for a multifaceted partnership that celebrates the legacy that music has played throughout the history of the Hunger Games franchise.
From the beginning of the franchise, music has played a prominent role, with Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Lorde previously providing memorable tracks for the films; in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, three-time Grammy® Award winning singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo joins their prestigious ranks, co-writing and performing the end title credit song “Can’t Catch Me Now.” The soundtrack to the new film, produced by Dave Cobb, also includes eight songs performed by the film’s star Rachel Zegler and new music from Flatland Cavalry, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and more. The soundtrack is available today via Geffen Records.
As part of this partnership, the studio and Spotify are diving deep into that musical history of the film. Featuring explorations of the previous and new soundtracks, the partnership is highlighted by an opening day (November 17) bespoke “Sounds from Panem” destination available globally including the Hunger Games Official Playlist featuring songs from the new film’s soundtrack, and other playlists inspired by the film like Spotify’s Front Porch playlist. There will also be a Hunger Games audiobooks shelf available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the United Kingdom featuring all the books from the series. To further expand the presence of the partnership, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes will be the Presenting Media Sponsor for Spotify’s This is Olivia Rodrigo playlist during release week.
Supporting the initiative across 27 markets, Spotify will feature The Hunger Games on billboard signage in Times Square and Los Angeles, post on its socials, and feature an exclusive Q&A with Olivia Rodrigo on Spotify’s For the Record blog. Spotify also co-sponsored Monday’s star-studded special fan event, where they obtained exclusive content and access to the film’s talent and filmmakers.
“Since the beginning of this franchise, musical artists have been drawn to its themes – and helped define the films by giving Panem its soundscape,” said JP Richards, resident of Marketing for the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “Through this partnership with Spotify, we’re celebrating that rich history and the new song by Olivia Rodrigo with deep dives into the incredible music of The Hunger Games.”
Spotify is only one of the partners that is supporting the release of the film. These include:
- Gibson Guitars
- Urban Outfitters
- Poshmark
- Butter London
- Hot Topic
- 1-800-Flowers
- Official in-world merchandise and memorabilia boxes for the ultimate Hunger Games fan available at Walmart and ShoptheScenes.com
- Academy Adventures, an immersive experience on Roblox
- Aviator Nation
Experience the story of THE HUNGER GAMES — 64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem.
THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray’s charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.
The film is directed by Francis Lawrence from a screenplay by Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt, based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, and produced by Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, and Francis Lawrence.