19 Entertainment Announces Mario Vazquez Recording and Management Agreements

NEW YORK, Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- 19 Entertainment Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CKX, Inc. (Nasdaq: CKXE), announced today that Mario Vazquez, a former contestant on American Idol, has entered into a recording agreement with J Records, a division of SonyBMG Music Entertainment, and an exclusive management agreement with Stiefel Entertainment. The company confirmed that work has begun on Vazquez's new album, which is expected to be released in spring 2006.

Simon Fuller, Chief Executive Officer of 19 Entertainment, commented, "This demonstrates again the ability of American Idol both to spot new young talent and to bring that talent to the attention of the American public. We continue to enjoy a professional relationship with Mario Vazquez and of course are pleased that SonyBMG, which has been the record company of American Idol, will be Mario's label and that Arnold Stiefel, a close business associate and good personal friend of our senior management, will be guiding Mario's career."

About 19 Entertainment 19 Entertainment, based in the United Kingdom, is a leading creator and producer of entertainment properties, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom, as well as versions of the Idol format in more than 30 countries around the world. The company has recording contracts with and/or manages or has managed former American Idol and Pop Idol participants, such as Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Fantasia as well as some of the world's best known musicians and other artists, including the Spice Girls, Annie Lennox and S Club 7. The Company has also entered into an exclusive global joint venture with David Beckham, one of the most recognized athletes in the world, and Victoria Beckham, an influential symbol in both the fashion and music worlds.

About CKX CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. To date, we have focused on acquiring globally recognized entertainment content and related assets, including the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, the operations of Graceland and proprietary rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States, the Pop Idol series in the United Kingdom and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively, air in over 30 countries around the world. We plan to continue to make strategic acquisitions of, or partner or align with, companies or individuals that control various forms of established entertainment content, which may include intellectual property rights in music, film, television programming, written works and characters, rights to names, images and likenesses, video games, corporate brands and other related assets.

This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs, and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, acquisitions of dispositions of business assets, and the potential impact of future decisions by management that may result in merger and restructuring charges, as well as the potential impact of any future impairment charges to goodwill or other intangible assets. More detailed information about these factors may be found in filings by CKX, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CKX, Inc. is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward- looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE 19 Entertainment Limited