Tuesday, March 3, 2009

HarperCollins Inks Deal With No. 1 Bestselling Rock Band Bon Jovi

NEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- HarperCollins Publishers today announced a deal to publish the first ever official Bon Jovi book, Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful. Celebrating the band's 25th anniversary, the book contains never-before-seen photographs and exclusive text from the band and will be published next October by the Collins Design imprint. Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful will also serve as a companion to a major documentary about the band being released at the same time.

The story of Bon Jovi's career -- spanning three decades, countless hits, sold-out stadiums -- reads like a timeline of popular culture and has earned them legendary status. But for all their acclaim, fans have been offered very few up-close-and-personal glimpses of the band members. To commemorate their 25th anniversary, the band gave filmmaker and photographer Phil Griffin unprecedented access to their lives, onstage and off, during 2008. The Lost Highway tour became the #1 tour in the world last year, according to Billboard Magazine. This insider portrait of one of the world's best-loved rock bands is the subject of a major documentary and this extraordinary book is a must-have for all Bon Jovi fans.

The public face of Bon Jovi -- band of brothers, hitmakers, rock stars -- is well known, but in Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful, gorgeous, exclusive photographs and revealing text from Jon, Richie, David and Tico themselves tell the behind-the-scenes story. From intimate moments to basking in the limelight, the book offers fans an honest, unposed and unscripted portrait of this legendary band at work and at home.

"We are honored to be collaborating with one of the most successful bands in Rock history," said Marta Schooler, Publisher of Collins Design. "Bon Jovi's continuing success has been no less than remarkable and we are thrilled to be publishing the must-have book for all their fans."

The book offers unprecedented insights into the members' lives on stage, on the road, and at home, as well as intimate reflections on the highs and lows of their 25 years together. Bon Jovi is responsible for some of popular music's biggest anthems over the last twenty-five years. Since Bon Jovi's eponymous album release in 1984, their songs have propelled their albums and tours to stratospheric success with precision consistency. From rock songs ("You Give Love A Bad Name," "Living On A Prayer," "It's My Life," "Who Says You Can't Go Home,") to ballads ("Bed of Roses," "I'll Be There For You," "Always,"), to outlaw-themed anthems ("Wanted Dead or Alive," "Blaze of Glory"), their arsenal of All-American songs have repeatedly found a reception on a global stage. Bon Jovi has sold over 120 million records worldwide and charted seven #1 singles and countless Top Ten hits.

About HarperCollins Publishers

HarperCollins, one of the largest English-language publishers in the world, is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups around the world including the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children's Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India. HarperCollins is a broad-based publisher with strengths in literary and commercial fiction, business books, children's books, cookbooks, mystery, romance, reference, religious and spiritual books. With nearly 200 years of history HarperCollins has published some of the world's foremost authors and has won numerous awards including the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, the Newbery Medal and the Caldecott. Consistently at the forefront of innovation and technological advancement HarperCollins is the first publisher to digitize its content and create a global digital warehouse to protect the rights of its authors, meet consumer demand and generate additional business opportunities. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.

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New Kids' CD Encourages Kids to Get Active and Stay Healthy

Minnesota Dance and Exercise Entrepreneur Releases 15 Original Songs Focused on Fitness and Fun

MINNETONKA, Minn., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Dancercise Kids(R), a provider of unique fitness and dance activities for young children, today announced that its founder, Tessa Pfeifer, has released her first compact disc, entitled "Dance It!," focused on bringing Dancercise(R) concepts into every home.

Packed with original songs that encourage kids to exercise and that advocate healthy habits, manners and other parent-approved topics, this CD release comes at a time when, according to the National Poll on Children's Health, childhood obesity is the number one concern of parents. "It's so important for kids to take every opportunity to exercise. I routinely see children with all sorts of conditions resulting from poor posture, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles," said Howard Fidler, DC, FICPA, FICC, of Minneapolis, founder of the American Chiropractic Association's Council on Pediatrics. "My own kids listen to Dancercise music all the time, and it's reassuring to find kids' music that really encourages them to get and stay active."

"I'm excited to get this music out to my fans, and to kids everywhere," says Tessa. "The songs will get any kid up and moving, and the CD includes lots of healthy themes and upbeat styles that keep it fun and interesting for kids and parents alike."

Tessa's music goes far beyond the rehashed nursery rhymes or often over-simplified genre of children's music and combines contemporary styles with thoughtful lyrics, presented in a way that is accessible to kids at a very young age. "As a kindergarten teacher, I welcome the educational elements of Tessa's music," said Julie Dahl, whose daughter, age four, has taken Dancercise classes for the last year. "And as a parent, I really love that this music is fun for grown-ups too!"

Dance It! is available now at http://www.cdbaby.com, at the Dancercise website http://www.dancercise.com and through online retailers including Apple's iTunes(R) store and Amazon.com. Tessa is performing live concerts throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area during the next few months, including the Mall Of America and Minnesota Children's Museum, and promoting her unique program that helps children build strong minds and happy hearts.

Tessa Pfeifer has been dancing, singing and performing since her early childhood. Having created Dancercise Kids as a successful dance and fitness program across multiple states, she is now concentrating on making the music, activities and lessons accessible to a wider audience through CDs, DVDs, Activity Books and select media partners, for consumption in every home. Find out more at http://www.dancercise.com/pressroom.

    Contacts:

    Kelly Plummer
    651-207-6242
    kellyp@newsworthycommunications.com

    Katie Welch-Peterson
    952-294-9814
    katiep@newsworthycommunications.com

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com.

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Sony Music Entertainment Announces the Release of Elvis Presley 'I Believe - The Gospel Masters' - Available March 10, 2009

DELUXE 4 CD SET CELEBRATES ELVIS' GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING COLLECTION OF GOSPEL AND INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC

Elvis Presley's 'Ultimate Gospel' collection was just certified GOLD by the RIAA.

NEW YORK, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- As with all of his types of music, Elvis Presley made his own version of gospel music, drawing from every element of his vast musical knowledge -- without any musical prejudice or racial barriers. For the first time ever, all of Elvis' gospel and inspirational master recordings will be offered together in one magnificent 4 disc collection -- "I Believe - The Gospel Masters."

"I Believe - The Gospel Masters" offers the most comprehensive overview of Elvis' non-secular performances and provides testament to his musical excellence and contribution to the popularization of religious music.

Discs 1 through 3 feature Elvis' entire non-secular studio master recordings in chronological order from his multi-Platinum selling albums "Peace In The Valley," "His Hand In Mine," "How Great Thou Art," and "He Touched Me." Bonus CD, Disc 4, includes additional gospel and inspirational recordings from Elvis' movies, the 68' Comeback TV special and other live performances. It also includes rare home recordings of 'Hide Thou Me,' 'Show Me Thy Ways, O Lord,' and 'Oh, How I Love Jesus.'

All of the discs have been re-mastered from the original tapes using the latest DSD technology for optimum sound quality.

Of the collection, Gordon Stoker, original member of The Jordinaires (Elvis' band) says, "I think I Believe is the perfect title for a collection of Elvis' religious music because, working with him almost 15 years, I know he believed every word in these songs. It was indeed an honour to know and work with him. We shall always treasure our memories."

Testament to the popularity and continued relevance of his gospel recordings, Elvis Presley's "Ultimate Gospel" collection, which was released in 2004, was just certified GOLD by the RIAA.

    TRACK LISTING:
    DISC 1
    1. I Believe
    2. (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
    3. Take My Hand, Precious Lord
    4. It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)
    5. Milky White Way
    6. His Hand In Mine
    7. I Believe In The Man In The Sky
    8. He Knows Just What I Need
    9. Mansion Over The Hilltop
    10. In My Father's House
    11. Joshua Fit The Battle
    12. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot
    13. I'm Gonna Walk Dem Golden Stairs
    14. If We Never Meet Again
    15. Known Only To Him
    16. Crying In The Chapel
    17. Working On The Building

    DISC 2
    1. Run On
    2. How Great Thou Art
    3. Stand By Me
    4. Where No One Stands Alone
    5. So High
    6. Farther Along
    7. By And By
    8. In The Garden
    9. Somebody Bigger Than You And I
    10. Without Him
    11. If The Lord Wasn't Walking By My Side
    12. Where Could I Go But To The Lord
    13. You'll Never Walk Alone
    14. We Call On Him
    15. Who Am I?

    DISC 3
    1. I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago
    2. Life
    3. Only Believe
    4. Amazing Grace
    5. Lead Me, Guide Me
    6. He Touched Me
    7. I've Got Confidence
    8. An Evening Prayer
    9. Seeing Is Believing
    10. A Thing Called Love
    11. Put Your Hand In The Hand
    12. Reach Out To Jesus
    13. He Is My Everything
    14. There Is No God But God
    15. Bosom Of Abraham
    16. I, John
    17. I Got A Feelin' In My Body
    18. Help Me
    19. If That Isn't Love

    DISC 4
    1. Down By The Riverside/When The Saints Go Marchin' In (from Frankie And
       Johnny)
    2. Sing You Children (from Easy Come, Easy Go)
    3. Swing Down, Sweet Chariot (from The Trouble With Girls (and how to get
       in it))
    4. Let Us Pray (from Change of Habit)
    5. Gospel Medley: Where Could I Go But To The Lord/Up Above My Head/Saved
       (from the '68 Comeback Special)
    6. If I Can Dream (from the '68 Comeback Special)
    7. Why Me Lord (live)
    8. How Great Thou Art (live)
    9. Help Me (live)

    BONUS:

    10. I, John (from Elvis On Tour)
    11. Bosom Of Abraham (from Elvis On Tour)
    12. You Better Run (from Elvis On Tour)
    13. Lead Me, Guide Me (from Elvis On Tour)
    14. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus/Nearer My God To Thee (from Elvis On Tour)
    15. Oh, How I Love Jesus (home recording)
    16. Show Me Thy Ways, O Lord (home recording)
    17. Hide Thou Me (home recording)

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Monday, March 2, 2009

PickTheBand.com National Band Contest

Winning band will perform at the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- PickTheBand.com, the world's first fan-run record label has partnered with ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, to pick the best unsigned artist/band in America.

Beginning March 2nd fans will vote online on picktheband.com to decide the winner. The contest will run through March 31st with a featured performance at the ASCAP "I Create Music" Expo in April in Los Angeles as the top prize. Fans are encouraged to vote everyday and can win a variety of great prizes the more they vote.

The video-based contest has been designed to showcase bands in a variety of ways, to get the fans to know as much as possible about them.

The bands were asked to submit the following:

  • An original music video
  • 2 original songs
  • A live performance video
  • Photos and bio

The submissions were reviewed by our panel of judges that included Producers Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne) and Bennett Kaufman (President/CEO of The BK Entertainment Group). The top 15 bands have been selected and represent a cross-section of rock music from across the country.

"Of the new models for finding talent we believe Pick The Band has a great formula and we are excited to have them involved with the ASCAP Expo," said Randy Grimmett, ASCAP Sr. VP, Domestic Membership. "The EXPO is the first and only national conference 100% dedicated to songwriting and composing. With a focus on connecting aspiring music creators, it's the perfect opportunity to showcase Pick The Band's winner."

"This is truly an exciting event and we are very pleased to that our winner will have the chance to perform at the ASCAP 'I Create Music' EXPO," said Roie Avin, President of PickTheBand.com.

"Previous winners of Pick The Band contests have recorded with Don Gilmore and Mudrock (Avenged Sevenfold and Godsmack). The winners and even some of the runners-up have also received interest and offers from national labels as well as airplay and increased publicity."

For more information go to: www.PickTheBand.com.

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Hollywood Honors Late Actor Roy Scheider With 'Smiles From the Stars: A Celebration of the Work and Life of Roy Scheider'

Two-Time Academy-Award Nominee is Honored with a Star-Studded Event to Benefit The Myeloma Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

LOS ANGELES, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 81st Annual Academy Awards(R) last Sunday, the late Roy Scheider was memorialized as one of Hollywood's great actors. As an extension to his tribute in the 2009 Oscar "In Memorium" video, Roy Scheider's late wife Brenda Siemer Scheider, along with Joshua Newton, British writer-director of Iron Cross, Mr. Scheider's last film, are honoring the internationally acclaimed actor with an exclusive star-studded event at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Hollywood will toast the late actor on Saturday, April 4 in an evening produced by family friend and director Gordon Hunt, father of Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt, which will feature appearances and speeches from friends and industry colleagues along with a special surprise performance. The evening will benefit The Myeloma Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

"What would best honor Roy's talent and determination would be our success in raising money for stem cell research and finding a cure for multiple myeloma," said Brenda Siemer Scheider.

In February 2008 renowned actor Roy Scheider lost his battle to myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow. Coincidentally, Joshua Newton's father passed from the same disease just several months earlier. Both died during the filming of Iron Cross, a $30m revenge thriller, in which Roy plays the lead, a character inspired by the director's father, Bruno Newton. Roy passed just one day short of completing his filming, challenging Joshua Newton to finish the scene Roy had left by using groundbreaking CGI technology. The film is slated to be completed in Summer 2009. Guests will be treated to a special sneak preview of the trailer for Iron Cross at the event.

"I didn't know Roy had myeloma when I thought of him to play a role which was essentially my father," states Joshua Newton. "There were many strange coincidences like that which surrounded the production of Iron Cross, in which Roy has delivered one of the most powerful performances of his career. Myeloma has robbed Brenda and I of two people whom we adored and admired and we're pleased to honor them both at a fantastic event that will raise much needed funds for myeloma research."

Mr. Scheider has been nominated twice for Academy Awards for "The French Connection" (Best Supporting Actor) and "All That Jazz" (Best Actor). His many films include "Klute," "The Seven Ups," "Marathon Man," "Blue Thunder," "52 Pick-Up," "Sorcerer," "The Russia House," "The Rainmaker" and most famously "Jaws." His television work included three seasons of "SeaQuest DSV" and two award winning HBO projects "Somebody Has to Shoot the Picture" and "RKO 281." Mr. Scheider also received an "Obie" for his role in the Off Broadway production of "Stephen D," and was awarded The Drama League Award for Best Performance in the Broadway production of Harold Pinter's "Betrayal."

For more information or to request media credentials to cover this event please contact Stephanie Samson or Alicia Mohr from PMK/HBH at (310) 289-6200.

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Jackson Browne to Bring His 'Time The Conqueror World Tour' Home to North America for a Summer 2009 Leg Running July 7 - August 31

LOS ANGELES, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne will bring his Time The Conqueror World Tour to North America for a two-month summer 2009 leg kicking off July 7-8 with shows in Orillia, Ontario. Canadian dates also include concerts in Ottawa and Montreal before the tour begins a coast-to-coast sweep of the United States on July 13 in Danbury, CT. The just-announced itinerary concludes on August 31 in St. Paul, MN, with U.S. highlights throughout the summer including shows at: the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn, NY (7/21); Chastain Park Amphitheatre in Atlanta, GA (8/6); the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, CA (8/12); and Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT (8/25). The Gilford, NH (7/16) and Boston, MA (7/19) shows will include an opening set from Shawn Colvin and Canadaigua, NY (8/1) and Camden, NJ (8/2) -- will feature Steve Earle as a solo opener

With shows billed as "An Evening with Jackson Browne," the summer 2009 dates -- following legs in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Europe -- bring the world tour full circle. It launched with an initial U.S. leg last September coinciding with the Browne's 60th birthday and the release of Time The Conqueror, his first studio set since 2002. The new album is out on the artist's own independent label Inside Recordings, and was produced by Browne and Paul Dieter. Upon its release, MOJO wrote, "Browne delivers elegantly considered weight and truth...His grand yet unpretentious imagery shows why he's admired by such diverse peers as Springsteen and Randy Newman...Throughout, his band plays with subdued beauty and Browne sings with resonant grace."

The Time The Conqueror World Tour -- which spotlights material from the new album as well as career-spanning favorites -- had its opening night with a Washington, DC concert in fall '08, when the Washington Post said, "The new material demonstrated that Browne, just a few weeks shy of 60, still has a terrific touch...Browne thanked the audience for having indulged him. He needn't have: The pleasure was ours." Of another '08 show, the Boston Herald wrote, "Hail the 'Conqueror,' Jackson Browne triumphs at Orpheum."

Accompanying Browne on the road is his band of fifteen years: Kevin McCormick (bass), Mark Goldenberg (guitars), Mauricio Lewak (drums) and Jeff Young (keyboards, backing vocals). They have been with Browne since 1993's I'm Alive, playing on Looking East ('96) and The Naked Ride Home ('02) as well. For Time The Conqueror, they're joined by new members Chavonne Morris and Alethea Mills, vocalists Browne met in 2001 when they were attending Washington Preparatory High School in South Los Angeles and singing with Fred Martin & The Levite Camp.

Prior to Time The Conqueror, Browne's most recent releases were two live albums recorded on solo acoustic tours in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia. The GRAMMY(R)-nominated Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1 ('05) and Vol. 2 ('08) -- both available on Inside -- feature Browne alternately on piano and guitar, performing songs from his entire career, ranging from hits to rarities. In his four-star review of Vol. 2 for Rolling Stone, Anthony DeCurtis wrote, "This is Browne at his best, engaging his audience, his own experiences and the world around him, all in songs that will not lose their resonance any time soon."

Since his acclaimed 1972 self-titled debut album, Jackson Browne has defined a genre of songwriting and performing that is charged with honesty, emotion and personal politics. Two of his albums, Late For the Sky and The Pretender, are on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time." He's been recognized with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2004) and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame (2007), with recent humanitarian honors including the John Steinbeck Award and the Chapin-World Hunger Year Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. In January of this year, Browne was part of the celebrations surrounding the inauguration of President Barack Obama, performing at the Health for All Blue Diamond Ball at the Smithsonian Institution's Natural History Museum.

For tour dates and more information, log on to www.jacksonbrowne.com

North American Tour Dates 2009

    - July 7-8    Orilia, ON               Casino Rama
    - July 10     Ottawa, ON               LeBreton Flats
    - July 11     Montreal, QC             Salle Wilfrid Pelletier--Place
                                            des Arts
    - July 13     Danbury, CT              Ives Concert Park
    - July 14     Shelburne, VT            The Green at Shelburne Museum
    - July 16     Gilford, NH              Meadowbrook
    - July 17     Mashantucket, CT         MGM Grand Theater at Foxwood
    - July 19     Boston, MA               Bank of America Pavilion
    - July 21     Brooklyn, NY             Prospect Park Bandshell
    - July 22     Vienna, VA               Filene Center at Wolf Trap
    - July 24     Saratoga Springs, NY     Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    - July 25     Atlantic City, NJ        Borgata
    - July 27     Rochester Hills, MI      Meadow Brook
    - July 28     Cincinnati, OH           PNC Pavillion at Riverbend Music
                                            Center
    - July 30     Highland Park, IL        Ravinia Festival
    - August 1    Canandaigua, NY          Constellation Performing Arts
                                            Center
    - August 2    Camden, NJ               Susquehanna Bank Center
    - August 4    Charlottesville, VA      Charlottesville Pavilion
    - August 6    Atlanta, GA              Chastain Park Amphitheatre
    - August 7    St. Augustine, FL        St. Augustine Amphitheatre
    - August 12   Los Angeles, CA          Greek Theatre
    - August 13   San Diego, CA            Humphrey's
    - August 15   Las Vegas, NV            Red Rock Resort, Spa & Casino
    - August 16   Santa Barbara, CA        Santa Barbara Bowl
    - August 18   Avila Beach, CA          Avila Beach Resort
    - August 19   Oakland, CA              Paramount Theatre
    - August 21   Woodlinville, WA         Chateau Ste. Michelle
    - August 22   Goldendale, WA           Maryhill Winery
    - August 25   Park City, UT            Deer Valley Resort
    - August 26   Morrison, CO             Red Rocks Amphitheatre
    - August 28   Oklahoma City, OK        Zoo Amphitheatre
    - August 29   Omaha, NE                Orpheum Theatre
    - August 31   St. Paul, MN             Minnesota State Fair

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Denon Classics' Andre Rieu #1 Top Selling Classical Artist & #8 Pollstar Touring Act in 2008!

Andre Rieu's New 'Greatest Hits' on CD and DVD set for release March 3rd

Longest North American Tour Ever Beginning in April '09

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Denon Classics, once again the U.S.'s #1 independent Classical label is celebrating the announcement of Andre Rieu as the #1 selling Classical artist for 2008 according to Billboard Magazine as well as attaining the #8 spot in Pollstar Magazine among all the touring acts of 2008 in the U.S.! Rieu landed atop this year's sales tally as the nation's top selling classical artist according to Billboard Magazine. He returns to the United States in the Spring of 2009 for an unprecedented "Greatest Hits Tour" celebrating his 30th anniversary as a performer with more consecutive U.S. dates than he has ever scheduled before, spanning April, May and June. To commemorate his artistic achievement and to honor his upcoming 30-year milestone, Denon Classics will release "Andre Rieu's Greatest Hits" as chosen by his fans and collected from all of his Denon releases on CD, DVD and a deluxe CD/DVD set on March 3rd.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081217/LA52981LOGO)

Andre Rieu has already earned the distinction as the #1 pledge drive artist for PBS and now the #1 Classical artist according to Billboard Magazine. Firmly established as one of the top performing artists according to Pollstar Magazine who ranked him as the #8 top touring draw of the year on ticket sales approaching $77 million (placing him in good company amongst the likes of Madonna, The Eagles, Bon Jovi and Coldplay), Rieu has won legions of fans worldwide and his success continues to grow with each new release and tour. Combining unparalleled showmanship with shrewd marketing, Rieu has built a world class musical career with sold out tours and increasing sales of his specials and recordings despite the ever changing dynamics of the industry.

Born in 1949 in the Dutch Province of Maasticht, Andre Rieu began his classical music training at the age of five encouraged by his father, a professional conductor. Focusing on the violin throughout, Rieu immersed himself in his musical studies attending the conservatoire in Liege, Maastrich and finally in Brussels where he concluded his musical training with distinction (Premier Prix). It did not take long before Rieu founded his first ensemble, the Maastrich Salon Orchestra performing throughout the world even as he is engaged as a violinist in the Limburg Symphony Orchestra. In 1987, Rieu recruited the 12 member Johann Strauss Orchestra. It was from this foundation that he soon catapulted to success performing concerts throughout Europe in support of his first album, "From Holland With Love," which included the piece "Second Waltz" -- a beautiful version of a Dmitri Shostakovich composition that captured the imagination of ever-larger audiences triggering a wave of affection for the waltz and earning him the fond nickname, Waltz King! With each subsequent project, Rieu gradually built a juggernaut musical enterprise of world tours (with an expanded 50 member orchestra), recording studios and TV specials -- all of which were produced, designed and marketed in house. It's an incredible endeavor matched only by the likes of similar enterprises such as Cirque du Soleil.

2009 is certain to be another banner year for Rieu with the 30-city arena tour, select repeat airings of his specials on PBS beginning in March and the release of his hand-picked greatest hits collections. Denon Classics' "Greatest Hits" collections include songs and performances taken from all of his hit releases on the label such as "Live in Dublin," "At Radio City," "Live in Vienna," "At The Movies," "Wonderland," "New Years in Vienna," "Tuscany," "Homecoming" and more. "Andre Rieu's Greatest Hits" will be released as a 15-track CD, a 20-performance DVD and a two-disc limited edition CD with bonus tracks which will also include a bonus DVD with five exclusive performances.

A platinum selling artist around the world, Rieu's worldwide appeal is as strong as ever having recently earned his 4th Platinum certification from Canada's CRIA for the DVD "CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD" bringing his total awards to 15 to date (including 11 Gold Sales certifications).

Rieu recently completed a record-breaking tour of Australia in 2008 selling out his eleven city World Stadium Tour (which included traveling with a full sized replica of Vienna's spectacular Schonnbrun Palace) which only added to his already multi-platinum sales. Rieu's specials dominated the music DVD charts in Australia capturing the top 6 spots on the charts (with 21 of his specials landing in the top 50 overall!).

Confirmed U.S. dates for Rieu's "Greatest Hits" tour are:

    4/23  New York             Hammerstein Ballroom
    4/24  Bridgeport           Arena @ Harbor Yard
    4/25  Nassau, NY           Nassau Coliseum
    4/26  New Jersey           Prudential Center
    4/27  Reading              Sovereign Center
    4/28  Philadelphia         Susquehanna Bank Center
    5/14  Baltimore            1st Mariner Arena
    5/15  Wilkes-Barre         Wachovia Centre
    5/16  Cleveland            Quicken Loans
    5/17  Pittsburgh           Mellon Arena
    5/18  Columbus             Nationwide Arena
    5/19  Detroit              Fox Theatre
    5/21  Chicago              Allstate Arena
    5/22  Milwaukee            Milwaukee Theatre
    5/23  Minneapolis          Target Center
    5/24  Des Moines           Iowa Events Center
    5/25  Omaha                Qwest Center
    5/26  Denver               Pepsi Center
    6/12  Vancouver            GM Place
    6/13  Seattle/Tacoma       Tacoma Dome
    6/14  Portland             Rose Garden Arena
    6/16  Oakland              Oracle Arena
    6/17  Sacramento           Arco Arena
    6/18  Fresno               SaveMart Arena
    6/19  Los Angeles          Nokia Theatre
    6/20  San Bernardino       Citizens Business Bank Arena
    6/22  San Diego            Cricket Wireless Pavilion
    6/23  Phoenix              Jobing.com Arena
    6/24  Las Vegas            Orleans Arena
    6/25  Salt Lake City       Usana Amphitheatre

The Savoy Label Group (SLG) features not only the historic Savoy Jazz label but also the Denon, Denon Classics, SLG and 429 Records labels. Savoy Label Group is the North American unit of Columbia Music Entertainment (formerly Nippon Columbia), the oldest music company in Japan. SLG is lead by Steve Vining and CME is headed by Chairman Strauss Zelnick, founder of Zelnick Media which owns interests in and manages an array of media companies.

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Experience the Release of U2's No Line on The Horizon at Unique Pop Up Art Installation in Los Angeles

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Experience U2's new album, No Line on The Horizon (Interscope Records), in a most unusual way -- via a two-day-only pop up art installation. No Line on The Horizon will debut at the art installation on Monday, March 2nd (the day before the album's official release), from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Space 15 Twenty gallery, 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles. The installation will also be open to the public Tuesday, March 3rd, from noon to 9 p.m.

Featuring a multimedia celebration of the album and its art, centered on Anton Corbijn's photography of the band and a screening of "Linear," his film based on characters Bono created for No Line on The Horizon and including songs from the album, the gallery space will reflect the cool, clean, modern aesthetic of the album art.

No Line on The Horizon, which has been advanced by the single "Get on Your Boots," will be played at the gallery and be available for purchase. Accompanying the first 500 album purchases will be a free, limited edition U2/Anton Corbijn lithograph. In addition, other exclusive, collaborative merchandise, such as silk-screened Edun shirts, will be offered.

No Line on The Horizon, U2's 12th studio album and first since 2004's monumental How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, is presented in five formats: jewel case CD; double-disc vinyl; digipak CD with an expanded booklet, a poster, and access to a downloadable "Linear"; magazine CD, with 60-page magazine and "Linear" access; and box set, with digipak CD, "Linear" DVD, a 64-page hardcover book, and a poster. Rolling Stone has already awarded No Line on The Horizon five stars, calling the album U2's "best, in its textural exploration and tenacious melodic grip, since 1991's Achtung Baby."

The pop up art installation, which will include an interactive photo area, is sponsored by Interscope Records, Amoeba Music, Gallery Space, Space 15 Twenty and Filter Magazine.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Friday, February 27, 2009

Stand Among Friends Raising Money and Awareness Through 'Food, Friends & Fine Wine' Benefit

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Stand Among Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting opportunities for people with disabilities, will hold its ninth annual benefit, entitled "Food, Friends & Fine Wine," tonight at the Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton. Pompano Beach-based Cash4Gold.com, America's #1 buyer of precious metals direct from the general public, has underwritten the event as its title sponsor.

The "Food, Friends & Fine Wine" event will feature 400 wines from the 2nd Annual American Fine Wine Competition and a gourmet dinner prepared by the renowned Chef Bart Messing. There will be both a live and silent auction, and performance artist Bran Olsen will entertain guests with his "Art in Action." More than 100 guests are expected to attend.

"We are so grateful for the tremendous generosity of Cash4Gold and our other sponsors," said Stand Among Friends President and Founder Shawn Friedkin. "Without them, this event, and our ongoing effort in aiding people with disabilities, would simply not be possible."

"I've known and admired Shawn and his work for years," said Cash4Gold President Howard Mofshin. "Cash4Gold CEO Jeff Aronson and I are proud to support Shawn and his team's great work at Stand Among Friends."

Friedkin has experienced first-hand how frustrating it can be for people with disabilities to access the information and resources available to them. A few years after becoming paralyzed in an accident in 1992, Friedkin created Stand Among Friends, which has created outreach programs, an intensive practical research program, an educational television show, and informational programs for the disabled. Since its inception, the organization has raised significant dollars in support of these programs, which include topics such as Employment for People with Disabilities, Disability Sensitivity, and Injury Prevention for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury.

About Stand Among Friends

Stand Among Friends, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was formed to promote opportunities for people with disabilities. Stand Among Friends was formed in 1997 by Shawn Friedkin who, after being paralyzed in a car accident, was frustrated with the lack of information and resources available to people with disabilities. Stand Among Friends has collaborated with Florida Atlantic University to create the Center for the Study of Neurological Disabilities on FAU's campus and a program that promotes employment for graduating disabled students. The organization regularly airs an educational television show entitled "Life Without Limits," and has completed exercise studies for people with Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and spinal cord injuries. Please visit standamongfriends.com or call (561) 297-4400 for more information or to make a donation.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Cracker Barrel to Offer Exclusive Dolly Parton CD

LEBANON, Tenn., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- She's an international star, a prolific songwriter, and a beloved philanthropist, but Dolly Parton is also just an old-fashioned Tennessee girl, and that's why Cracker Barrel Old Country Store(R) is pleased and proud to be the exclusive source of a new Collectors' Edition of Dolly's latest CD, Backwoods Barbie. The album will feature three new tracks that have never been heard before and are available only on this disc, and the CD will also feature brand new photos and artwork. This Collectors' Edition goes on sale exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations on March 23rd.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090227/LA76452LOGO)

The three new songs on this disc, "Rose of My Heart," "Hallelujah Holiday," and "Berry Pie" were selected by Dolly herself from her extensive catalog. "I wanted the songs I chose specifically for this release to reflect how I feel about Cracker Barrel and all the good things you can find there," said Dolly. "I think it's important for there to be an authentic connection to the heritage that Cracker Barrel and I share."

Dolly Parton is considered to be the most successful female country music artist, having released 42 top-10 country albums and earned 25 number-one singles. She has won seven Grammy(R) awards and received 42 Grammy(R) nominations. She has also received seven awards from the Academy of Country Music and 10 Country Music Association awards, and is one of only five female artists to win the CMA's highest honor, "Entertainer of the Year." Dolly is also an acclaimed movie and television actress, and her literacy program, Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library," is now in 566 counties in 36 states. It started in her home town in Sevier County, Tennessee, just up the road from Cracker Barrel's home town of Lebanon, Tennessee. "The woman is one of our national treasures, so let's cherish her for as long as we've got her...this is one Barbie who has always been for real," wrote Newsweek in 2008.

"Dolly Parton is an extremely popular and appealing entertainer, and our guests are in for some wonderful sounds when they listen to this Collectors' Edition of Dolly's latest CD, Backwoods Barbie," says Peter Keiser, Vice President of Marketing for Cracker Barrel. "We are especially pleased that Dolly herself selected the three new exclusive songs for this album and honored that these songs reflect her feelings about Cracker Barrel."

The Collectors' Edition of Backwoods Barbie with 15 tracks, including three new songs, goes on sale exclusively at all Cracker Barrel locations on March 23rd, at a retail price of 11.99.

The Collectors' Edition of Backwoods Barbie is the latest project in an impressive collection of exclusive music available only at Cracker Barrel. It follows a number of exclusive releases in 2008 - November's release of Bill Gaither's Homecoming Hymns, the August release of Kenny Rogers: 50 Years, the July release of Ricky Skaggs' The High Notes and the April release of Aaron Tippin's He Believed. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs featuring Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.

About Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants provide a friendly home-away-from-home in their old country stores and restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage...all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 588 company-owned locations in 41 states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit: crackerbarrel.com.

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CBEX to Auction FOU Used at Beijing Olympic Games

BEIJING, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- CBEX (China Beijing Equity Exchange) announced today the auctioning of the fous (an ancient Chinese percussion instrument derived from clay potteries and bronze ware) that were used in the grand performance of fou at the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics Games.

According to CBEX, the first auction will be held on March 8, in which 1,000 pieces of fou will be auctioned in package.

According to Liang Yu, spokesperson and executive vice president of CBEX, following CBEX's official disposal of Olympic assets since August 2008, the fous used at the Olympic Games have been the focus of attention. Over the past six months, CBEX has received thousands of telephone inquiries, and a lot of people have expressed their intention to bid for the fous.

Before the auction, Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) has, in the form of power of attorney, guaranteed to CBEX that the objects to be auctioned are the exact fous used at the opening ceremony, each having a unique special code used in the "Fou Array" at the opening ceremony. BOCOG said that from the perspective of protection of intellectual property rights, the fou will no longer be made or mimicked in the future, and the molds used for manufacturing the fous have been destroyed.

It is noteworthy that different from the previous disposal of Olympic-related assets, besides onsite package auction of some pieces of fou, the rest will be auctioned through online bidding. According to Liang Yu, given a big number of intended buyers, CBEX will use Jinmajia online bidding system, tailored for the disposal of Olympics-related assets, with a view to ensuring wider, more convenient, and more effective public participation. Intended buyers around China may, after registration and payment of deposit, log onto the website of Jinmajia for online bidding. Online bidding is free from the restrictions of regional and number of intended buyers of traditional auctions, which demonstrates the Olympic spirit of full participation and fair competition.

On Jun 25, 2008, BOCOG and CBEX signed Contract for the Disposition of Asserts of BOCOG, and published the information of the first batch of assets on the website of CBEX, marking the entry into formal disposal procedures of the assets of BOCOG. Since the first Olympic asset auction on Aug 5, 2008, CBEX has conducted 9 auctions so far, which included furniture and household appliances at Media Village, air conditioning units, computers, servers, and BOCOG official cars, with the disposal covering more than 500,000 pieces of Olympic assets with total price of nearly 30 million yuan, with a value-added rate of more than 30%.

    For more information, please contact:

     Coral Shuai
     China Beijing Equity Exchange
     Tel:   +86-10-6629-5692
     Fax:   +86-6629-5588 x5692
     Email: xsshuai@cbex.com.cn

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Video: Model Bar Refaeli and the Madden Brothers Fuel the Future of Fashion at Walk the Walk

Hurley announces 'Microphone for Youth' global t-shirt design competition at the dynamic fashion runway showdown

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Sports Illustrated 2009 Swimsuit Issue cover model Bar Refaeli joined Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas, Robert Buckley of Lipstick Jungle and Frankie Delgado of MTV's Bromance and The Hills at House of Blues Anaheim last night to judge Walk the Walk, a fashion design competition developed by Hurley to inspire creativity and confidence among future generations.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/hurley/37251/

Refaeli and the star-studded panel of judges that also included Hurley founder Bob Hurley and Rosemary Brantley of OTIS College of Art and Design watched a parade of Hurley collections that had been redesigned by area high school students. The theatrical shows, which at times looked more like dance-offs, were modeled, produced and promoted entirely by student teams.

Of four competing schools, Fountain Valley High School took home top honors and a $5000 donation to its art & music program. Gahr High School won a special design challenge and could see their two original head-to-toe designs featured in a future Hurley collection.

The evening also served to launch the Hurley Microphone for Youth t-shirt design competition, a platform for young people to express themselves creatively and win exciting prizes. Now through March 30, aspiring designers and artists can upload their artwork to www.Hurley.com and the public can visit the site to vote for their favorite. The designer of the winning t-shirt will be announced on April 1, 2009 on Hurley.com and will receive $5,000 and see their design sold through Hurley's online store.

Refaeli, a face, voice and spirit of Hurley, will choose her favorite design and that winner will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles in June to meet Bar and Hurley team athletes, and attend Hurley Walk the Walk Grand Championship.

About Hurley: Founded in 1999, Hurley is a leading youth brand rooted in surf, skate, art, music and beach cultures. Driven by creativity and freedom of expression, Hurley develops world-class products for guys, girls and kids, including sportswear, footwear, eyewear, accessories, swimwear and wetsuits. A wholly owned, independently run subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Hurley's corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, CA, with international offices in Tokyo, Sydney, Barcelona and Bali.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Lost Photos of the Young Beatles and Rolling Stones (1964-66) to Debut at New NYC Gallery

NEW YORK, Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty-five years after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones first came to America, an extraordinary collection of "lost" photos of the young bands has just been discovered. The 3500 photographs -- extraordinary, intimate and unpublished -- were taken by Bob Bonis, their U.S. Tour manager, during their first U.S. tours (1964, 1965 and 1966) and document perhaps the most critical point in their careers: coming to America.

The Bob Bonis Archive of photographs is now exclusively represented by the Not Fade Away Gallery, which has announced its first show, "The British Are Coming: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones 1964-66," to inaugurate the Gallery, March 4-April 14. The Not Fade Away Gallery is located in New York City at 901 Broadway, 2nd floor, at the corner of 20th Street.

The Gallery's first exhibition will feature 50+ images of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones that establish the unparalleled access and close friendship Bob Bonis (1932-1991) had with the young men who became the most significant rock musicians of the 20th century. Revealing a private, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the early days of rock 'n' roll, the photos show the boys in candid, intimate shots on stage, in rehearsal, in concert, backstage (tuning up, waiting to go on stage and clowning around), dressing and relaxing, on vacations or en route to shows or cities, getting haircuts, bowling, recording in the studio, at press events and just hanging around being themselves.

"The discovery of so many never-before-seen photographs of the two most influential bands in rock history, captured at the most pivotal time in their careers, is a once-in-a-lifetime event," says Larry Marion, founder/director of Not Fade Away Gallery (http://www.NotFadeAwayGallery.com) and an acknowledged expert in the field of music memorabilia. "In more than twenty years as a rock 'archeologist,' I've never come upon a discovery of this magnitude -- thousands of extraordinary unpublished photographs of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones -- young, innocent and unguarded. This is likely the largest single trove of such important unknown photographs ever uncovered."

For over forty years, the negatives and slides were safely stored away unbeknownst to anyone but Bob Bonis' family. Bob's son Alex recently unearthed them and brought them -- along with his father's collection of memorabilia from his Tour Manager days -- to Larry Marion for appraisal. In fact, the photos were at the bottom of a duffel bag of memorabilia -- brought out almost as an afterthought. Now, Alex Bonis is one of the partners in Not Fade Away Gallery, which will begin to make these images available for exhibition and for sale as museum-quality fine art photographic prints (both black-and-white and color), in extremely limited editions, printed on era-appropriate paper, utilizing traditional photographic printing methods.

A private man, Bob Bonis never sought publicity and wasn't interested in pursuing attention based on his past exploits. He started out as a New York City talent agent in the late 1950s and through a series of unremarkable circumstances, he came to hold an extraordinary position at a pivotal time in rock history -- U.S. Tour Manager for both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones during their first U.S. tours in 1964 and continuing through 1966. Since his personal passion was photography, he took his camera along wherever he could and took photos of everyone he worked with -- capturing incredibly intimate photos that the world is about to see for the very first time.

In addition to more than 3,500 photos he took of The Beatles and The Stones, Bob photographed Simon & Garfunkel, The Hollies, Cream, The Lovin' Spoonful, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra and many of the jazz greats he worked with. Not Fade Away Gallery has upcoming shows of these photographs scheduled for the coming year.

The extraordinary private moments Bob Bonis captured are now available for all fans and collectors of music and fine art photography to see and experience at Not Fade Away Gallery, honoring the life and work of Bob Bonis.

     "The British Are Coming: The Beatles and The Rolling Stones 1964-66"
     Not Fade Away Gallery, 901 Broadway (at 20th Street)
     March 4th-April 14th
     All photographs by Bob Bonis, copyright 2009 by 2269 Productions, Inc.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

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Yanni Takes 'Voices' on the Road

Multi-platinum performer's first tour in four years to feature four singing proteges and spectacular imagery

BURBANK, Calif., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ --

  • B-ROLL/PERFORMANCE FOOTAGE FEED AVAILABLE THURSDAY FEBRUARY 26: 10:30AM - 10:45AM EASTERN & 1:00PM TO 1:15PM EASTERN
  • COORDINATES FOR BOTH FEEDS GALAXY 3C TRANSPONDER 21 (C-BAND) analog / DLF:4120 H PLAYOUT FACILITY: OTSP 646.292.3244

Multi-platinum recording artist Yanni is gearing up for his first U.S. tour in 4 years. Long known for his engaging and spectacular live performances, Yanni brings a new and exciting dimension to the show with the addition of four young, extraordinary vocal talents - Nathan Pacheco, Chloe, Ender Thomas and Leslie Mills - discovered and mentored by Yanni and all featured on his upcoming new CD releases YANNI VOICES and YANNI VOCES, the latter featuring Yanni and his four "voices" along with Latin music superstars. Both albums are due out March 24, 2009 on Disney Pearl Series.

The YANNI VOICES tour will feature Yanni's most popular fan favorites accompanied by an explosion of dynamic visuals, dazzling choreography and show-stopping vocal performances by the four "Voices" who bring to life Yanni's most masterful musical compositions, new and old. The tour will also feature Yanni's acclaimed orchestra comprised of musicians from around the globe.

Throughout his extraordinary career, Yanni has staged multiple world tours performing in such world-renown locales including the Acropolis, the Taj Mahal and Beijing's Forbidden City thrilling millions of fans worldwide. His U.S. tours in 1995, 1998 and 2003-2005 each finished in the Top 10 concert tours of the year, as ranked by Performance Magazine and Pollstar.

The dates for the first leg of the tour are below. 


    DATE              CITY                    VENUE
    4/10/09           Ft. Lauderdale          Bank Atlantic Center
    4/11/09           Tampa                   St. Pete Times Forum
    4/13/09           Gainesville             O'Connell Center
    4/14/09           Orlando                 Amway Arena
    4/15/09           Estero                  Germain Arena
    4/17/09           Jacksonville            Jacksonville Memorial Arena
    4/18/09           Duluth (Atlanta)        Gwinnett Center
    4/19/09           N. Charleston           N. Charleston Arena
    4/21/09           Greenville              Bi-Lo Center
    4/22/09           Nashville               Sommet Center Arena
    4/24/09           Raleigh                 RBC Center
    4/25/09           Baltimore               1st Mariner Arena
    4/26/09           Reading                 Sovereign Center
    4/28/09           Wilkes-Barre            Wachovia Arena
    4/30/09           New York                Radio City Music Hall
    5/1/09            New York                Radio City Music Hall
    5/3/09            Boston                  Agganis Arena
    5/5/09            Bridgeport              Arena at Harbor Yard
    5/6/09            Manchester              Verizon Wireless Arena
    5/8/09            Quebec City             Colisee Pepsi Arena
    5/9/09            Montreal                Bell Centre
    5/10/09           Toronto                 Air Canada Centre
    5/12/09           Pittsburgh              Mellon Arena
    5/13/09           Rochester               Blue Cross Arena
    5/15/09           Albany                  Times Union Forum
    5/16/09           Atlantic City           Boardwalk Hall
    5/17/09           Mashantucket            MGM Coliseum at Foxwoods
    5/28/09           Minneapolis             Target Center
    5/29/09           Chicago                 Sears Center Arena
    5/30/09           St. Louis               Scottrade Center
    5/31/09           Green Bay               Resch Center
    6/2/09            Grand Rapids            Van Andel Arena
    6/3/09            Cleveland               Quicken Loans Arena
    6/5/09            Detroit                 Palace at Auburn Hills
    6/6/09            Cincinnati              US Bank Arena
    6/7/09            Columbus                Nationwide Arena
    6/9/09            Kansas City             Sprint Center
    6/10/09           Witchita                Hartman Arena
    6/13/09           Houston                 Toyota Center
    6/14/09           Dallas                  Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
    6/16/09           Denver                  Pepsi Center
    6/17/09           Salt Lake City          Energysolutions Arena
    6/26/09           Sacramento              ARCO Arena
    6/27/09           Oakland                 Oracle Arena
    6/28/09           Anaheim                 Honda Center
    6/30/09           Los Angeles             Nokia Theatre

www.yanni.com

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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American Idol's Megan Joy Creates Program So Fan-Mail Can Fund Single Parents

American Idol Contestant Teams up with SendOutCards.com to Raise Money for Struggling Single Parents

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Megan Joy, the 23 year-old Utah native turned American Idol sensation, is already proving herself to be an on-stage favorite this season. But for many, it's her recent off-stage performance that is truly winning over America's heart. Known initially for her powerful, Amy Winehouse-like jazzy vocals, it was when Megan's strong single-mother status began to gain media attention that she found a creative way to help others in her situation - she turned her incoming fan-mail into non-profit, cash donations for struggling single-parents like herself.

Megan recently began receiving hundreds of support cards from members of Utah based SendOutCards.com, a company she and her family have been closely involved with for years. Touched by such an overwhelming response, Megan shortly found herself on the phone with the group helping to spearhead a fundraising effort for single parent programs like the national non-profit, Parents Without Partners Inc.

Taking the company mantra literally, "Changing Lives One Card at a Time," SendOutCards has rallied their network of more than 60,000 card senders to participate in the fundraising activity. Set up under the non-profit 'SOC Gives' division of the company, senders are now able to donate on a one-time or weekly basis for as long as they choose.

"When we started working with Megan, you could see this was an issue she felt strongly about," says Kody Bateman, founder and CEO of SendOutCards. "She has so much on her plate right now, but her dedication to do what she can while still in the contest continues to inspire us. We were blown away last week when she told us she was still researching non-profits to find where the money might be used best."

Megan will find out after tonight's performance whether she'll be moving on to the next round, but says despite the outcome she plans to continue her outreach. Through the help of Megan, the kindness of strangers, and support from the more than 60,000 people across the SendOutCards network, the group hopes to make a positive impact on as many people they can.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Manilow Begins Fifth Year Headlining at Las Vegas Hilton

RETURNS FEBRUARY 26-28 TO LEGENDARY HILTON THEATER

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Barry Manilow, who has made the Las Vegas Hilton his home since February 23, 2005, returns to kick off his fifth year February 26-28 in the legendary Hilton Theater.

"Barry Manilow's talent and catalog of hits make him an exceptional entertainer who has no peer," said Rudy Prieto, CEO and general manager of the Las Vegas Hilton. "While many performers rest on their laurels, Manilow continues to show that his creativity never stops."

"Boy, time sure flies when you're having fun!" says Manilow. "The Las Vegas Hilton is a wonderful place to play. Now I know why Elvis never wanted to leave."

Manilow began his long-term engagement with the Hilton in 2005 with "Manilow: Music and Passion." His new show "ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits" debuted in August of 2008. "ULTIMATE MANILOW: The Hits" is filled to the brim with the chart-topping music that is the soundtrack to all our lives. With the vast catalog Manilow can draw upon, his show is different every night.

An added bonus to Manilow's performances is the "Ultimate Bar," a working bar located inside the Hilton Theater that features many of Manilow's gold and platinum records from his personal collection and great career photos. The Manilow Store, located inside the Hilton, features the infamous Copacabana jacket and dozens of Manilow products.

Manilow began his long-term engagement with the Las Vegas Hilton after more than three decades of performing and a career that has produced more than 50 albums.

Manilow performs at the Las Vegas Hilton through 2009, generally on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. in the legendary Hilton Theater. Stage seat tickets are $225 (plus tax and service charge). The seats are up close and personal with 34 located on each side of the stage and at the same level. Main orchestra tickets are $145-175 (plus tax and service charge); rear orchestra tickets $96-$125 (plus tax and service charge) and balcony $115 (plus tax and service charge). Tickets can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box office, online at www.lvhilton.com, www.vegas.com, www.ticketmaster.com and www.Manilow.com or by calling 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The Allman Brothers Band and Onstream Media Break New Ground with Live, 15-Day Webcast of Band's 40th Anniversary Concert Series

Live TV-Like Quality Internet Broadcast Will Bring the Annual Beacon Theatre (NYC) Event to the Band's Global Audience

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Onstream Media Corporation (Nasdaq: ONSM), an online service provider of live and on-demand Internet video, today announced it will be web-casting the Allman Brothers Band's 40th anniversary 15-day concert series, live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City beginning on March 9, 2009. Each three-hour concert will be unique and feature surprise, celebrity musicians in tribute to Duane Allman, the band's original leader, who passed away in 1971.

This combined in-person and online historic event marks a significant shift in the world of music as more and more bands choose to offer broader and more targeted audiences the opportunity to enjoy the live music experience from the comfort of their homes. The online web-casting format also enables bands to increase profit margins by eliminating costly music production and distribution channels.

"We wanted a way to share our special anniversary series with all of our fans worldwide, not just the ones who are able to join us in-person at the Beacon Theatre," said Butch Trucks, drummer and original band member for the Allman Brothers Band. "Onstream Media is a long-standing leader in managing and producing complex, live web-casting events. We would have had to work with multiple service providers to find the type of capabilities that Onstream Media solely provides."

Leveraging the world-class Akamai content delivery network, Onstream Media will use its highly scalable and reliable web-casting solution to stream the events live over www.Moogis.com. The band is also using Onstream's pay-per-view commerce capabilities to charge a fee for individuals to view all 15 concerts live. The events will also be archived for subsequent playback and subscribers can replay any of the concerts for 6 months following the live event. At press time, the entire 15 show series at the Beacon Theatre was sold out and the on-line webcast is now the only way for Allman Brothers fans to experience the entire concert series.

"As an Allman Brothers fan myself, I am thrilled we are able to provide our services to support the band during its historic Beacon Theatre run," said Randy Selman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Onstream Media Corporation. "This is a very special concert series for the band and for its fans, and with our help, their live performances will be shared with thousands around the globe in rich TV-like quality over the Web."

"With Onstream Media, this event also demonstrates a new, viable business model for the changing world of music," added Trucks. We hope that both new and old bands alike start following our lead in order to stay connected with their fans and to generate more direct income from their music."

Onstream Media is also helping to promote the Allman Brothers Band web-casting event through a national, integrated marketing and communications campaign, including targeted email promotions, select online promotions and ongoing public relations efforts. For more information about the Allman Brothers March 9-28, 2009 concert series, please visit www.Moogis.com, and to learn more about Onstream Media and its services, please visit www.Onstreammedia.com.

About Onstream Media:

Onstream Media Corporation (Nasdaq: ONSM) is an online service provider of live and on-demand internet video, corporate web communications and content management applications. Onstream Media's pioneering Digital Media Services Platform (DMSP) provides customers with cost effective tools for encoding, managing, indexing, and publishing content via the Internet. The DMSP provides our clients with intelligent delivery and syndication of video advertising, and supports pay-per-view for online video and other rich media assets. The DMSP also provides an efficient workflow for transcoding and publishing user-generated content in combination with social networks and online video classifieds, utilizing Onstream Media's Auction Video(TM) (patent pending) technology. In addition, Onstream Media provides live and on-demand web-casting, webinars, web and audio conferencing services. In fact, almost half of the Fortune 1000 companies and 78% of the Fortune 100 CEOs and CFOs have used Onstream Media's services.

Select Onstream Media customers include: AOL, AAA, AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, Bonnier Corporation, BT Conferencing, Dell, Deutsche Bank, Disney, National Press Club, NHL, MGM, PRNewswire, Rodale, Inc., Shareholder.com and the U.S. Government. Onstream Media's strategic relationships include Akamai, Adobe, eBay, FiveAcross/Cisco and Qwest. For more information, visit Onstream Media at http://www.onstreammedia.com or call 954-917-6655.

Certain statements in this document and elsewhere by Onstream Media are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes, without limitation, the business outlook, assessment of market conditions, anticipated financial and operating results, strategies, future plans, contingencies and contemplated transactions of the company. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause or contribute to actual results of company operations, or the performance or achievements of the company or industry results, to differ materially from those expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements. In addition to any such risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed elsewhere herein, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from those expressed or implied for the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to fluctuations in demand; changes to economic growth in the U.S. economy; government policies and regulations, including, but not limited to those affecting the Internet. Onstream Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth in Onstream Media Corporation's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Onstream Media Relations:      Onstream Investor Relations:
    Chris Faust                    Brett Maas
    FastLane Communications        Hayden Communications
    973-226-4379                   646-536-7331
    cfaust@fast-lane.net           brett@haydenir.com

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Motley Crue Announces Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus

Last Summer's Most Successful Rock Festival Returns; Public Ticket Pre Sale Begins March 2nd

'Crue Fest was the top touring rock festival of the summer in 2008. Motley Crue ruled the road!' - Rolling Stone

NEW YORK, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Motley Crue, along with some of rock's top touring acts, will hit the road again this summer for Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus. The Live Nation produced tour will visit cities across North America beginning July 19th in Camden, NJ through September 5th in Darien Lake, NY. Full tour details, including the line up, will be revealed at a major press conference broadcast from FUSE TV studios in New York on March 16th, before Motley Crue hits the stage at Madison Square Garden that evening.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090225/LA74925LOGO)

Crue Fest 2 pre sale tickets will be available exclusively to Motley Crue fan club members beginning on February 25th. Beginning on March 2nd, pre sale tickets will be available to the public. Fans can go to www.cruefest2.com for all pre sale information.

Last summer's multi-artist inaugural Crue Fest was the most successful touring rock festival of the summer season, Crue Fest was also the number ten tour overall for the summer of 2008, according to Rolling Stone. Featuring Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. and Trapt, the festival played for nearly half a million rock fans to Live Nation amphitheaters and arenas in 40 cities across North America. Crue Fest attracted strategic partners including MTV's Rock Band Game, FUSE Television, JVC Mobile Electronics, Clear Channel Radio, Best Buy and Fender Guitars, which resulted in a nomination for a 2008 Billboard Award for Concert Marketing & Promotion. Strategic marketing and the wide demographic range both Motley Crue and the other acts represent added to the success of the festival.

Says Motley's Tommy Lee, "Last year at Crue Fest, we set out to have more fun than humans are allowed to have. We succeeded beyond that. This year, we are going to top that and I guarantee we will."

As part of the robust integrated marketing and partnerships, the activities surrounding the announcement of this year's line-up and ticket on-sale include launch parties in local venues and in-theater special screenings of a performance documentary on Crue Fest 1, which will also be released on DVD on March 24th. More details on all of these activities are available at www.motley.com.

About Motley Crue

Motley Crue recently returned to the top of the charts with Saints of Los Angeles, their first new studio album with the original line-up -- Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil -- in a decade and the ninth studio album in their career. Based on the band's New York Times bestseller The Dirt, the disc debuted at #1 on the Independent Album chart and was the top debut of the week on the Billboard Top 200 albums at #4. "Saints of Los Angeles," which was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at this year's Grammy Awards, was also noted as the #1 Rock Song of the Year in 2008 by iTunes critics.

For more information on Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus, please visit: www.cruefest2.com. For more information on Motley Crue, please visit: www.motley.com.

For live footage from Motley Crue's performance at last year's Crue Fest, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnlL5ExbJ0Q.

                  Crue Fest 2: The White Trash Circus Tour Dates
    JULY
    19    Camden, NJ                Susquehanna Bank Center
    21    Cuyahoga Falls, OH        Blossom Music Center
    22    Tinley Park, IL           First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
    24    Minot, ND                 North Dakota State Fair (Motley Crue only)
    27    Auburn, WA                White River Amphitheatre
    28    Portland, OR              The Amphitheater at Clark County
    30    Mountain View, CA         Shoreline Amphitheatre
    31    San Bernardino, CA        San Manuel Amphitheater

    AUGUST
    1     Las Vegas, NV             The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
    3     Salt Lake City, UT        USANA Amphitheatre
    4     Englewood, CO             Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
    5     Albuquerque, NM           Journal Pavilion
    7     Spring, TX                Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    8     Dallas, TX                Superpages.com Center
    9     Kansas City, MO           Sprint Center
    11    Maryland Heights, MO      Verizon Wireless Amphitheater - St. Louis
    12    Indianapolis, IN          Verizon Wireless Music Center
    14    Cincinnati, OH            Riverbend Music Center
    15    Clarkston, MI             DTE Energy Music Theatre
    16    Pittsburgh, PA            Post Gazette Pavilion
    19    Mansfield, MA             Comcast Center
    21    Virginia Beach, VA        Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach
                                     Amphitheater
    22    Bristow, VA               Nissan Pavilion
    23    Raleigh, NC               Time Warner Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek
    29    Atlanta, GA               Lakewood Amphitheatre
    30    Charlotte, NC             Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

    SEPTEMBER
    1     Saratoga Springs, NY      Saratoga Performing Arts Center
    3     Syracuse, NY              New York State Fair (Motley Crue only)
    4     Scranton, PA              Toyota Pavilion
    5     Darien Lake, NY           Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Nokia Australia Announces Comes With Music to Launch on 20th March

SYDNEY, February 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nokia's (NYSE: NOK) revolutionary digital music offer, Comes With Music, will be commercially available in Australia on 20 March 2009 together with the highly anticipated Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, Nokia's first mass market touch screen device.

"While the hot-selling Nokia 5800 XpressMusic has already sold a million devices worldwide*, Australians we will be among the first in the world to get their hands on a Comes With Music-enabled Nokia 5800 XpressMusic when it hits the stores next month," said Emile Baak, General Manager, Nokia Australia and New Zealand.

"We believe that Comes With Music offers great value and will revolutionise the way music lovers can explore, discover and enjoy music. By combining Comes With Music with the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic we are providing a great music great offer on a great device," he said.

The Australian Nokia Music Store has over 4 million tracks from local and international artists. Consumers can either download direct to their 5800 XpressMusic handset or direct to PC and transfer the music across to the device and, unlike most subscription services, anything they download is theirs to keep.

"The fact that you get to keep your downloaded music is what makes Comes With Music unique and great value," Baak said.

Music lovers can stay connected to the music they like, yet no longer worry about the cost of purchasing music by single tracks or album. The freedom and simplicity of the service is unparalleled.

Nokia's other Comes With Music markets to date are the United Kingdom and Singapore.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic

As a handset, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic offers all the music essentials, including a graphic equalizer, 8GB memory for up to 6000 tracks and support for all main digital music formats, and a 3.5mm jack.

Built-in surround sound stereo speakers offer the industry's most powerful sound.

The touch screen interface features an innovative 'Contacts Bar' which lets consumers highlight four favorite contacts on their home-screen and, through a single touch, track a digital history of recent text messages, emails, phone logs, photos and blog updates.

As people around the world use their phones in different ways, the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic offers a variety of input methods including a virtual alphanumeric keypad, a virtual computer-style QWERTY keyboard, a pen stylus -- and for true music enthusiasts, a plectrum will also be included in box.

The 3.2" widescreen display brings photos, video clips and web content to life in vibrant color and true clarity. With a 16:9 aspect ratio and 30 frames-per-second playback and 25 fps recording, the device is ideal for VGA quality video recording and playback.

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic also features a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and, with a single touch, images or videos can be shared via a favorite online community, such as Share on Ovi, Flickr, or Facebook.

Pricing and Availability

The Nokia 5800 XpressMusic will be available on various service provider plans and from leading retailers from 20 March 2009.

The recommended retail price for Nokia 5800 XpressMusic with 12 months subscription to Comes With Music is 979 AUD. The 5800 XpressMusic will also be available with selected service providers with an 18 month Comes With Music subscription at an RRP of 1109 AUD.

Press photos of devices are available at http://www.nokia.com/press

*Nokia announced on 23 January 2009 that it has shipped its millionth Nokia 5800 XpressMusic device.

About Nokia

Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of mobile devices with services and software that enable people to experience music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games, business mobility and more. Developingand growing our offering of consumer Internet services, as well as our enterprise solutions and software, is a keyarea of focus. We also provide equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

http://www.nokia.com.au

http://www.nokia.com

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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No Doubt Announces Summer Tour Dates

TOUR CLUB GUARANTEES ND FANS THE BEST SEATS

Fan club presale begins February 26; National on-sale begins March 7th

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Grammy-winning superstars No Doubt today announced the dates for their much-anticipated summer tour. The tour kicks off May 3 at the Bamboozle Festival in East Rutherford, NJ and runs through August 1 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Irvine, CA, stopping in 45 cities across the country. As previously announced, the band will be joined on the road by special guests Paramore, (and The Sounds, Janelle Monae and Bedouin Soundclash on select dates). No Doubt tickets go on-sale to the public beginning March 7th, visit www.nodoubt.com and www.livenation.com for ticket on-sale information.

To guarantee No Doubt fans get the best seats in the house, the No Doubt

Tour Club has been created. Fans will have special access to presale tickets beginning February 26 at 4pm (local time) through March 1st at 4pm (local time). Fans can now validate their email address to be eligible to join, visit nodoubttourclub.musictoday.com for full details. Tour club ticket quantities are limited.

A unique No Doubt widget launches on February 25th with new exclusive video content direct from the band featured every day from February 28th through March 6th as part of Seven Days of No Doubt. The widget is accessible at www.nodoubt.com and will be activated on February 25th with a special contest running through March 17th during which time fans can join the contest to share the widget with as many friends as possible. Fans who share the widget the most will win prizes including a coveted chance to meet the band, a luxurious limousine ride to the show or rare and collectible No Doubt items. The widget will remain active with new content throughout the tour with additional contest opportunities to be announced.

The tour will also feature $10 and $25 tickets for shows at select amphitheaters throughout the tour.

Tickets for the Bamboozle Festival on May 3rd are currently on sale.

No Doubt 2009 Summer Tour:

    5/03/2009   East Rutherford, NJ  Meadowlands Sports Complex*
                                      (Bamboozle Festival)
    5/16/2009   Las Vegas, NV        Mandalay Bay Events Center
                                      (Tiger Jam XII)**
    5/19/2009   Fresno, CA           Save Mart Center
    5/20/2009   Bakersfield, CA      Rabobank Arena
    5/22/2009   San Diego, CA        Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
    5/23/2009   Phoenix, AZ          Cricket Wireless Pavilion
    5/25/2009   Salt Lake City, UT   The E Center
    5/27/2009   Denver, CO           Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
    5/28/2009   Albuquerque, NM      Journal Pavilion
    5/30/2009   Dallas, TX           Superpages.com Center
    5/31/2009   Houston, TX          Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
    6/02/2009   Tampa, FL            Ford Amphitheatre
    6/03/2009   West Palm Beach, FL  Cruzan Amphitheatre
    6/05/2009   Atlanta, GA          Lakewood Amphitheatre
    6/06/2009   Charlotte, NC        Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
    6/08/2009   Raleigh, NC          Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
    6/10/2009   Virginia Beach, VA   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
    6/11/2009   Philadelphia, PA     Susquehanna Bank Center
    6/13/2009   Pittsburgh, PA       Post-Gazette Pavilion
    6/14/2009   Washington, DC       Nissan Pavilion
    6/16/2009   Toronto, ON          Air Canada Centre
    6/17/2009   Montreal, QC         Centre Bell
    6/19/2009   Darien Center, NY    Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
    6/20/2009   Boston, MA           Comcast Center
    6/24/2009   Uncasville, CT       Mohegan Sun Arena
    6/26/2009   Holmdel, NJ          PNC Bank Arts Center***
    6/27/2009   Wantagh, NY          Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
    6/29/2009   Cleveland, OH        Blossom Music Center
    7/02/2009   Milwaukee, WI        Marcus Amphitheater (Summerfest)
    7/03/2009   Detroit, MI          Palace Of Auburn Hills
    7/05/2009   St. Paul, MN         Xcel Energy Center
    7/06/2009   Kansas City, MO      Starlight Theatre
    7/08/2009   St. Louis, MO        Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
    7/10/2009   Indianapolis, IN     Verizon Wireless Music Center
    7/11/2009   Chicago, IL          First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
    7/13/2009   Winnipeg, MB         MTS Centre
    7/15/2009   Calgary, AB          Pengrowth Saddledome
    7/16/2009   Edmonton, AB         Rexall Place
    7/18/2009   Vancouver, BC        General Motors Place
    7/19/2009   Seattle, WA          White River Amphitheatre
    7/21/2009   Concord, CA          Sleep Train Pavilion
    7/24/2009   Sacramento, CA       Sleep Train Amphitheatre
    7/25/2009   Mountain View, CA    Shoreline Amphitheatre
    7/31/2009   Irvine, CA           Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
    8/01/2009   Irvine, CA           Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

* On sale now.

** Special Event, no tour club presale.

*** Ticket on-sale date to be announced soon.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Mega TV Opens Auditions in Los Angeles for Musical Reality Show to Find the Newest Member of XM2 Group

MIAMI, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Spanish Broadcasting System ("SBS") (Nasdaq: SBSA) announced today that the final round of open auditions to find the newest member of the popular XM2 Group begin this week in Los Angeles. In May, Mega TV, along with Worldvibe Entertainment, will broadcast the new primetime musical reality show "Batalla de las Americas" to find the newest member of the popular XM2 Group. Auditions have already taken place in Miami, New York and Puerto Rico.

Males between the ages of 18-30 can participate in the auditions. They will be asked to show off their triple threat abilities: sing, dance and of course demonstrate their personality for the judges.

Los Angeles auditions will take place at the Avalon Studio on February 27th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and on February 28th from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Several popular SBS Latino 96.3 FM and KLAX DJ's like Raq-C, DJ Eddie One, Brando, David Rolas, Alysha Del Valle, Sandra Pena, DJ Mingo, Barzon and Denisse Garcia will be at each audition to judge the talented contestants.

Four contestants will be chosen to represent Los Angeles in the grand finale of the show. The grand finale of the US musical competition will take place at the "La Covacha" on Thursday, March 19 starting at 8:30 P.M. The grand finale will include the four semi-finalists from Miami competing against the four semi-finalists from Los Angeles and New York. The judges will choose one winner, who will represent the United States in the musical show "Batalla de las Americas."

The reality show "Batalla de las Americas," similar to America's "Making the Band," was created to find the new member of the XM2 Group, which already includes former Menudo members Rawy Torres, Jonathan Montenegro and Sergio Blass. The show will have a total of 20 contestants from over 15 countries battling in fields such as originality, creativity, heart and talent to become the newest member of XM2.

Do not miss this week's final round of open auditions in Los Angeles and the opportunity to be part of this once in a lifetime musical competition, "Batalla de las Americas" -- only on Mega TV.

    Media and Press:
    Isabel Bucaram-Montana
    Director of Marketing and Communications
    Spanish Broadcasting System
    Direct Line: (786) 470-1656
    imontana@sbscorporate.com
    www.mega.tv

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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Yoogli, Inc. Launches YoogliMusic.com, A Free Social Networking & Automated Music Playlist Generation Site Boasting 7 Million Songs and 400,000 Artists

Compatible with iTunes and iPods

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Yoogli, Inc., a software technology company with recent breakthroughs in semantic search, announced today the Beta release of its new music discovery site www.YoogliMusic.com, a free social networking and automated music playlist generation site. YoogliMusic uniquely integrates patented personalization technology with its automated playlist services, daily updated blog, new artist recommendations, aggregate news feeds, wiki-generated artists' pages, and social networking capabilities all on one site. YoogliMusic seamlessly synchronizes with iTunes and provides new music recommendations and recently played music to the user's personal Yoogli profile.

YoogliMusic's entry into the music space allows users to find and create playlists that match their music library and music tastes. In addition, using patented personalization and search technologies, new artists and customized playlists are continuously recommended to the user from a database of over 7,000,000 songs and 400,000 artists.

YoogliMusic creates custom playlists automatically and will spin a unique playlist that matches the user's mood and musical interests on demand. The technology can either create a unique music playlist completely out of the user's own library or a separate playlist that contains new track recommendations gleaned from the Internet and YoogliMusic's database to meet a user's immediate listening needs. Independent artists are able to promote their music via their own free personal music site on YoogliMusic thus offering a fresh new venue in which to showcase their music on the Internet.

"The entire process of personal playlist generation takes less than a few seconds and the new playlist can easily be uploaded into the user's iPod," said Jonathan Kerwin, YoogliMusic's co-founder. "The site is an ideal vehicle for music lovers because it has great insight into the particular types of music that the user is interested in at an exact moment in time. Users can share their customized playlists with their friends as well as collaborate in building out artist profiles to help promote the music and bands they love. All of this allows YoogliMusic to be a comprehensive music experience for all involved."

About Yoogli, Inc.

Yoogli is delivering the next generation of Internet search products. Yoogli's patented meaning-based semantic search technology advances beyond current keyword search technology by producing a deep understanding of users and semantic meaning. Yoogli's team of engineers has created pioneering methods to connect people directly with information that is most valuable and useful to them. In addition, the Company's patented collaborative filtering technology is at the forefront of "semantic networking" the next step beyond "social networking" used today by Facebook and MySpace. This breakthrough technology is scheduled to be released in March 2009. Yoogli is headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif. For more information, visit www.yoogli.com.

[Via http://www.prnewswire.com]
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