A new and exciting hip hop, rap and R&B internet radio station will go ‘Live’ on Sept. 1st 2006 at 12:00 pm (noon – PST).
 
On this date www.CRNLive.com will activate their sister station www.TLARadio which stands for Thug Life Army Radio and this station is sure to become THE station around the world bringing you the best selections that hip hop and rap have to offer.
 
This will be an 18 and over feed, ensuring that the music will be broadcast in its original form, uncut and raw. Real hip hop the way it is suppose to be. From ‘Classic’ hip hop and rap tracks to some of the finest unsigned hip hop artists are showcased on the new Thug Life Army Radio – www.TLARadio.com
 
Tune in to www.TLARadio.com  on September 1, 2006, at 12:00pm (noon) PST and see what the talk is about.
 
If you are a hip hop or rap artist looking to get your tracks played, email us at Music@TLARadio.com ; also all comments and feedback are welcome.
 
Thug Life Army Radio is Powered by CRNLive.com
 
Contact
Robert
513-673-3144
Music@TLARadio.com

Snoop Dogg, Biohazard and Korn are the First to Receive Starlight Tattoo’s Elite Diamond Club Cards

Rapper Jim Jones Gets Inked by Barth at AOL Style Studio

NEW YORK, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ — World-renowned tattoo artist, Mario Barth of Starlight Tattoo was the first-ever tattoo artist to perform services at VMA week for celebrity guests. Barth, who has a one-and-a-half year waiting list, tattooed rapper Jim Jones at the AOL Style Studio on Wednesday, August 30.

Jones, along with Snoop Dogg, Biohazard and Korn were the first to receive Barth’s amazing Elite Diamond Club Cards. The cards, which have nearly two carats of diamonds encrusted on them, allow the bearer to be flown by private jet or first class, to Barth’s location within 48 hours for a private ink session free of charge.

Celebrities also signed a custom-made leather embroidered chair that Barth will auction off for CureSearch, Childhood Cancer Foundation.

The chair was signed by VMA nominees: Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, All American Rejects, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg and Young Joc. Additionally, artists such as Saigon, Hulk Hogan, Disturbed, DJ Skribble, Hatebreed, Jim Jones, Fieldy of Korn, Evan Seinfeld of Biohazard and Jordan Knight inked the chair for a very worthy cause.

ALL PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON WWW.STARLIGHTTATTOO.COM

Source: Mario Barth of Starlight Tattoo

CONTACT: Lindsey von Busch, +1-732-284-9089, lindsey575@aol.com, Mario
Barth of Starlight Tattoo

Web site: http://www.starlighttattoo.com/

On September 1st, one of the leading international hip-hop battle websites, www.hiphop-battles.com, relaunched to introduce a brand new design and a new free arena for graffiti battles.

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, September 1, 2006 – With the launch of the second version of www.hiphop-battles.com on September 1st, a third battle arena for graffiti graphic battles was introduced to the website, next to the older arenas for rap and beatbox audio battles. The graffiti arena was a response to the high demand in the hip-hop and graffiti scene, which currently lacks legal ways for competing art skills with graffiti writers from all over the world.

Hiphop-battles.com provides hip-hop fans and artists with free access to over 15,000 legal hip-hop mp3s and a way to vote in ongoing battles in a democratic voting system. The ranking system tells the visitor about “who is hot and who is not” and orients new users, to find the most interesting battles. In its second version, www.hiphop-battles.com also received a total makeover, and shines with a brand new design. Switching to another interface language or to another arena got much easier, and can now be controlled from everywhere on the website.

With the rap, beatbox and the new graffiti battle arena, www.hiphop-battles.com now combines three important elements of hip-hop, and strengthens its position as leading hip-hop battle website.

For more information about the relaunch of hiphop-battles.com or the new online graffiti battle feature, please visit www.hiphop-battles.com/press/, or contact Michael Scheel via eMail press@hiphop-battles.com.

About hiphop-battles.com

www.hiphop-battles.com is a unique online competition platform for international hip-hop artists focusing on audio and graphic battles. With over 11,000 members and more then 8000 battles we have become one of the leading hip-hop competition websites. HipHop-Battles.com enables artists to compete their rap, beatbox and graffiti skills with other artists from around the globe. Hip-hop fans get free access to over 15,000 legal mp3s and the constantly growing community is producing new content on a daily basis.

 ###

Contact:
Michael Scheel
Madebypeople Network
eMail: press@hiphop-battles.com
Web: www.hiphop-battles.com/press/

Seattle , WA

African Hip Hop sensation Gokh-Bi System (a.k.a GBS) from Dakar, Senegal joins a killer lineup including Kanye West and A Tribe Called Quest at Bumbershoot 2006, the biggest contemporary music and arts festival in North America.  GBS will be performing in front of 6,500 at the Bumbrella stage on Sunday, September 3rd at 3:30 PM during Seattle’s favorite end of summer party.  Other performers include Steve Miller Band, Blondie, Badly Drawn Boy, Alejandro Escovedo and Zero 7.  For more information about the three-day festival at the 74 acre Seattle Center , visit www.bumbershoot.org.
 
Doug Deutsch
A ROUND WORLD Music
AMU Music
“Ancient Meets Urban (TM)”
 
tel: 917.885.7475

www.ancientmeetsurban.com
www.gokhbisystem.com
www.aroundworld.net

Concert Locations Include Boston, Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota, Washington, D.C., Beijing, Tokyo, Cairo, Johannesburg, London and Paris 
 
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” -Aldous Huxley
 
New York – On the fifth anniversary of the September 11th tragedy, thousands of musicians will fill the skies across the country and the world with music as part of the Fifth Annual September Concert, a program launched in 2002 to bring communities together, to reaffirm our hope for peace and to celebrate life and our universal humanity. Veronica Kelly, Project Coordinator of the September Concert, announced that musicians who are performing will pause at 2 p.m./ EST for a sing-along of this year’s anthem of hope and peace, “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles.  
 
“We are so pleased to announce this expansion of The September Concert to cities across the country and around the world,” said Haruko Smith, president, The September Concert.  “We are deeply gratified by the enthusiasm people around the world have had for the project.  Everyone understands the universal language of music.  Our goal is to use the power of music to spread the message of peace throughout the world, and our expansion signals that we are definitely accomplishing that.”
 
Development partners who have donated space and resources include Fisher Brothers Management, Paramount Group, RFR Realty, Reckson Associates Realty Corp, Rudin Management, Tishman Speyer Properties, Vornado Realty Trust and many more. Additional organizations involved include Musicians on Call and Musicians Under the City of New York. Fox Television serves as the broadcast media sponsor.
 
Special concerts on September 11th in New York City will include the NYC Police Band performing at Rockefeller Center; the New York Pops at the United Nations; and the New York Choral Society at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. More concert venues include Central Park, Herald Square, Madison Square Park, Union Square, Washington Square Park, The Bitter End, The Living Room, the Jazz Standard and many more.
 
Concerts are now planned in 73 cities – including 44 U.S. cities and 29 more internationally. In the U.S., concerts are planned in Boston, Oakland, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota and a special U.S. Navy Band performance at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C. All concerts are free, and feature all kinds of music, from hip-hop and pop rock to classical and world music. They are organized and performed by professionals, semi-professionals as well as up-and-coming newcomers.
 
International cities involved in celebrating this global day of peace include Beijing, Tokyo, Cairo, Johannesburg, London and Paris, with the list continuing to expand.
 
In 2005, the September Concert Foundation organized 117 concerts with more than 2,000 performers. Although primarily focused in the New York area, the Foundation continues to expand and has partnered this year with a variety of national and international groups.
 
Anyone wishing to participate – by playing music, by offering a space for a performance, by volunteering their time, or by sponsoring – can do so by signing up at www.SeptemberConcert.org. 
 
The September Concert adheres to the following three principles:
 
• Freedom: All venues and musicians are free to design and organize their own concert.
• Equality: All music and all musicians are treated equally, regardless of the genre and background.
• Accessibility: All music is offered free of charge. 
                                              
For the most up-to-date program, see the Concert Listings page on the website www.SeptemberConcert.org.

Rubenstein Communications, Inc.
Marisa Wayne  212-843-9216 / mwayne@rubenstein.com

Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 18, on TNT

Cicely Tyson to Receive Distinguished Career Achievement Award

Laurence Fishburne Honored Excellence in Arts Award

Lady Sings the Blues Slated to be Inducted into Classic Cinema Hall of Fame

Nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture of the Year Include Akeelah & the Bee, ATL, Four Brothers, Inside Man, Madea’s Family Reunion and Tsotsi

Suzanne de Passe and Jeff Friday to Executive-Produce Event

Complete List of Nominations Attached

ATLANTA, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Tyler Perry – who has wowed audiences with such blockbuster movies as Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion, as well as the popular syndicated series Tyler Perry’s House of Payne – has signed on to host Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS – A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future, presented by Turner Network Television (TNT). The gala awards show, which launched on TNT last year, recognizes creative achievement by persons of African descent in feature-length motion pictures, both in front of and behind the camera, and honors outstanding films portraying the Black experience. This year’s top award nominees include Akeelah & the Bee and ATL, each of which earned four nominations, including Outstanding Motion Picture of the Year, and Inside Man, Madea’s Family Reunion, Something New and Waist Deep, each of which earned three nominations.

Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS, executive produced by Suzanne de Passe, CEO of de Passe Entertainment and Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc., will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.

Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson will receive the Distinguished Career Achievement Award, recognizing a career that includes such films as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Woman Called Moses and TNT’s Heat Wave. And Laurence Fishburne, a nominee for his work this year in Akeelah & the Bee, will receive the Excellence in Arts Award.

Sidney J. Furie’s 1972 biographical movie Lady Sings the Blues, which features Diana Ross as jazz legend Billie Holiday, will be inducted into the Black Movie Awards Classic Cinema Hall of Fame. The film, which marked Ross’ motion picture debut, also stars Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor.

Tyler Perry’s movie Madea’s Family Reunion, is a triple-nominee, for Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting (Tyler Perry), Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Lynn Whitfield) and Outstanding Motion Picture. Other Outstanding Motion Picture nominees include Akeelah & the Bee, ATL, Four Brothers, Inside Man and Tsotsi.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role include Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots), Tyrese Gibson (Waist Deep), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Shadowboxer) and Denzel Washington (Inside Man).

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role nominees include Halle Berry (X-Men: The Last Stand), Meagan Good (Waist Deep), Sanaa Lathan (Something New), Queen Latifah (Last Holiday) and Keke Palmer (Akeelah & the Bee).

The 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS will be taped at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 15. A prominent committee of film critics, entertainment editors and prestigious members of the artistic community choose nominees and recipients of the awards from a list of eligible films released in the U.S. between Aug. 1, 2005, and July 31, 2006. Press credentials for the ceremony can be obtained at http://www.turner.com/press/2006_BMA_Credential_Form.doc.

Host Tyler Perry, whose screenplay for Diary of a Mad Black Woman was honored last year in the Outstanding Achievement in Writing category, emerged from the poverty-stricken streets of New Orleans in a remarkable rags-to- riches story. His younger days were troubled, and he suffered from endless abuse from his father. In 1992, inspired by Oprah to write it down, he wrote a series of letters to himself in an effort to find a catharsis for his own childhood pain. Those same letters would eventually evolve to become Perry’s first stage production, the hit musical I Know I’ve Been Changed.

Perry followed that production with Woman, Thou Art Loosed and Behind Closed Doors, both collaborations with Bishop T.D. Jakes. In 2000, he wrote I Can Do Bad All By Myself and introduced 68-year-old Mable “Madea” Simmons, making her a household name across the country. He reprised the character in Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Family Reunion and Class Reunion. In 2004, he wrote and produced Madea’s Christmas Play for Trinity Broadcasting Network, netting huge ratings.

Perry defied the odds in 2005 when the film version of Diary of a Mad Black Woman opened as the #1 movie in America. He followed it in 2006 with equally successful film Madea’s Family Reunion, as well as the stage production Madea Goes to Jail, which sold out for every performance.

Perry continued to set new heights for African-Americans in the entertainment industry this year with the debut of his syndicated comedy series House of Payne, which has scored huge ratings during its ground- breaking test run this summer.

Perry has appeared twice on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he talked about his childhood and the power of forgiveness. He was nominated for the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Excellence in Theatre and for MTV’s Breakthrough Man of the Year. He was also named 2004 Black Business Professionals Entrepreneur of the Year.

Jeff Friday, creator of the BLACK MOVIE AWARDS and the American Black Film Festival, has made a name in the film industry by providing opportunities for independent Black filmmakers to showcase their work to an ever-broadening audience through the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Since its inception, the ABFF has explored, rewarded and redefined artistic excellence in international Black cinema. It has grown to be recognized as the #1 film market for Black and urban content. In addition to its film showcases, the ABFF is committed to nurturing artists in a variety of disciplines and offers educational workshops and seminars for actors, filmmakers and writers throughout the week.

The ABFF, founded in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York- based marketing, media and production company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies and related entertainment content.

Back for the second year, Oscar(R) nominee Suzanne de Passe will again serve as Executive Producer and Head Writer. Her long list of award-winning, high-profile shows and specials includes the Emmy(R)-winning Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and Motown Returns to the Apollo. Additionally, she executive-produced The Essence Awards in 2002 and 2003, as well as the annual NAACP Image Awards over a three-year period, concluding in 2003. She has also executive-produced such memorable television miniseries as Lonesome Dove, The Jacksons: An American Dream, Buffalo Girls, Small Sacrifices and The Temptations.

Her Academy Award(R) nomination came for co-writing the screenplay for Lady Sings the Blues.

Turner Network Television (TNT), a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television’s destination for drama and one of cable’s top-rated networks. It offers original movies and series, including the blockbuster detective series The Closer, starring Emmy(R), Golden Globe(R) and Screen Actors Guild Awards(R) nominee Kyra Sedgwick; Saved, a new character-driven drama starring Tom Everett Scott; and this summer’s four-week television event Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King. TNT is also home to powerful one-hour dramas, such as Without a Trace, Law & Order, Las Vegas, Cold Case, ER, Charmed and Judging Amy; broadcast premiere movies; compelling prime-time specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R); and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is also available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and a leading provider of programming for the television industry.

This information can also be accessed on TBS, Inc.’s press site at http://www.turnerinfo.com/.

Nominations list attached.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Presley Chweneyagae (as Tsotsi) – Tsotsi Miramax Films
Chiwetel Ejiofor (as Lola ) – Kinky Boots Miramax Films
Tyrese Gibson (as O2) – Waist Deep Rogue Pictures (Focus)
Cuba Gooding, Jr. (as Mikey) – Shadowboxer Freestyle Releasing
Denzel Washington (as Keith Frazier) – Inside Man Universal Pictures

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mos Def (as Eddie Bunker) – 16 Blocks Warner Bros. Pictures
Laurence Fishburne (as Dr. Larabee)
- Akeelah & the Bee Lionsgate
Jamie Foxx (as Staff Sgt. Sykes) – Jarhead Universal Pictures
Hubert Kounde (as Arnold Bluhm)
- The Constant Gardener Focus Features
Jeffrey Wright (as Bennett Holiday) – Syriana Warner Bros. Pictures

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Halle Berry (as Ororo Munro/Storm)
- X-Men: The Last Stand 20th Century Fox
Meagan Good (as Coco) – Waist Deep Rogue Pictures (Focus)
Sanaa Lathan (as Kenya McQueen) – Something New Focus Features
Queen Latifah (as Georgia Byrd) – Last Holiday Paramount/Universal
Keke Palmer (as Akeelah) – Akeelah & the Bee Lionsgate

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Angela Bassett (as Tanya Anderson)
- Akeelah & the Bee Lionsgate
Rosario Dawson (as Mimi Marquez) – Rent Sony Pictures
Lauren London (as New New) – ATL Warner Bros. Pictures
Lynn Whitfield (as Victoria)
- Madea’s Family Reunion Lionsgate
Alfre Woodard (as Joyce McQueen) – Something New Focus Features

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENWRITING
Tina Gordon Chism – ATL Warner Bros. Pictures
Rob Hardy – The Gospel Screen Gems
Tyler Perry – Madea’s Family Reunion Lionsgate
Kriss Turner – Something New Focus Features
Norman Vance, Jr. – Roll Bounce Fox Searchlight
Pictures

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Vondie Curtis-Hall – Waist Deep Rogue Pictures (Focus)
Malcolm D. Lee – Roll Bounce Fox Searchlight
Pictures
Spike Lee – Inside Man Universal Pictures
Chris Robinson – ATL Warner Bros. Pictures
John Singleton – Four Brothers Paramount Pictures

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE
Akeelah & the Bee (Producers: Laurence Fishburne,
Nancy Hult Ganis, Sid Ganis, Danny Llewelyn,
Michael Romersa) Lionsgate
ATL (Producers: Dallas Austin, Jody Gerson,
James Lassiter, Will Smith, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins)Warner Bros. Pictures
Four Brothers (Producer: Lorenzo di Bonaventura) Paramount Pictures
Inside Man (Producer: Brian Grazer) Universal Pictures
Madea’s Family Reunion (Producers: Reuben Cannon,
Tyler Perry) Lionsgate
Tsotsi (Producer: Peter Fudakowski) Miramax Films

Source: TNT

CONTACT: Michelle Sisco, Atlanta, +1-404-885-4784, or
michelle.sisco@turner.com, or Samantha Graham, New York, +1-212-275-8016, or
samantha.graham@turner.com, or Diane Herzog, Los Angeles, +1-310-788-6796, or
diane.herzog@turner.com, all of TNT

Web site: http://www.tnt.tv/
http://www.turner.com/press/2006_BMA_Credential_Form.doc
http://www.turnerinfo.com/

Take Your Fight to the Streets and Experience the Ultimate Hip Hop Fighting Game for the PSP

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 31, 2006–Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS), in partnership with Def Jam Enterprises, is proud to announce Def Jam(R) Fight For NY(TM): The Takeover is in stores now across North America. With a whole new story mode, new moves, new venues, and head to head wireless gameplay, Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover is this year’s must-have title for the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) System.

Create a fighter from the ground up, choosing from thousands of unlockable licensed gear to personalize your hip hop character. Master over 180 new moves and five different fighting styles to rise through the ranks and gain respect amongst your crew to ultimately rule the streets of New York City.

Take on friends head to head in wireless Battle Mode or 1-vs-1 Death Match. There are over 24 interactive venues to choose from with everything from destructible objects to rowdy spectators that get involved in the action.

The first officially licensed hip hop fighting videogame for the Sony PSP system , Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover features over 40 of the hottest names in hip hop including Ludacris, Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes. Developed in Vancouver, B.C., by EA Canada, Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB. Screenshots and Fact Sheet can be downloaded at http://info.ea.com.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems, personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA(TM), EA SPORTS BIG(TM) and POGO(TM). In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

Electronic Arts, EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, and POGO are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Def Jam(R) and Fight For NY(TM) and all associated logos and marks are used under license from DJR Holdings, LLC and Simcoh, LLC. Def Jam artists appear courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group. “PlayStation” and PSP are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo(TM) may be required (sold separately). All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts
Electronic Arts Inc.
Amanda Hatton, 604-456-4386
ahatton@ea.com
Robin Chandler, 650-628-7223
rchandler@ea.com

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 30, 2006–Southern California, forget those stuffy church services that have kept you apart from God way too long. And prepare your hearts, souls and dancing shoes, because Kurtis Blow is in the house–or will be soon, as the legendary rap pioneer brings his popular Harlem-based Hip Hop Church America out West for a spectacular, inspiring afternoon and evening on the grounds of the world-famous Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove.

The concert is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 21, from 3-7 p.m. at the Cathedral’s giant grass lawn, affectionately called “The Green Mile” by parishioners.

The Cathedral’s Bobby Schuller will host the event. In addition to a headline performance by Blow, the show will include sets by 2Five (featuring DJ BattleCat), Eastwood (featuring DJ BattleCat), Takim and TraCee.
“Over the years, the demographics of the membership of the Cathedral have changed from very suburban to a more urban community,” says Schuller. “The hip-hop scene is huge in Southern California, and part of my role with the church is integrating emerging worldviews and cultures into our ministry.

“We’re reaching out to a lot of kids in Garden Grove and surrounding communities who have gotten on the wrong path in life, living in a nihilistic, post-modern survival mode as perpetuated by some of their hip-hop heroes,” he adds. “By bringing Hip Hop Church America here, we’re showing that hip hop can be both cool and fun but also have a positive message.”
As the host, DJ, MC and worship leader of Hip Hop Church America, Blow’s mission is to make the worship experience exciting for parishioners of all ages.

Hip Hop Church America is currently being developed into an exciting national TV show by the Newport Beach-based The Machine Productions, a multimedia entertainment company which is providing positive audio and visual entertainment to a diverse, international consumer group.
Michael Nason, The Machine Productions President and Co-Founder–and one of Hip Hop Church America’s Executive Producers–has a unique, longtime association with the Crystal Cathedral. For close to 30 years, he produced, promoted and bought airtime for Robert Schuller’s renowned “Hour of Power” show, which is broadcast weekly to over 15 million people worldwide.

Contacts
Luck Media & Marketing, Inc.
Guy McCain, 310-860-9170

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 30, 2006–U.S. performing right organization BMI saluted the premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 6th Annual Urban Awards held Aug. 30 in New York City. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Atlanta Writer/Publisher VP Catherine Brewton, the red carpet was hopping at the star-studded ceremony, which took place at the famed Roseland Ballroom.
Mariah Carey took home two of the night’s top honors, including Song of the Year for her smash “We Belong Together” and Songwriter of the Year, which she shared with Miami-based producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin. A highlight of the gala event was a special presentation to prolific songwriting and production team Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Antonio “L.A.” Reid, who were named BMI Icons for their “enduring influence on generations of music makers.”

Other big winners included rapper Kanye West, who earned the Producer of the Year title for the second consecutive year; Warner/Chappell Music Group, named Urban Publisher of the Year; and Jazze Pha’s “1, 2 Step,” which nabbed the BMI Urban Ringtone Award. Executives from music trade magazine Billboard were also on hand to give out No. 1 Awards to the BMI songs that reached the top spot on its urban music charts.

Song of the Year “We Belong Together,” which Carey co-wrote, ruled the top of multiple charts for months after its release in 2005, relaunching the five-octave singer’s career back into superstardom. Carey also picked up her third BMI Songwriter of the Year award at the ceremony for placing three songs on the most-performed list (“Don’t Forget About Us,” “Shake It Off,” “We Belong Together”). She shared the songwriter spotlight with Dirty South producers Bigg D and Jim Jonsin, who also had three songs on the most-played list with the co-writes “Let’s Go” by Trick Daddy (featuring Lil Jon & Twista), and Pretty Ricky’s “Grind With Me” and “Your Body.”
Seven-time BMI Songwriter of the Year Babyface and Island Def Jam Chairman L.A. Reid then took the stage to accept their BMI Icon honors. With more than a dozen Grammys between them, including the Producer of the Year crown they shared in 1993, the LaFace Records co-founders are responsible for launching the careers of such multi-platinum artists as Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Pink. The list of stars that the hitmaking pair has worked with — both together and individually — includes Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Celine Dion, Eric Clapton, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Outkast, Dido, Ciara, Jay-Z, and Songwriter of the Year Mariah Carey.

BMI Producer of the Year honors went to Kanye West for the second year in a row. The BMI Top 10 Urban Producers list also included Mr. Collipark, Pharrell Williams, Lil Jon, R. Kelly, Sean Garrett, Jazze Pha, Cool & Dre, Rodney Jerkins, and Songwriters of the Year Bigg D and Jim Jonsin.
Warner/Chappell Music Group was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by scoring the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs.
“1, 2 Step,” written by BMI Top 10 Urban Producer Jazze Pha and published by Bubba Gee Music, Noontime Tunes and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., received the BMI Urban Ringtone Award for tallying the most downloads during the award period.

In addition to the BMI performance awards, Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers whose songs reached No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year. Kanye West’s “Gold Digger,” featuring Jamie Foxx and writing credits by Renald Richard and the late Ray Charles, topped all four charts.
BMI is an American performing right organization that represents more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music, with a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works from around the world.

For a complete list of 2006 BMI Urban Awards winners, please visit bmi.com/urban. High-resolution photos from the event will be available at press.bmi.com. To request access, please contact mediarelations@bmi.com.

Contacts
BMI
Hanna Pantle, 310-289-6328
hpantle@bmi.com

Recognized by Leading Performing Rights Organization for Outstanding Achievement by Urban Music Songwriters

NEW YORK, NY — (Market Wire – Aug 31, 2006) – Warner/Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG), and one of the world’s largest music publishers, was named ‘Publisher of the Year’ at BMI’s 6th Annual Urban Music Awards in New York City on Wednesday. The award ceremony recognized the songwriters, publishers and producers of the top BMI urban songs played on American radio and television and marks the first time that Warner/Chappell has won this award.

“This award is industry recognition of Warner/Chappell’s reemergence, strength and presence in urban music, a genre of music that influences fashion, dance and other aspects of popular culture,” said Richard Blackstone, Chairman and CEO, Warner/Chappell Music. “We are delighted to receive this award from BMI, and we are extremely proud that Warner/Chappell’s talented songwriters are writing many of hip-hop, rap and R&B’s biggest hits.”

“Two years ago, Warner/Chappell had practically taken itself out of the new urban market,” said Christopher Hicks, Vice President A&R Urban, Warner/Chappell Music. “The arrival of new leadership at Warner/Chappell brought a renewed commitment and greater energy and resources dedicated to the urban genre, as well as to developing writers and building dominance in the urban market. We are extremely satisfied with this recognition of the important progress we have made and the momentum we now have as a leading publisher of urban music. This award is an indication of where Warner/Chappell is going and where we intend to stay.”

Warner/Chappell’s re-emergence as a power player in urban music began with a Grammy Award-winning Warner/Chappell writer co-writing the No. 1 charting songs “Burn” and “Confessions Pt. 2″ (Bryan Michael Cox) from Usher’s “Confessions” album. Those achievements were followed by Warner/Chappell writer contributions to No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart from Fat Joe (“Lean Back”), Ciara (“Goodies”), Mariah Carey (“We Belong Together” and “Don’t Forget About Us”), Bow Wow featuring Ciara (“Like You”) and Kanye West (“Golddigger”).

“Achieving this kind of success doesn’t happen overnight,” said Blackstone, “and building on that success comes through the patient execution of a sound strategy. At Warner/Chappell, we believe that we now have the right team in place to execute our strategy of signing marquee artists, developing promising young writers, and exploiting our vast and diverse catalog. While there is still much work to be done, we are well on our way toward accomplishing our goal of being the No. 1 destination for Urban writers.”

This award comes at a moment when Warner/Chappell’s increasing dominance in urban music is being demonstrated through the recent hit singles:

* “Be Without You” (songwriter Bryan Michael Cox)
* “What U Know” (songwriter T.I.)
* “It’s Goin’ Down,” (songwriter Yung Joc)
* “Crazy,” (songwriter Cee-Lo Green)
* “Promiscuous” (songwriter Timbaland & Danjahandz)
* “Torn” (songwriters Teddy Bishop and Dave Young)
* “Shoulder Lean” (songwriters Young Dro & T.I.)
* “Why U Wanna,” (songwriter T.I.)
* “Entourage” (songwriter Eric Hudson)
* “Hustlin’” (songwriter Rick Ross)
* “Do It” (songwriter Don Vito)

“One of Warner/Chappell’s strengths lies in how closely we work with our affiliate record labels. We are willing to employ every resource available to us within the Warner Music Group for the benefit of our writers and our Company,” says Hicks.

Warner/Chappell’s successful strategy is reflected in its interests in numerous chart-topping songs on Billboard’s urban charts, including Ciara’s “One, Two Step” and “Get Up,” Pretty Ricky’s “Grind With Me,” Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin’,” Trillville’s “Some Cut,” Mariah Carey’s “Shake it Off,” Nelly’s “Grills,” Ludacris’ “Pimipin’ All Over the World,” and D4L’s “Laffy Taffy.” Warner/Chappell also had significant participation in a string of No. 1 debuting albums on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart over the last year including albums from Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Lil’ Wayne, T.I., india.arie, Donnell Jones, LeToya and Yung Joc.

This recent string of hits has earned Warner/Chappell a reputation for identifying and developing some of the industry’s most exciting new songwriters and providing them with the opportunity to collaborate on several high profile projects. Warner/Chappell solicited and placed four songs on Mariah Carey’s “Emancipation of Mimi” album, five songs on Mary J. Blige’s “Breakthrough” album. In addition, Warner/Chappell participates in all but two songs on LeToya’s album which recently debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart.

Warner/Chappell’s U.S. roster of talented urban writers includes: Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Bryan Michael Cox, T.I., Jazzy Pha, Kay Gee, Danjahandz, Lil Wayne, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Fat Joe, Yung Joc, Fabo, Trillville, JUSTICE League, Rockwilder, Young Dro, Dave Young, Don Cannon, Teddy Bishop, Drumma Boy, Zak Wallace, Eric Hudson, india.arie, Don Vito, Donnell Jones and others. Warner/Chappell is proud to work closely and have cooperative relationships with Noontime Music, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Grand Hustle Publishing, Swishahouse Publishing and Block Entertainment.

Founded in 1939, BMI is an American performing rights organization representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers in all genres of music. BMI collects license fees on behalf of those American creators it represents, as well as thousands of creators from around the world who chose BMI for representation in the United States. The license fees BMI collects for the “public performances” of its repertoire of more than 6.5 million compositions — including radio airplay, broadcast and cable television carriage, Internet and live and recorded performances by all other users of music-are distributed as royalties to the writers, composers and copyright holders it represents.

About Warner/Chappell Music

Warner/Chappell Music is WMG’s award-winning global music publishing company. The Warner/Chappell Music catalog includes standards such as “Happy Birthday To You,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Winter Wonderland,” the songs of Cole Porter and George and Ira Gershwin, as well as the music of Dido, Dr. Dre, Eric Clapton, Green Day, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Nickelback, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sheryl Crow, T.I. and others. Warner/Chappell Music is a leader in creating innovative strategies for marketing and promoting its songwriters and their music. The company’s extensive catalog makes it a natural first stop for A&R executives and record producers, feature film and television production companies, and others looking to record or license some of the world’s greatest music.

Contact:
Amanda Collins
Warner/Chappell Music
212/275-2213