BACARDI B-LIVE Music Event Celebrates Collaboration with headliners Sean Paul, Talib Kweli, Calle 13 and DJ Mark Ronson

BACARDI & (BAM) Brooklyn Academy Of Music Celebrate 25k Music Donation

B-LIVE & BAMCafe Live Announce Lead Sponsorship of New Fall 2008 Season

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ — BACARDI & BAM together celebrated their 1st music partnership in both their nearly 150 existing years. BACARDI B-LIVE made a 25K donation to BAM in support of the New York City/Brooklyn arts & music culture, which BAM has nurtured since its inception. BACARDI B- LIVE & BAM held a check presentation before the inaugural showcase last night at BAMCafe featuring rock/blues singer Scott Sharrard.

At the presentation BACARDI B-LIVE announced performances by Sean Paul, Talib Kweli, Calle 13 and DJ Mark Ronson taking place tonight (September 22nd) at the Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Old Navy Yard, while BAMCafe Live announced their new Fall 2008 season.

"BAMCafe was designed to be a ‘Public living room’ where live jazz, pop, world, classical and spoken-word concerts showcase young and emerging talent. The synergy between that and B-LIVE’s main goals were natural, we are glad to have BACARDI as a sponsor," says Lynn Stirrup, VP of Planning & Development for BAM.

The already sold-out BACARDI B-LIVE Event is a global music affair showcasing leading international, and emerging regional talent. Brian Shaifer, brand manager for BACARDI, summed up the partnership commenting, "The collaboration between the artists Sean Paul, Talib Kweli, Calle 13 and Mark Ronson were all apart of B-LIVE’s main core, to fuse intellectual and artistic endeavors for the sake of a memorable experience — This is what B-LIVE & BACARDI Rum are about."

For video footage of BACARDI B-LIVE event see below: (Satellite GPS further down) http://gateway-productions.com/upload/blivenyc/

About BACARDI B-LIVE

BACARDI B-LIVE is a global program of music events from the world’s leading premium rum brand. BACARDI B-LIVE showcases leading international and emerging regional artists, providing them with the opportunity to collaborate, delivering exceptional audiovisual experiences and promoting spontaneity through audience participation. There is a taped satellite feed available for download at the coordinates below.

About BACARDI Rum

In 1862, Don Facundo BACARDI revolutionized the spirits industry when he created BACARDI Rum, the world’s first light bodied rum, in Santiago de Cuba.

BACARDI Rum is America’s most popular premium spirit and the world’s favorite rum. Today, BACARDI Rum is produced in Puerto Rico, following the production legacy set forth by Don Facundo — crafted in a five step distillation process, aged in American white oak barrels, and filtered five times for unparalleled quality and smoothness. Renowned for its unsurpassed mix ability and great tasting drinks, BACARDI Rum is enjoyed with cola, Mojito cocktails, daiquiris and coladas and with juices, soda, or on the rocks.

About BAM

America’s oldest performing arts institution in continuous operation, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is recognized internationally for innovative dance, music, and theater programming-including its renowned Next Wave Festival. BAM also features an acclaimed repertory film program, literary and visual art events, and extensive educational programs. The institution is led by President Karen Brooks Hopkins and Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo.

Source: BACARDI USA

CONTACT: Chris Chambers, The Chamber Group, +1-646-792-2974 or
+1-917-699-3540, or chris@thechambergroup.com, or Aimee Morris,
+1-917-669-7044, or aimeemorris@nyc.rr.com, both for B-LIVE

Web site: http://www.bliveny.com/
http://gateway-productions.com/upload/blivenyc

NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos available at Getty Images