-Featured Performances by Ghostface Killah, Digable Planets and The Alchemist-

NEW YORK, Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ — Red Bull Big Tune has spent the year scouting the nation in search of the next true talent with the "big tune." The unstoppable music producer battle and education program is quickly approaching its final face off of 2008. A pool of nearly 100 emerging U.S. music producers battled in regional competitions from Los Angeles to Detroit in the hopes of advancing to the national finals in New York City. The final showdown featuring the top 16 producers will take place at the Highline Ballroom on December 3, 2008. The ultimate Red Bull Big Tune national champion will earn an opportunity to record a track with their choice of Common, Nas, Lupe Fiasco or The Game at Red Bull Studios Santa Monica. Additionally, the winner will receive custom studio equipment and national bragging rights.

  (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081120/LATH081)

                                 THE GAME

The head-to-head competition gives each producer 90-seconds to prove themselves and stay in the game. What makes Red Bull Big Tune truly unique is that there are no celebrity judges. The crowd determines who will advance and who will go home. The last person standing will be the one with the "big tune."

"Half of the battle is knowing what to play and when to play it, says Jake One. "Producers can’t hold the heat until the end or the crowd will knock them out early."

The final competition of 2008 will feature an eclectic mix of talent including the first female contender — EQ from Houston, as well as the youngest competitor — 17-year-old C-Sick from Chicago. An all-encompassing line up of guest performers including Ghostface Killah, Digable Planets and The Alchemist will perform to help celebrate and support a new breed of fresh talent. Admission to Red Bull Big Tune is $7 — proceeds will benefit Impact Repertory Theater, a non-profit youth-based theatre company located in Harlem, NY (http://www.impactreptheatre.org/).

THE PLAYERS

This year, Red Bull Big Tune qualifying battles were hosted in: Philadelphia, Oakland, Houston, Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. Each city represents a distinctive sound and style. From "Hyphy" in Oakland to "Chopped and Screwed" in Houston, a variety of sounds will resonate throughout the evening by the following players:

  Philadelphia:  Illmind / Ritz
  Oakland:  Marc Garvey / Hit Makers
  Houston:  Sound Mob / EQ
  Detroit:  14kt / Frank Duke
  Chicago:  C- Sick / Rob Bates
  Seattle:  Brainstorm / Rising Son
  Washington, D.C.:  Algorythm / Best Kept Secret
  Los Angeles:  J.Bizness / Diaba$e

                              BRIEF HISTORY

Originating in Seattle in 2005 as a partnership between event producers Vitamin D and Jonathan Moore, Big Tune was created as a platform to showcase the musical talents of emerging and established producers in a fresh and forward-thinking way. The spirit of the Jamaican Reggae/Dancehall culture, where battles such as this occurred nightly and were commonly referred to as "clashes" is the inspiration behind Big Tune.

Red Bull Big Tune is more than a beat battle, it is a full-fledged music program designed to inspire and educate the next generation of music producers. Interactive music education programs for inner-city youth are hosted at each tour stop featuring hands-on music production lessons by producers Jake One and Vitamin D. Participants also receive tutorials about the music business by Jonathan Moore.

Watch the Red Bull Big Tune documentary web series and learn more about the program at http://www.redbullbigtune.com/.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081120/LATH081
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Red Bull Big Tune

CONTACT: Nyla Hassell of Red Bull, +1-310-460-5154,
nyla.hassell@us.redbull.com

Web site: http://www.redbull.com/
http://www.impactreptheatre.org/
http://www.redbullbigtune.com/

‘RE:GENERATIONS’ Crew Includes The Roots, Cee-Lo, will.i.am and Natalie Cole, Brazilian Girls, Cut Chemist, Just Blaze, TV On The Radio and Many Others

Capitol/EMI to Release CD, Digital Album and Vinyl on March 10, 2009

Campaign Launched with Mural Art Project on Capitol’s Historic Hollywood Lot

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire/ — During the past several months, Nat King Cole has virtually been in the studio and on the MIC with some of the most talented Hip-hop, Latin, Reggae and Rock artists and producers of the day. Capitol/EMI and King Cole Partners & Productions (http://www.natkingcole.com/) are proud to announce the March 10, 2009 CD, digital album and vinyl release of an inspired new recording entitled RE:GENERATIONS. This landmark recording with a cosmopolitan flavor celebrates Cole’s musical and cultural contributions as reinterpreted by some of this generation’s most creative artists.

RE:GENERATIONS aims to construct a tuneful bridge between generations, cultures and races. Evocative of a sleek and stylish metrolounge where music and the visual arts converge, RE:GENERATIONS honors Nat King Cole’s continued cultural influence around the planet, 90 years after his birth.

Executive Produced by Carole Cole and Michaelangelo L’Acqua, the album contains the manifold talents of Cee-Lo, The Roots, will.i.am with Natalie Cole, Cut Chemist, Just Blaze, Nas with Salaam Remi, Souldiggaz with Izza Kizza, Michaelangelo L’Acqua with Bebel Gilberto, Stephen and Damian Marley, Bitter:Sweet, Brazilian Girls, Amp Fiddler and TV On The Radio. RE:GENERATIONS is as much a colorful and culturally-diverse soundscape as it is a 21st Century journey in the lexicon of Nat King Cole’s catalog.

In an altogether modern and collaborative approach, many of the world’s most pioneering musicians, producers and DJs have joined together to bring each of their distinct styles to 13 of Cole’s outstanding recordings for RE:GENERATIONS. Also, several respected Los Angeles visual artists have drawn inspiration from Cole’s music, style and cultural influence to create custom artwork for the release.

Says Carole Cole, Nat King Cole’s daughter and CEO of King Cole Partners & Productions, "As the curators of our father’s music, image and likeness, my sisters and I strive to keep Dad in the mix and as innovative as he was back in the day. With RE:GENERATIONS, we want to musically and visually bridge the so-called generation gap and hopefully create mutual admiration and respect between teens, parents and grands of every culture. Who knows? This project may be a cool catalyst that inspires a new kind of dialogue between the generations. We have no doubts that if Nat were here today, he would embrace all of the artists on this record as well as the ones we were unable to get next to. He would want to produce them and encourage them to leave their own indelible mark on the cultural landscape. And as a bona fide music lover, Dad would buy their music and be a loyal fan."

"As I reflect on the last two years of my life and how RE:GENERATIONS came to be, I can only draw the conclusion that there is a bigger hand at work that brought me to this point in time," says RE:GENERATIONS Co-Executive Producer, Michaelangelo L’Acqua. "To say that I’ve created a record would be an understatement. This project was like having a child teaching me unconditional love, devotion and patience that has transformed me forever. Walking alongside Nat King Cole, one of my greatest idols, has inspired me to believe that there are no walls too high to climb and no goals too bright to achieve. This project has allowed me to once again see why I devoted my life to music. For the love it gives me, for the expression I can offer to the world and for the happiness it can bring to those that hear it. It’s these truths that I take forth in my life — never to forget them again. These truths will be my song and I will be a richer man in life. Thank you, Nat."

Says Natalie Cole, "I just love, love, love the mix that will.i.am put on ‘Straighten Up and Fly Right.’ It’s so very cool and Dad would get quite the kick from this. What a great feeling it was to have worked with both will and Dad at the same time! It doesn’t get much better and this entire album is so amazing."

To launch RE:GENERATIONS, Capitol/EMI has commissioned an original Cole-inspired mural by the gifted international muralist/graffiti artist, Man One, for Capitol’s historic Hollywood lot. Assisted by two students from The HeArt Project, a local mentoring program (http://www.theheartproject.org/), Man One completed the impressive mural this week which powerfully depicts Nat King Cole as a ubiquitous force who transcends the ages.

"Creating artwork for this project, RE:GENERATIONS, is quite an honor," says Man One. "I’m flattered to have been selected as one of the artists to give visual life to this new album. Nat King Cole was not only a great musician, but a true role model who challenged the system and fought for what was right and just. How fitting that this album drops precisely at the moment when our country has voted an African American man into office. If it weren’t for men like Nat King Cole, this dream may have never become a reality. I hope my artwork does justice to the music of this man as interpreted by some of today’s hottest musicians in this project."

Original Cole-inspired visual artworks have been created for the unique package design. Man One, Ritzy Periwinkle, and Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca expand the audio concept of RE:GENERATIONS into a vibrant galaxy of new images that engage the senses. Sage, a collage artist and the eldest of Cole’s six grandsons, generated the imaginative cover image for the project, which, along with the involvement of other members of the Cole Family, further extends the significance of RE:GENERATIONS.

Visual artist and writer Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca says, "As I began to digitally re-visualize classic photographs of Nat while listening to the regenerated music by the various artists on the album, it became clearer to me that Nat’s essence shines through all of our musical and visual works — his essence of tranquility, equality, humor, humility and joy."

"It was truly an honor to be invited to share in the King Cole legacy," say TV On The Radio. "His presence in music is so ubiquitous at this point that we almost take it for granted. Nat King Cole has become such an integral part of the American music fabric it is difficult to imagine a time when such classic songs and such a classic voice did not exist. We suppose that difficulty, that refusal to admit to a finite relevance to human hearts and minds is what inspires us to deem something ‘timeless’."

"This was an amazing chance to work with such an incredible vocalist," says Cut Chemist. "Nat King Cole’s voice sounds great with any and every style of music. I’ve never had this much fun doing a remix before. It was an honor and a pleasure to work with the best."

Says Amp Fiddler, "I thought about making a mix that would be smooth and modern at the same time, knowing how suave and cool Nat was. I had so much fun making this mix and have been a fan for years, so it is an honor for me to be involved."

"We have so much respect and admiration for Nat King Cole and his music that we were honored when we were asked to participate in this project," says Didi Gutman of Brazilian Girls. "The tune we chose, ‘El Choclo,’ comes from a record he did in Spanish that includes rancheras, tangos, ballads and other styles of Latin American music. I have it in my collection. I’m from Argentina and I’m a huge fan of tango music, old and new. I love his version of this classic. I find his vocals extremely charming, and his piano playing delightful."

Says Souldiggaz, "RE:GENERATIONS portrays the mending of two great dimensions of music. It’s an example of how dope music never playz out … and it gives me a chance to do something new and different … good music inspires, the rest retires."

"As fans, we feel it’s an honor to be placed on this record with such a legend whose music is timeless," adds Izza Kizza of his collaboration with Souldiggaz. "Nat King Cole represents the music that diggs in ya soul, which is our everyday slogan."

RE:GENERATIONS celebrates a universal love of music, the one language that brings us all together and honors the multifaceted and pioneering legacy of Nat King Cole. This inspired congregation of audio and visual art acknowledges the timeless appeal of Cole’s catalog. From its invention to its re-invention, from each generation to the next, Cole’s music is always fresh and innovative.

"What an honor and a privilege it was for us to work with one of the greatest musicians in jazz history!," say Bitter:Sweet. "So many of the influences in our music come directly out of that era, so it was really exciting for us to be able to look so closely into those precious and dreamy files. It’s so important to find ways to introduce the younger generation to the beauty of such classics, and when we can blend the electronic sounds of a band like ours with his warm velvety vocals, horns and string lines, it really turns us on! We picked the song ‘More and More of Your Amour’ for its playfulness and romanticism. We are all about that! The most fun was being able to exchange a few notes with Nat himself. We hope he would’ve liked it."

For more information and to view an introduction to RE:GENERATIONS, please visit Nat King Cole’s official Website: http://www.natkingcole.com/.

  NAT KING COLE RE:GENERATIONS (CD, Digital Album, Vinyl LP)
  (not final track sequence)
      TRACK                           FEATURING
  1.  Lush Life                       Cee-Lo
  2.  Straighten Up and Fly Right     will.i.am & Natalie Cole
  3.  Day In Day Out                  Cut Chemist
  4.  Brazilian Love Song             Michaelangelo L’Acqua & Bebel Gilberto
  5.  The Game of Love                Nas & Salaam Remi
  6.  Walkin’ My Baby Back Home       The Roots
  7.  Hit That Jive, Jack             Souldiggaz & Izza Kizza
  8.  Calypso Blues                   Stephen & Damian Marley
  9.  More and More of Your Amour     Bitter:Sweet
  10. El Choclo                       Brazilian Girls
  11. Pick-up                         Just Blaze
  12. Anytime Anyday Anywhere         Amp Fiddler
  13. Nature Boy                      TV On The Radio

Source: Capitol/EMI

CONTACT: Jennifer Ballantyne of EMI Music Marketing, +1-323-871-5494,
jennifer.ballantyne@emicap.com

Web site: http://www.capitolrecords.com/
http://www.natkingcole.com/
http://www.theheartproject.org/

Grammy Award Winning Hip Hop Star to Spit New ‘Venom’ in Early 2009

November 20, 2008
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Platinum, Grammy Award Winning Rapper Chamillionaire is cueing up his third major label effort, Venom for an early 2009 debut via his new home, Chamillitary/Universal Republic Records. The much anticipated release will be made available on store shelves and at retail online in the first quarter of next year – a much-buzzed about follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2007 sophomore effort, Ultimate Victory. At his new label, Chamillionaire will be joining a formidable Universal Republic urban arsenal, which includes the recently signed Lil Jon, India.Arie, Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, and Amy Winehouse among others.

In keeping with his unprecedented connectivity with fans around the globe, Chamillionaire.com has also re-launched with a new design where exclusive content and official merchandise can only be found for Chamillionaire and artists signed to Chamillitary Records. The site will be fully loaded with frequent news updates, performance footage, video blogs, music, show info, merchandise, giveaways and much more.

The influx of ongoing new content should keep fans content until the release date for Venom is officially announced.

For more information on Chamillionaire and to preview his newest song, "Creepin" (Solo) featuring Ludacris off of Venom, visit www.chamillionaire.com.

About Chamillionaire

Hailed around the world for his major label platinum-plus debut smash album, The Sound of Revenge, the disc became one of the most influential hip-hop records in 2006, with the versatile Chamillionaire emerging as a mainstream multi-platform entrepreneur. The single and video for "Ridin’ featuring Krayzie Bone" became the most requested hip-hop anthem, soaring to the top of the urban, hip-hop and mainstream radio charts, almost single-handedly transforming the digital landscape. Chamillionaire was crowned the biggest selling Ringtone artist ever, with over 5 million ringtone sales, and was certified by the RIAA as the first multi-platinum Mastertone artist in history. His Myspace site has exceeded 15 million profile views, earning him over 4 million in digital sales, outselling established stars such as Nelly and T.I. In keeping with the outpouring of recognition, the charismatic performer beat out proven superstars 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and others for Best Rap Video of the Year honors for the groundbreaking "Ridin’" video, featuring Krayzie Bone, at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. In addition, the Houston rapper won "Rookie of the Year" and the prestigious "Alltell Wireless People’s Champ Award" (viewer’s choice) at the first ever BET Hip Hop Awards, as well as a nod at the American Music Awards for Favorite New Breakthrough Artist. In February 2007, Chamillionaire received his first Grammy Award win in the Best R&B Performance By Duo Or Group category for "Ridin’." In 2007, Chamillionaire released his sophomore effort, Ultimate Victory which debuted in the Top 10 of the Top 200 Sales Chart and was critically acclaimed as one of the best hip hop albums of the year.

Contacts

OGPR
Nancy Byron, 832-220-6071
nancyb@ogpr.net
or
Universal Republic
Katy Krassner, 212-830-0511
katy.Krassner@umgtemp.com

"The Alchemist’s Cookbook" Available Exclusively Now at iTunes; New Groundbreaking Animated Video for the 1st Single "Lose Your Life" Completed; New Alchemist Studio Album "Chemical Warfare" Coming in 2009

NEW ALCHEMIST STUDIO ALBUM ‘CHEMICAL WARFARE’ COMING IN 2009

NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – November 19, 2008) – KOCH Records is thrilled to announce the long-awaited musical return of producer extraordinaire, The Alchemist. A new Digital EP, "The Alchemist’s Cookbook" is available now exclusively now on iTunes. As one of today’s most in-demand hip-hop producers, The Alchemist has finally re-emerged with 6 new tracks to give fans a sneak-peek into what he has in store on his forthcoming full length album "Chemical Warfare" due out February 2009. The forthcoming new album will be the long-awaited follow-up to "1st Infantry."

"The Alchemist’s Cookbook" features new collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Styles P of the LOX, Pusha T of the Clipse, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Kid Cudi, Nina Sky, Capone-N-Noreaga (CNN), Evidence of Dilated Peoples, Blu and Keak Da Sneak.

To purchase the new EP, please click here http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=296243488&s=143441

To check out the newly completed "Lose Your Life" video, please click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs-1YqfBtdE

Alchemist is still doing what he has always done for the hip-hop scene — transmitting sounds and samples into moments, beats into classics in a way that has established his name as one of the most revered producers in hip-hop. The single "Lose Your Life" featuring Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss and Pusha T has spread like wildfire over the internet as the demand from Al’s fans increases.

Track listing for "The Alchemist’s Cookbook" Is As Follows:

1. "Lose Your Life" feat. Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss, Pusha T
2. "Key To The City" feat. Prodigy and Nina Sky
3. "Follow The Dollar" feat. CNN (Capone-N-Noreaga)
4. "Calmly Smoke" feat. Styles P and Evidence
5. "Therapy" feat. Blu, Evidence and Kid Cudi
6. "Al Capone Zone" feat. Prodigy and Keak Da Sneak

For more information check out Alchemist’s all new blog and homepage at www.AlchemistBeats.com; Be sure to stop by for exclusive new video updates from the road and in the studio on his Kyte.tv channel, accessible through www.AlchemistBeats.com.

For more on current and forthcoming KOCH Records releases, please visit the newly re-launched www.kochrecords.com site.

For more information,
Contact:
Giovanna Melchiorre
212-353-8800×257
Email Contact
http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=604E5E54812EF315

Second Installment of Measuring the Social Report Compares Billboard Charts to Top Songs Based on Social Interactions Online

MADISON, WI–(Marketwire – November 19, 2008) – Networked Insights, a provider of customer intelligence across social media, today released the second Measuring the Social report detailing the top 10 songs among the online audience as compared to Billboard’s weekly Hot 100 chart. While traditional music charts like Billboard determine song rankings based on sales and airplay, Networked Insights’ report offers a new take on music audience measurement by analyzing the millions of interactions occurring online everyday around the most popular songs.

Similar to Networked Insights’ first Measuring the Social report that focused on television ratings, the music report shows significant differences between the Networked Insights and Billboard rankings. Once again, the research indicates that the online population represents a unique audience and should be measured and marketed to differently than traditional methods.

Key findings of the second Measuring the Social report include:

–  Seven of the songs on Networked Insights’ top 10 list do not appear in
    Billboard’s top 10 songs, indicating a large discrepancy between song
    purchase/airplay and audience interactions online

–  While both lists consist mostly of pop and hip-hop/R&B songs,
    Networked Insights’ chart shows a different genre with two songs in the
    "alternative" category: Secondhand Serenade — "Fall For You" (5) and
    Coldplay — "Viva La Vida" (7)

–  Secondhand Serenade’s lyrics are popular among social network users as
    they lend themselves well to posting as comments and on friends’ pages as
    evidenced by "Fall For You" taking the fifth spot on the Networked Insights
    chart

–  During this timeframe, R&B group Brutha released an a capella version
    of Kanye West’s song "Love Lockdown" online, generating interest from the
    online audience, and boosting the rank of the original song on the
    Networked Insights chart to number 9. "Love Lockdown" does not appear on
    the Billboard top 10

–  American Idol winner David Archuleta’s "Crush" is third on Networked
    Insights’ list due to the strong interactive component of the show
    transferring to online interactions

"The second Measuring the Social report proves that across many industries, marketers need to fully understand their online audiences and not just rely on traditional forms of measurement that leave out this massive, influential group of people," said Dan Neely, founder and CEO of Networked Insights. "The way people interact with music now goes far beyond just buying it or listening to it on the radio, and the music industry needs to update the traditional ways they analyze and understand their target audience."

Today, online measurement generally involves listening to the 15% of people that post content online. While this section of the audience is important, the other 85%, which Networked Insights uncovers, is interacting in other ways equally as valuable when analyzing audience behavior online — reading, rating, sharing, linking and inviting.

In the early days of the Web, when sites were one-way and static, audience measurement was based on eyeballs, then shifted to transactions as the Web became more complex, which painted a more accurate picture of online behavior. Now, understanding true online behavior is about understanding the social, measuring all the different ways people are interacting online. This also includes the important metric of influence for each interaction — for example, Tiger Woods sharing a golf video carries far more weight than an everyday golf enthusiast taking the same action.

To gather data for this Measuring the Social report, Networked Insights tapped more than 17,000 social media and social networking sites, which included 3.5 million conversations per day and over 120 million unique users. The Networked Insights top 10 chart is compared to Billboard’s Hot 100 list for the week of October 28 to November 4, 2008.

For continued insights and access to the full Measuring the Social report, subscribe to the Measuring the Social feed at www.socialsights.com.

About Networked Insights

Networked Insights measures the social to drive more effective marketing, by determining who to target and how to convert them. We tell you where they are, the influence they carry and the language they use. Networked Insights gives companies the ability to discover and act upon real-time Customer Intelligence from a wide variety of social media sources, providing truly customer-driven insight based on both content and social behavior generated from customer-to-customer interactions. Previously, companies gained customer information by asking predetermined questions or proving company-generated hypotheses. Networked Insights puts the customer at the center of the intelligence process so that companies can let the customer decide what’s important. Networked Insights is privately held and based in Madison, Wisconsin. For more information, go to www.networkedinsights.com.

Contact:
LaunchSquad
Jeremy Frank or Gavin Skillman
insights@launchsquad.com
212-564-3665

MUSIC CHOICE Will Present the First-Ever Video On Demand Music Awards in DecemberOn its On Demand Network

The 4-Part Series Will Feature a Total of 20 Different Award Categories

November 20, 2008
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Music Choice, the award-winning, multi-platform video and music network, announces the Urban music award categories and nominees for MOST DEMANDED – The Music Choice Video On Demand Awards, the first-ever Video On Demand awards show. This December, the awards show, hosted by Geffen Records recording artists Jessica and Janelle Martinez of Prima J, will be available in four parts on Music Choice On Demand, the #1 free video-on-demand (VOD) network in the country.

MOST DEMANDED is a celebration of the top music videos and Music Choice Originals of the year as determined by Music Choice viewers. Each of the projected one billion orders for music videos or Originals in 2008 was counted as a vote to determine the Most Demanded award nominees in each of the twenty (20) categories.

The Urban music MOST DEMANDED award categories and nominees are as follows:

Featured in Episode #1 of MOST DEMANDED:

RAP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Birdman feat. Jadakiss and Lil’ Wayne "Pop Bottles"
DJ Khaled feat. Plies, T-Pain…. "I’m So Hook/Brown Paper Bag"
Rick Ross "The Boss" (DJ Khaled is backup)

Featured in Episode #3 of MOST DEMANDED:

MOST DEMANDED ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown
Jonas Brothers
Lil’ Wayne

HIP-HOP and R&B VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Keyshia Cole "Heaven Sent"
Lil’ Wayne feat. Static Major "Lollipop"
Usher feat. Young Jeezy "Love In This Club"

COLLABO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Baby Bash feat. T-Pain "Cyclone"
Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown "No Air"
Plies feat. Ne-Yo "Bust It Baby Part 2"

Featured in Episode #4 of MOST DEMANDED:

MOST DEMANDED VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Alicia Keys "No One"
Jonas Brothers "Burnin’ Up"
Lil’ Wayne feat. Static Major "Lollipop"

About Music Choice:

Music Choice, the award-winning, multi-platform video and music network, delivers its music programming to millions of consumers nationwide through their televisions, online, and cell phones. Music Choice programs dozens of uninterrupted music channels; produces Music Choice Originals that feature today’s hottest established & emerging artists; and offers thousands of music videos. Music Choice is a partnership among subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Sony Corporation of America, EMI Music and several leading U.S. cable providers: Comcast Cable Communications, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable. MUSIC CHOICE® is a registered trademark of Music Choice. Visit the Music Choice website at: http://www.musicchoice.com.

Contacts

Susan Blond, Inc.
Liza Prijatel, 212-333-7728 x109
LizaP@susanblondinc.com
or
Music Choice
Karen Doler, 215-784-5842
kdoler@musicchoice.com

Features Celebrities from Film, Television, and Music Industries Discussing Digital Technologies and Strategies

BreakOut: Where Artists Go Digital

November 18, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AlwaysOn today announced its initial line-up of celebrity panelists who will present at their next Digital Media and Entertainment conference – BreakOut: Where Artists Go Digital, set to occur December 15 -17, 2008 at the Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows in Beverly Hills, California.

Expected to speak are:

    * Will.i.am — Recording artist and Black Eyed Pea
    * MC Hammer — Rapper and business entrepreneur
    * Julia Allison –- Web entrepreneur
    * Saul Williams — Poet and Hip Hop artist
    * Sean Kingston – Recording artist
    * Mandi Perkins – Recording artist
    * Millionaires – Recording artist
    * Marshall Herskovitz – American film director

"We are excited to partner with Forbes Magazine and unveil a conference line-up rarely seen: musicians, film artists, athletes, and other big-names in the entertainment business coming together to discuss innovative ways to use technology," said Tony Perkins, founder and CEO of AlwaysOn. "BreakOut will be the first conference ever where the audience will hear first-hand how artists are embracing the Internet to build their brands, sell product, and communicate with their fans."

BreakOut brings together Hip hop artists and rock stars, comedians, TV and film talent, and Internet-born celebrities to explore and debate how technology is transforming every aspect of the entertainment industry. In addition, the conference will look at how Silicon Valley’s smartest venture capitalists are working with this next generation of artists and digital media entrepreneurs, to build new innovative businesses, which are disrupting the status quo.

About AlwaysOn

AlwaysOn Network was launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos in early 2003 featuring a stock market-moving interview with Sony Chairman Nobuyuki Idei and inside coverage of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell’s address on Iraq to the WEF General Assembly. The new AO site stood out because all its editorial posts were open to unfiltered, public reader comment and opinion. AO also was applauded for focusing on the sweet spots in high-growth markets where technology innovation is disrupting behavior and creating new entrepreneurial opportunities for both big businesses and startups. Today, bloggers interacting with readers on a wide variety of topics have become accepted and often trusted alternative sources of valuable insights and information. Back in 2003, AO was just among a few fledgling media brands trying to borrow from the early blogging practices and create a more open and merit-driven editorial world.

About the AlwaysOn Network

The AlwaysOn Network is transforming the media business by providing its readers with an open and participatory editorial environment. Borrowing from the underground blogging and social networking traditions, AO was launched in 2003 and is recognized as a leading innovator in the "open media" revolution. The network’s editors focus on the sweet spots in high-growth markets where technology innovation is disrupting behavior and creating new entrepreneurial opportunities for both big businesses and start-ups. AO’s audience is comprised of a mix of business development officers, media buyers, venture capital and private-equity investors, and leading members of the press and blogging community.

For more information about AlwaysOn and the BreakOut Conference, please visit http://alwayson.goingon.com/ecom/productview/28848.

Contacts

Voce Communications
Leah McLean, 415-848-2583
lmclean@vocecomm.com

Top Southern Female Artist in Hip Hop Selects 5W to Elevate Her Brand

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ — 5W Public Relations today announced female Hip Hop star Trina of Slip N Slide Records has signed on as a client within its Entertainment Division. Trina is a ten year music veteran with a platinum and two gold selling albums to her credit and is universally recognized as one of the most popular female artists in the Hip Hop industry. 5W PR will provide strategic counsel, media relations and brand building within the business, fashion and entertainment communities for Trina.

"5WPR is excited to work with Trina as she’s an exciting artist and someone with tremendous influence amongst female Hip Hop fans," said Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5W Public Relations. "We look forward to evolving Trina’s brand and positioning her as a marketable commodity to elevate her to the next level."

"I really look forward to working with the team at 5W Public Relations," says Trina. "I am looking to expand my brand and take my career to the next level. This will be my 5th album released on Slip n Slide Records and I am really excited about this project like none other. I feel as if this will be the best album of my career as I have grown so much over the years and I can’t wait to share my growth with my fans. I have challenged myself for change with this album by doing songs that I never imagined I could do so I hope my fans will embrace it and share this beautiful experience with me!"

About Trina

Miami native Katrina Taylor better known as Trina debuted in 1998 on Slip-N-Slide label mate Trick Daddy’s "Nann," and quickly became a household name in Hip-Hop. Trina was thrust in the national spotlight as there were no other southern based female rappers with national acclaim at that time as Trina was referred to as "Queen of the South". Her first two albums, Platinum selling debut album "Da Baddest B***h" (2000) and Gold album "Diamond Princess" (2002) focused on the raw style that made her famous, followed by another Gold album entitled "Glamorest Life" in 2005. Trina elevated her style with her most recent release, "Still Da Baddest" which had her highest ranked career debut as it came in at #1 on the Billboard Rap and R&B charts and #6 on The Billboard 200. Trina is currently working on her fifth solo album which is due in stores February of 2009.

About 5W Public Relations

5W Public Relations (www.5wpr.com), the nation’s fastest growing PR firm for three years (2004-2006), maintains practice areas specializing in technology, corporate, consumer, entertainment, crisis communications, event management and public affairs. Headquartered in New York with an office in Los Angeles, the firm is known for implementing creative and customized media programs designed to impact a client’s specific business goals and objectives. Its energetic, fast-paced and focused culture earned the firm a spot on the INC. 500 list in 2007. 5W Public Relations is described by a leading PR trade magazine as "aggressive in a way that clearly resonates with clients looking for a firm staffed with type A-plus personalities, a BS-free approach, and results from Day One." The agency boasts a diversified client portfolio second to none, including: Evian Natural Spring Water; IHOP; Anheuser- Busch; NICE Systems; Phillips-Van Heusen; Urban Retail Properties; Patina Restaurant Group; Lifestyles; The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center; Avenue Stores; The Loews Regency; Vail Resorts; Ahava Skin Care; Weatherproof Garment Company; Gen Art; The Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa; Philippe Chow; celebrities including Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube; a plethora of publicly traded technology companies; a variety of other global interests, national corporations, high-profile individuals, regional businesses, government agencies and academic institutions.

CONTACT: CHRISTINE GARABEDIAN

212-999-5585, Christine@5wpr.com

Source: 5W Public Relations

CONTACT: Christine Garabedian of 5W Public Relations, +1-212-999-5585,
Christine@5wpr.com

Web Site: http://www.5wpr.com/

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ — BET J will bestow prolific emcee and actor Common with the first Journey Award when the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS makes its broadcast debut on BET J on Tuesday, November 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Common will be recognized for his phenomenal music and film credits, and outstanding philanthropy efforts. BET J will also award 16 nominees, who rate superlative in their respective categories in a non-traditional awards show delivering the latest elements in today’s virtual technology.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )

Hosted by actress Nia Long and comedian Chris Spencer, the digital network’s first annual "virtual" broadcast brings viewers a star-studded line up of musical performances by Robin Thicke, Estelle, Erykah Badu, Wyclef Jean and Raheem DeVaughn among others, and celebrity appearances by award presenters Terrence Howard, Jermaine Dupri, TLC, Eric Benet, En Vogue, Darrin Henson and BET’s Jeff Johnson to name a few!

BET J will also air the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS RED CARPET PRE-SHOW leading up to the highly-anticipated premiere of the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS. Hosted by Claudia Jordan and celebrity hairstylist Derek J, the special brings viewers behind-the-scenes awards show footage, celebrity glam, and the red carpet hits and misses through colorful and hilarious commentary when it premieres online on www.betj.com on Tuesday, November 25 at 5:00 p.m.*, followed by an 8:00 p.m.* broadcast premiere on BET J. The red carpet special will also air on BET on Friday, November 28 at 8:30 p.m.* and Saturday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m.* on BET International.

Created by Paxton K. Baker and Bart Phillips, and directed by Jonathan X, the network’s first ever BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS is executive produced by Paxton Baker, Executive Vice President of BET J and President & General Manager of BET Digital Networks and BET Event Productions, and Bart Phillips, Sunseeker Media; and produced by Tami Willis-Arasli, Vice President of BET J Original Production and Junia Joseph, Sunseeker Media.

Viewers can also catch the BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS on Friday, November 28 at 9:00 p.m.* on BET, and on Saturday, December 6 on BET International at 8:30 p.m. Visit www.betj.com for BET J VIRTUAL AWARDS show information and a complete list of nominees and performers.

  *All times ET/CT

  ABOUT BET J

BET J, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:and) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is a sophisticated digital network infused with innovative and original programming featuring a unique mix of music, culture and style embracing the Black experience. It is the premiere destination for a multicultural audience delivering music from all genres along with movies, riveting talk, concerts and in-depth interview shows. BET J keeps viewers talking with exciting original programs such as: CARMELO’S WAY, LEADING MEN, URBAN CUISINE and REAL LIFE DIVAS, and is currently viewed in over 32 million households and growing.

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA) (NYSE:VIA.B) , is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 87 million households according to Nielsen Media Research, and can be seen in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET Digital Networks — BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Lyntina Townsend of BET Networks, +1-202-608-2745,
lyntina.townsend@bet.net

Web site: http://www.bet.com/
http://www.betj.com/

Battery/ByStorm/Jive artist to film video for TV outlets and perform on national tour

November 19th, 2008
New York, NY- Lil Goonie provides the music background for Girls Gone Wild tour. The song titled "Girlz Gone Wild" also appears on Lil Goonie’s Album.

Battery/Bystorm/Jive artist Lil Goonie has teamed up with America ‘s favorite guilty pleasure , Girls Gone Wild , as part of the new "Hollywood Gone Wild" campaign. Fittingly , the campaign will feature Lil Goonie’s anthemic single "Girlz Gone Wild" in a series of commercials and infomercials , to be run on major networks such as SpikeTV , Comedy Central , MTV, and FUSE. The song will also be touted on the inundated Girls Gone Wild website; www.GirlsGoneWild.com. An accompanying video captures a live performance by Lil Goonie in his home state of Tennessee .

"This is an amazing marriage , pairing the strong Girls Gone Wild brand with Lil Goonie and his anthem "Girlz Gone Wild , " remarks Battery Senior Vice President and General Manager Neil Levine. "It should instantly give us the right visuals in the marketplace along with some great marketing opportunities. This is a win-win for everyone involved."

"Hollywood Gone Wild" is a new venture for Mantra Films , the makers of the storied DVD series , which rakes in $100 million per sales annually. "Hollywood Gone Wild" marks the new face of Girls Gone Wild. A national tour will follow in support of the DVD release. At 19 , Lil Goonie is one of the youngest members of the national campaign , which will serve an apt showcase for the fast-ascending star.

The limelight is nothing new to the Nashville native , who’s been rhyming since age 12. By 15 , he had an exclusive production deal. In 2007 , he caught the eye of vaunted talent scout and President of Urban Music for Jive/Zomba , Mark Pitts. Pitts , the former manager of the Notorious B.I.G. , Faith Evans and Nas , and current A&R for Usher , Ciara and Chris Brown , immediately signed Lil Goonie to Bystorm Entertainment , his label imprint through Jive Records.

Eric Deutsch , Senior Vice President of Production for Mantra Films , who’s been instrumental in the arrangement , adds: "Of all the Girls Gone Wild songs we’ve received over the past 10 years , this has to be the best one. In a new age of innovative deals that co-brand music with other media entities , this is very exciting for us and we look forward to doing more cross promotion with Jive , Battery and Sony Music Entertainment".

Goonie is now preparing his hotly-anticipated major label debut for an early 2009 release. Stay tuned. Lil Goonie is coming.

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Lynnette E. Mimiasie
RED – A Division of Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
79 Fifth Avenue
15th Floor
New York, NY 10003
212-404-0772 phone
212-404-0619 fax
Lynnette_Mimiasie@redmusic.com primary
Lynnette.Mimiasie@sonymusic.com secondary
REDMusic.com
REDurbanmusic.com