North American Tour in February 2011

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 29 -- MEN ALOUD, the award-winning, smash hit singing ensemble from the UK, are about to make their mark upon the shores of North America thanks to their first television special, "MEN ALOUD: Live From Wales" which has been chosen as the premiere PBS pledge drive program to be aired nationally beginning November 26th.  The group has achieved superstar status for several years in the UK having won the prestigious BBC1 top-rated show "Last Choir Standing." The 20 young singers have taken the UK by storm introducing thousands of fans to the centuries-old Welsh choir tradition with their rousing interpretations of classic and contemporary hits.  "MEN ALOUD: Live in Wales" was filmed in the Wales Millennium Center and features special guest performances by opera star Bryn Terfel, John Owen Jones (a leading man of London's West End) and pop icon Bonnie Tyler. "MEN ALOUD: Live In Wales" will air throughout October and November as well as during Public Television's December pledge drives.  Denon Records will release the CD and DVD of the program on November 2nd.  In addition, MEN ALOUD will tour the U.S. beginning in February of 2011.

Formed in 2000 by Tim Rhys-Evans, MEN ALOUD is a bona fide sensation throughout Europe appearing regularly on radio and television and a flurry of high profile appearances and topping the UK classical charts.  They've recorded two albums, each of which is certified Gold in the UK and they just won the Classical Brit "Album of the Year" award for their second album, Band of Brothers.  The primary aim of Rhys-Evans was to encourage younger men to get involved with one of Wales' oldest and best loved traditions, male voice singing.  With a repertoire that ranges from 17th Century traditional Welsh choir songs to present day pop (covers of Tom Jones, Simon & Garfunkel) and Broadway (favorites from Porgy and Bess, Funny Girl), MEN ALOUD have struck quite a chord with this rousing endeavor.

MEN ALOUD are signed to Denon in the U.S.  For more information visit: 

http://www.denonrecordsus.com

www.onlymenaloud.com

Denon is a unit of the Savoy Label Group (SLG).  

SLG is the North American unit of CME (Columbia Music Entertainment), the oldest music company in Japan. The Savoy Label Group has evolved into a leading independent company consistently outperforming competitors in key music categories as monitored by Billboard Magazine. SLG is led by Steve Vining.

SOURCE Denon

RELATED LINKS
http://www.denonrecordsus.com/

A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen, whose title pays homage to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, delivers sturdy roots rhythms laced with acoustic strings, bluesy harmonica accents and a deep sax groove. The fresh, hard-edged lyrics reveal an innate sophistication that yields to the intimacy of poetry, producing songs that don't just reflect a conscience, but resonate with passion and vigor.

The debut single, "Rain Rain," laments the delayed and often ineffectual action following the devastation experienced by residents of Louisiana and the neighboring states. Weekes explains, "Though 'Rain Rain' references Katrina, the message goes above and beyond the isolated story of a flood and brings to mind the continuous downpour of human suffering and natural disasters the world over and how quickly we forget."

Other songs recall images of many of the world's recent and ongoing tragic events, from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in "Drill" to a decade's worth of news headlines in "Anthems of Hope." Jarring overlays of sound introduce a song about Sudan's "Janjaweed" and a deeply humanized tale of war reminds us in "B4 The War" how long and often it's been true that, "someone like me/became my enemy."

Still, despite the somber reflections, a sense of hope is conveyed through the easy flowing rhythms and Weekes' trademark soothing, raspy edged voice harmonizing with the smooth female backing vocals. In sum, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen is what Weekes himself is: "relentlessly likeable."

Taj Weekes and Adowa weave a true social consciousness with an unforgettable reggae groove. The band's vibrant sound has garnered critical acclaim across the globe while Weekes has been consistently noted for inspiring conscious thought and provoking discussion through his poignant poetry and lyrics. He offers, "I write from the heart and I speak about issues that move me. I believe that's what really matters."

A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen, the group's third album, follows the release of Hope and Doubt (2005) and Deidem (2008), which won "Best Reggae Album" at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards and was shortlisted for consideration of a Grammy Award nomination.

Always striving to bring awareness to the issues he is passionate about, Weekes founded his charity, They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO), in 2007, to improve the lives of underprivileged children in the Caribbean through sport, enrichment, educational and wellness programs.

MEDIA CONTACT:  

Sarah Scott

Jatta Records

Tel: 805-252-0609

Cell: 805-403-5973

Email: sarahscott@jattarecords.com    

http://www.tajweekes.com

http://www.jattarecords.com

http://www.theyoftencryoutreach.org 

SOURCE Jatta Records

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 -- The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research celebrated its 35th Annual Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at the New York Marriott Marquis and raised a total of $1.45 million. Artists Colbie Caillat, Enrique Iglesias, 3 Doors Down, Erin McCarley, Kenny Loggins and Charlie Daniels performed for the crowd of music and entertainment leaders, business and media executives, and celebrities; other attendees included radio host Stephanie Miller, country artist Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Sam Tsui, Kelli Tomashoff, Dalal Bruchmann and Jackson Kelly.

Wendy Dio, the wife of legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio who recently succumbed to cancer, made a generous donation of $100,000 for a stomach cancer research program in her late husband's name at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; she also urged the audience to be vigilant about cancer screenings and checkups.  

The Foundation was proud to present the Humanitarian of the Year Awards to brothers Monte and Avery Lipman, President & CEO of Universal Republic Records and Co-President & COO of Universal Republic Records respectively; the Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award to Kenny Loggins; the Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award to Charlie Daniels; and the Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award to Harold L. Moses, MD, Director Emeritus of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

The event included a live and silent auction, which raised a combined $122,000 for cancer and AIDS research; several items, like lunch with fashion guru Tim Gunn, are also being auctioned now at CharityFolks.com.

The T.J. Martell Foundation is proud to partner with Wines That Rock, who was on hand conducting a wine tasting and distribute door prizes to several lucky winners. Visit www.wines-that-rock.com/tjmartell to purchase wine and have a portion of the proceeds benefit cancer and AIDS research.

Join us on www.TJMartellFoundation.org, www.Facebook.com and www.twitter.com.

ABOUT THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION

The T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research was founded in 1975 by music industry executive Tony Martell and his colleagues in loving memory of his son, T.J., who died of leukemia. It is the music industry's largest foundationthat funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS, and has provided over $240 million dollars for research. Funded research hospitals include T.J. Martell Memorial Laboratories at Mt. Sinai Medical Center,Harvard School of Public Health, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Cancer Center, The Mayo Clinic, and Emory University.  

PRESS CONTACT:

Kate Fitzpatrick, Communications Manager

T: 212.833.5444

E: kfitzpatrick@tjmartellfoundation.org

SOURCE T.J. Martell Foundation

RELATED LINKS
http://www.tjmartellfoundation.org

One Complaint was filed in the Federal District Court in Orange County and alleges that the Black Eyed Peas intentionally and willfully copied a Texas songwriter, Bryan Pringle's song "Take a Dive" when they co-wrote and recorded their Grammy award-winning hit song, "I Gotta Feeling." As a result of the copying, "I Gotta Feeling," as a whole, is "substantially similar" to "Take a Dive," which was copyrighted by Pringle in 1998, and the leading melody contained in both songs, described in the Complaint as the "guitar twang sequence," is identical. A side-by-side comparison of both songs demonstrates that they sound virtually identical, the Complaint alleges. The Complaint further alleges that Pringle regularly submitted his demo CDs to Interscope Records, UMG Recordings and EMI over a period of approximately ten years, and received written correspondence on multiple occasions informing him that his music was received, but they had no interest in signing him as an artist, or purchasing his songs for use by other artists.

The other Complaint is the re-filing in Los Angeles of a January 2010 federal lawsuit of Chicago artist Ebony Latrice Batts, aka Phoenix Phenom, and her producer and co-songwriter, Manfred (Manny) Mohr. The suit alleges that the Black Eyed Peas copied Phoenix Phenom and Mohr's song "Boom Dynamite" when they wrote and recorded their hit song "Boom Boom Pow." As a result, "Boom Dynamite" is "substantially similar" to "Boom Boom Pow," and the hook portions of the song are "strikingly similar." The Complaint alleges that Phoenix Phenom and Mohr submitted "Boom Dynamite" to Interscope, at the request of an A&R for the label, who had shown interest in one of their previous songs and as Phoenix Phenom as an artist. The original case was filed in Chicago and withdrawn and dismissed without prejudice to its re-filing because of procedural concerns relating to the location of the filing being Chicago instead of LA or New York.

The Plaintiffs in both lawsuits are represented by Dean A. Dickie of Miller Canfield (Chicago office), Ira Gould of Gould Law Group (Chicago), and George L. Hampton IV of HamptonHolley LLP (Orange County, CA).

"Both Complaints allege that the Defendants UMG Recordings, Interscope Records and members of the Black Eyed Peas engaged in a pattern and practice of intentional copyright infringement with respect to the unlawful copying of songs of unknown or lesser-known artists. It is public knowledge that there have been multiple copyright infringement cases or claims brought against the Black Eyed Peas within the last year, and they are referred to in the Complaint," said Dickie. "A simple listening to the songs will expose them as having been copied and being 'substantially similar'-- the legal standard in copyright infringement cases."

Gould added, "Copyright infringement is bad enough, but when it is part of a pattern and practice, relates to songs that are iconic hits and the innocent victims are unknown or lesser known artists, the damage extends beyond the parties involved and into the music industry and the public arena generally."

The two suits seek actual damages incurred by the Plaintiffs, including disgorgement of all net profits received by the Defendants as a result of the two songs, as well as future credits and royalty payments. Plaintiffs in both suits also seek the entry of a constructive trust over the profits made by the Defendants; a preliminary and permanent injunction against the continued singing, distribution and production of the songs, in the U.S. and worldwide; and, in particular, a preliminary injunction applied to the performance of "I Gotta Feeling" on the Black Eyed Peas' current world tour.

View the filed Complaints at www.millercanfield.com/artists.

SOURCE Miller Canfield

FARGO, N.D., Oct. 28 -- National fashion retailer Vanity recently partnered with pop band OneRepublic to help fight hunger with a promotion benefitting Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, and its 202 partner food banks across the country. The "Share the Secret About Hunger" campaign exceeded its goal of providing 100,000 meals by collecting enough food and money to provide a total of 165,625 meals to those in need.

"One of the guiding principles of our company has been to give back to the communities we serve. 'Share the Secret' afforded us an excellent opportunity to make a difference by partnering with OneRepublic and local food banks in our markets to help those less fortunate," said Richard Weinstein, Vanity President and CEO. "The overwhelming response of our associates and, most importantly, our customers was a wonderful expression of the compassion and caring that makes this country so remarkable and unique. We thought our goal of providing 100,000 meals was going to be challenging given the current economic environment. To have collected enough food to provide over 165,000 meals is truly remarkable and greatly appreciated."

The campaign aimed to help raise awareness about food insecurity incurred by 49 million Americans everyday at a national level as well as provide hunger relief  for people in need in 186 local communities across the U.S.

"The Share the Secret about Hunger campaign had a great impact for our community. The amount of donations we received at our location (about 1,040 meals worth of food) was outstanding, and our food pantry was extremely grateful for the community's generous donations," said Morgan Daily, Vanity Store Sales Manager, LaCrosse, Wis. "During our collection, we had community members donate entire grocery carts of food for the cause! We received so many comments from the community during our food drive that they have never seen a corporation that volunteers time to help the communities that they are in." 

For six weeks, Sept. 7 through Oct. 16, Vanity collected more than 154,000 pounds of non-perishable food donations in all of its stores, which will provide nearly 123,520 meals and will be distributed to local food banks that partner with Feeding America and other local food pantries and shelters.

"At Feeding South Dakota, our needs always seem to outpace our resources as we are a food-manufacturing poor state, so we are heavily dependent on food drives like this," said Jim Dawson, Food Sourcing Specialist, Feeding South Dakota, Sioux Falls, S.D. "We service about 500 hunger relief agencies in South Dakota -- in every county in the state. Without donor partners like Vanity, we could not help as many people as we do!"

Vanity, in association with Interscope Records, also sold exclusive OneRepublic "Waking Up" CDs, offering customers chances to win prizes in-store and online. Vanity will donate all of the proceeds from the 2,005 CDs it sold to Feeding America, amounting to about $6,200. Every CD sold will help to provide approximately 21 meals for those in need or about 42,105 meals.

"We are grateful for Vanity's support and contribution in helping feed America's hungry," said Molly Hart, spokesperson for Feeding America.  "It is important to have these types of partnerships when 49 million people – including 17 million children – are at the risk of hunger."

For more information about the "Share the Secret About Hunger" campaign and hunger relief in the U.S., visit www.eVanity.com> Social Responsibility and www.feedingamerica.org.

About Vanity:

Vanity is a specialty retailer offering the latest lifestyle trends and fashion designs for style-conscious young women, including tops, bottoms and accessories. For more than 40 years, Vanity has strived to provide its customers with an attractive and relevant shopping experience with on-trend, wear-now style offered in a wide variety of sizes; jeans with 25"- 34" waist with inseams varying from 29" - 37", bottoms sizes 0-17, and tops ranging from XS to 2XL. Operating 186 stores in 27 states, Vanity's corporate headquarters is in Fargo, N.D. It also serves customers nationwide through its online store, eVanity.com.

About Interscope * Universal Music Group:

Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.  Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Label Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, Universal Records South and Verve Music Group, as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Universal Music Mobile. Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company. 

About Feeding America:

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About Blanche Agency:

Blanche is a Los Angeles-based, full-service, marketing agency specializing in campaigns, promotions, partnerships and marketing solutions for brands and retailers with the music and entertainment industries. Founded by Lynda Stenge in 2008, the company creates fresh, unique opportunities and develops relevant, fun and strategic promotions to drive sales and connect with an otherwise hard-to-reach audience -- engaging them with dynamic, experiential marketing tied to the music and other entertainment they love.  For more information visit: www.blancheagency.com

SOURCE Vanity

RELATED LINKS

http://www.eVanity.com
http://www.feedingamerica.org

Pepe Aguilar, Camilla Belle, Jorge Drexler, Kany Garcia, Tito 'El Bambino,' and Alexa Vega To Present at the Latin Music Industry's Premier Event Airing Nov. 11 on the Univision Network Live From Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas

MIAMI, Oct. 28 -- Nominees Marc Anthony, Aida Cuevas, Jenni Rivera, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Aleks Syntek, and Johnny Ventura are the latest performers announced for the11th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards (www.latingrammy.com) telecast, it was announced today by The Latin Recording Academy®. Additionally, nominee Prince Royce will join together with R&B legend Ben E. King for a very special never-before-seen performance. Confirmed to present awards are current Latin GRAMMY nominees Pepe Aguilar, Jorge Drexler, Kany Garcia, and Tito "El Bambino," as well as actresses Camilla Belleand Alexa Vega. The biggest night in Latin music is set for Nov. 11 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network (www.univision.com) from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). For updates and breaking news, please visit The Latin Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook:www.twitter.com/latingrammys, www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

Three-time Latin GRAMMY and two-time GRAMMY® winner Marc Anthony is up for Best Male Pop Vocal Album for Iconos.

Mexican singer Aida Cuevas has a nod in Best Tango Album for De Corazon A Corazon Mariachi Tango.

Bachata singer and newcomer Prince Royce and Latin GRAMMY winner Johnny Ventura each have a nomination in the Best Contemporary Tropical Album category for Prince Royce and Volvio La Navidad, respectively.

Regional Mexican singer Jenni Rivera is up for Best Ranchero Album for La Gran Senora.

Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY winner Gilberto Santa Rosa is up for Best Salsa Album for Irrepetible.

Singer/Songwriter Aleks Syntek is nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Album for Metodos De Placer Instantaneo.

Previously announced performers include nominees Camila, Pedro Fernandez, Juan Luis Guerra, Enrique Iglesias, Rosario, and Wisin y Yandel. Actor/Comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero will co-host the Latin music industry's 11th annual premier event.

The 11th Latin GRAMMY Awards will be supported on radio via Univision Radio (the official Spanish-language radio network of the Latin GRAMMY Awards), and highlighted on the Internet at www.latingrammy.com and www.UnivisionMusica.com, including video interviews and photos, an extensive archive of past shows, and dedicated forums for fans to share their excitement leading up to the live broadcast. For access to the latest Latin GRAMMY scoop and photos on-the-go, visit UnivisionMusica.com on any Web-enabled mobile device.

Preceding the Awards show telecast, Univision will present exclusive "Noche De Estrellas" ("Night Of The Stars") coverage of the celebrity arrivals direct from the Latin GRAMMY Awards green carpet starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central). Presented by "Nuestra Belleza Latina" host Giselle Blondet and "Mira Quien Baila!" co-host Chiquinquira Delgado, "Noche De Estrellas" will feature live interviews and commentary on the stars and their fashions, and provide viewers an intimate and up-close look at Latin music's most glamorous gala event.

A limited number of tickets to the 11th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards are available to the public and may be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office (877.632.7400; www.mandalaybay.com) or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

SOURCE The Latin Recording Academy

RELATED LINKS

http://www.latingrammy.com

Soulja Boy's "Crank That" was at No. 1 for seven weeks and has sold more than 10 million digital downloads and 12 million ringtones. His career began by using social media outlets, including SoundClick, Myspace and YouTube, to build a fan base, and, soon after, started his website, Tellem.tv, to give fans access to his music, pictures and videos. Many reviewers credit him for spearheading a new trend in hip-hop and for integrating the many benefits of social media into an effective marketing strategy. His videos have more than 500 million views on YouTube, and he has 2.5 million Twitter followers. His new album, "The Deandre Way" will be released on November 30.

WSJ Weekend Conversations is hosted by the Journal's Lee Hawkins each Friday at 10 a.m. ET from Lincoln Center in New York City and features interviews with artists, musicians, and other newsmakers in front of a live audience in the David Rubenstein Atrium on Broadway between 62nd and 63rd street. The event is FREE and open to the public.

The series launched in September, and previous guests include musician/activist Wyclef Jean, Jonathan Ames, author and creator of HBO's Bored to Death, super hero maverick Stan Lee, philanthropist and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, and hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons.

Media Contact:

Kala Kascht

High10Media

kala@high10media.com

212-918-2044

Lisa Dallos

High10Media

lisa@high10media.com

--The iconic Rolling Stones are back in black with two vinyl box set collections spanning their entire career.  The Rolling Stones 1964-1969 (ABKCO/UMe) features nine remastered studio albums, the initial five presented in mono affording, for the first time in years, an opportunity to enjoy tracks such as "Time Is On My Side" as originally released.  Also included are two rare EPs (The Rolling Stones and Five By Five) and two rare collections--Big Hits (High Tide And Green Grass) and Through The Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2).  The Rolling Stones 1971-2005 embraces Sticky Fingers, Exile On Main Street, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock 'n' Roll, Black And Blue, Some Girls, Emotional Rescue, Tattoo You, Undercover, Dirty Work, Steel Wheels, Voodoo Lounge, Bridges To Babylon and A Bigger Bang.  [In stores November 22nd]

Exile On Main Street is also available in a 2-CD Deluxe Edition featuring 10 never-before-heard tracks.  [In stores now]

--Weezer's 2-CD Pinkerton – Deluxe Edition (DGC/UMe) brings together the original 1996 album--widely hailed as one of Modern Rock's greatest--and 25 contemporaneous bonus tracks, including every official B-side and 16 previously unreleased recordings.  [In stores November 2nd]

--ABBA attained global domination during the heyday of vinyl and now ABBA – The Vinyl Collection (Polar/Polydor/UMe) returns all eight 1973-1981 studio albums to their original format in a box set.  Plus a bonus album, ABBA Tracks, with the five single A-sides not on the original albums and five other non-album songs.  [In stores December 14th]

--John Mellencamp's 4-CD box set On The Rural Route 7609 (Mercury/UMe) chronicles the acclaimed singer-songwriter's career with a focus on his songwriting.  The 54 tracks include material from his early works through his most recently releasedLife Death Love And Freedom, the albums range from the hits "Jack And Diane," "Jackie Brown," "Pink Houses" and "Our Country" to 17 tracks previously unreleased on any Mellencamp CD, including demos for "Cherry Bomb" and "Authority Song."  [In stores now]

--Soundgarden's first retrospective, Telephantasm (A&M/UMe) includes beloved band hits, deep back catalogue cuts and a never-before-heard unreleased track entitled "Black Rain," taken from the Badmotorfinger recording sessions.  Expanded versions of Telephantasm include a double-disc Deluxe Edition with 12 additional tracks (five previously unreleased) and Soundgarden's first DVD, featuring 20 videos, 13 of which make their debuts; a 3-LP vinyl edition and an individually numberedSuper-Deluxe Collector's Edition box set with the two CDs, DVD and three vinyl discs, plus a 20-page book featuring rare photos and liner notes, a poster of the album artwork and more.  [In stores now]

--The original, pre-LP era singles of Dinah Washington, the undisputed Queen of the Jukeboxes in the late '40s and early '50s, have been collected in one package for the first time with the 4-CD box set The Fabulous Miss D! The Keynote, Decca And Mercury Singles 1943-1953 (Verve Select/UMe).  Restored, remastered and presented in their release sequence are 107 tracks, including her biggest hits: "Evil Gal Blues," "Am I Asking Too Much," "Baby Get Lost"/"Long John Blues" and "Trouble In Mind."  All but five are the original 78 rpm singles from the Mercury label.  Added are four Keynote singles and a Decca one-off with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra.  [In stores November 30th]

--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' Damn The Torpedoes (Backstreet/Geffen/UMe), one of the greatest albums in rock history, has been expanded and remastered for a 2-CD Deluxe Edition.  Bursting with full speed ahead American rock 'n' roll, the 1979 album from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band features such classic cuts as the infectious "Don't Do Me Like That," blistering rockers "Refugee" and "Here Comes My Girl" and exhilarating "Even The Losers."  Digitally remastered, Damn The Torpedoes - Deluxe Edition adds nine bonus tracks, seven previously unreleased including "Nowhere" and "Surrender" from the album sessions.  In 2003, Rolling Stone honored Damn The Torpedoes on its list of "the greatest albums ever made."  [In storesNovember 9th]

--Katharine McPhee's Christmas Is The Time…To Say I Love You (Verve Forecast/UMe) is the first holiday album from the sensational singer and "American Idol" favorite who has become a fixture on television around Christmastime.  The title track is a rarely-covered song originally recorded by rocker Billy Squier. The rest of the album is filled with familiar classics, whether traditional or contemporary, from "O Holy Night" and "This Christmas" to a medley of "Away In A Manger"/"O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and an original song written by McPhee. [In stores November 9th]

--With Christmas With The Puppini Sisters (Verve/UMe), holiday music puts on red lipstick, slips into a silky cleavage-celebrating ballgown, and goes gorgeous and glamorous.  A female vocal trio featuring '40s-style close harmony, backed by a fearless jazz threesome, the retro-futuristic Puppini Sisters put their signature sequined stamp on timeless songs of the season.  [In stores now]

Several recent or soon-to-be-released packages are also sure to satisfy both the gifter and giftee this holiday season:

--Louis Armstrong: Hello Louis: The Hit Years (Verve Select/UMe): Presenting the Mame LP on CD for the first time, adding in "The Three Of Us," recorded for the album but only previously released in Europe, previously unreleased tracks & more.

--The Beatles: The 4 Complete Ed Sullivan Shows Starring The Beatles (2 DVD)(UMe): Newly remastered audio and carefully restored video includes previously unreleased material.

--Iron Maiden: The Final Frontier – Mission Edition (UMe): Released in a unique Limited Edition, Collector's "Mission Edition" CD case and will include access to extra bonus content, including the Director's Cut of this new video,  "Mission Debrief" band-interview filmed footage, wallpapers, photos and the exclusive game "Mission II: Rescue & Revenge."

--Jackson 5: Live At The Forum (Hip-O Select/UMe): 40th Anniversary of RecordBreaking Show, Plus Second Forum Show from '72, Released For The First Time.

--Queens Of The Stone Age: Rated R – Deluxe Edition (Interscope/UMe): The expanded, two-CD set marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Rated R, which was named one of Rolling Stone's top 100 albums of the decade. Added to the original album is a second disc with six B-sides and the band's memorable summer 2000 Reading Festival concert.

--The Ruffin Brothers - Jimmy & David: I Am My Brother's Keeper – Expanded Edition (Hip-O Select/UMe): special collector's package also includes two unreleased bonus tracks: "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)," a previously unheard composition from the album sessions, and an alternate mix of "Stand By Me."

--Tammi Terrell: Come On And See Me: The Complete Solo Collection (Motown/UMe): Extensive 2-CD package includes 10 previously unreleased recordings from the Motown and Chess vaults, including her only known live recordings.

--The Who: Live At Leeds – 40th Anniversary Super-Deluxe Collectors' Edition (MCA/UMe) [In stores December 7th]: Brings together not only the iconic band's concert of February 14, 1970 in Leeds but also the following night's previously unreleased concert in Hull, each with an entire performance of the "Tommy" rock opera.  In addition, the 4-CD box set features a reissue of the original vinyl LP and its seven-inch vinyl single.

--Steve Winwood: Revolutions: The Very Best Of Steve Winwood (Island/UMe): The definitive career retrospective of one of the all-time greats of rock 'n' roll. With tracklistings personally selected by Steve Winwood from his five decade career, the four CD deluxe box set also includes a 52-page book and a re-recorded version of "Spanish Dancer."

--James Brown: The Complete James Brown Christmas (Hip-O Select/UMe): A 2-CD set featuring three original James Brown Christmas albums plus rare bonus singles. While there have been Christmas collections that included some of the these tracks, this release marks the first time each of the albums - Christmas Songs, A Soulful Christmas and Hey America - have been available on CD in full.

SOURCE Universal Music Enterprises

www.drunkenbalordi.com

 ‘….one of the best live acts that I have seen in London for a long time…’  

 This Is London 

‘Dirty Punk 'N' Roll just how we like it, if you don't jump around to these guys you aint got no legs’

Time Out

With an eclectic line-up drawn from Italy/South Africa/Ireland/New Zealand, London based Drunken Balordi have perfected a high energy fusion sound that draws influence from World Punk, Balkan, Klezmer and Folk and mixes it with the soul, passion and out-right punk spirit that defines bands like The Clash, The Sex Pistols and Fugazi.

Making their live debut at the 100 Club on Oxford Street (a fitting gig for a band with such strong punk roots, attitude and energy) just under 2 years ago, they wasted no time at all in following this up by playing to crowds all over the UK, Europe and USA, supporting the likes of Stiff Little Fingers, The Levellers (main support at Vikedel Fest Norway), The Blockheads, Spear of Destiny, Alabama3, Kultur Shock, Pama International, The Popes and Shane MacGowan along the way! This summer alone saw them perform at Glastonbury, Bestival, Rebellion, Strummerfest, Bomfest, Rock En Stock (France) and Feile (Ireland), having to turn down others for purely logistical reasons – Drunken Balordi are a band in international demand!

On Monday December 6th 2010, Drunken Balordi will be releasing their eagerly anticipated self-titled debut album on Filthy Dog Records (distributed by Nova), with the lead single ‘Filthy Dog’ preceding this on November 1st. It’s an album full of passionate stories and bleary eyed tales – anthems for a weekend fuelled by booze, romance, philosophy and hedonism. Drunken Balordi have encapsulated perfectly the multi-cultural spirit that runs through the very veins of their gypsy punk fabric, delivering a genuinely fantastic debut album (and one of the most interesting albums of 2010) that will undoubtedly justify their hype and announce their arrival into the mainstream glare.

The track ‘Juda Ballerina’ can be downloaded now for free by visiting www.myspace.com/drunkenbalordi

127 HOURS is being released in U.S. select cities on November 5th by FOX Searchlight Pictures, reuniting the Slumdog Millionaire team of A.R. Rahman, director Danny Boyle, writer Simon Beaufoy, and producer Christian Colson.

Soundtrack includes a collaboration with composer A.R. Rahman and Dido as well as other instrumental score themes by Rahman, plus classics by Esther Phillips, Plastic Bertrand, and Bill Withers, plus new music from Sigur Ros and Free Blood

NEW YORK, Oct. 28 -- The atmospheric and transcendent music score of Academy Award-winning composer A.R. Rahman is at the heart and soul of the inspiring new 127 Hours (FOX Searchlight Pictures), the true story of Aron Ralston, a trapped mountain climber and his ordeal in the Utah wilderness, opening in the U.S. in limited release on November 5th inNew York and Los Angeles.

On November 2nd, three days before the film's opening, Interscope Records will release 127 HOURS: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE, featuring the song "If I Rise," the first collaboration between internationally renowned Grammy, Golden Globe and Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and Dido, the mega-platinum two-time Grammy Award-nominated and 4-time BRIT Award-winning British singer and songwriter.

In addition to "If I Rise," the soundtrack for 127 HOURS will also feature several original score written for the movie by Rahman.  Titles include "Canyon," "Liberation Begins," "Touch of Sun," "Liberation In A Dream," "R.I.P.," "Acid Darbari," and"Liberation."

127 HOURS marks the second collaboration for A.R. Rahman and Danny Boyle.  In a 180-degree turn, they went from capturing the sounds and propulsive rhythms of the "Maximum City" Mumbai, India in Slumdog Millionaire to shooting in a claustrophobic canyon in the middle of nowhere, barely large enough to squeeze in just one man.  Boyle needed the right music to capture the film's exploration of one man's extraordinary triumph over incomparable circumstances. For that, he turned to A.R. Rahman to inhabit the unique world of '127 Hours' and to capture the transcendent beauty of Aron Ralston's escape.  Rahman's superbly eclectic score succeeds by balancing ambient sound, silence and driving rhythms that deliver an emotionally powerful and uplifting score.  As Peter Travers notes in his review of the film for Rolling Stone "Like the A.R. Rahman score that drives the movie, the triumphant, enthralling 127 Hours pays fitting tribute to Aron by being thrillingly alive."

The 127 HOURS soundtrack will also include a number of eclectic tracks ranging from soul-jazz singer Esther Phillips' version of the Edith Piaf gem "If You Love Me" to Plastic Bertrand's new wave anthem, "Ca Plane Pour Moi," and Bill Withers' "Lovely Day."  From Iceland's Sigur Ros comes "Festival," while Brooklyn dance-punk duo Free Blood contributes "Never Hear Surf Music Again." The album is rounded out by Chopin's Nocturnes – No. 2 in E flat.

127 HOURS reunites the Slumdog Millionaire team of Oscar winners A.R. Rahman (Best Original Score and Best Original Song), Danny Boyle (Best Director), producer Christian Colson (Best Picture), writer Simon Beaufoy (Best Adapted Screenplay), and Anthony Dod Mantle (Best Cinematography).  An official Selection at the London Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, and Telluride Film Festival, the movie tells the remarkable adventure of mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco), who saves himself after a boulder falls on his arm and traps him in an isolated Utah canyon.  For five days he examines his life, recalling friends, lovers (Clemence Poesy), family, and two hikers (Amber Tamblyn and Kate Mara), the last people he met before his accident. Ralston ultimately survives the elements, discovering he has the courage and wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, overcoming obstacles until he is finally rescued.

127 HOURS: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE – track listing:

1. Never Hear Surf Music Again – Free Blood
2. The Canyon – A.R. Rahman
3. Liberation Begins – A.R. Rahman
4. Touch of the Sun – A.R. Rahman
5. Lovely Day – Bill Withers
6. Chopin:  Nocturne No. 2 in E flat, Op. 9 No. 2
7. Ca Plane Pour Moi – Plastic Bertrand
8. Liberation In A Dream – A.R. Rahman
9. If You Love Me (Really Love Me) – Esther Phillips
10. Acid Darbari – A.R. Rahman
11. R.I.P. – A.R. Rahman
12. Liberation – A.R. Rahman
13. Festival – Sigur Ros
14. If I Rise – Dido / A.R. Rahman

SOURCE Interscope Records

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Oct. 27 -- The latest edition of the world's best-selling, multi-artist album series, NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 36, and a new companion title, NOW That's What I Call The 1990s: The Alternative Pop Collection, will be released on November 9.

NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 36 features 16 major pop, hip-hop and crossover country hits, plus three up-and-coming "NOW What's Next" New Music Preview tracks from hot new artists.  Included in NOW 36's CD and digital tracklist are top chart hits from Katy Perry, Usher (feat. Pitbull), Ke$ha, Adam Lambert, Taio Cruz, Nelly, Chris Brown (feat. Tyga & Kevin McCall), B.o.B (feat. Rivers Cuomo),David Guetta, Maroon 5, Neon Trees, OneRepublic, Sara Bareilles, Paramore, Daughtry, and Sugarland, plus "NOW What's Next" emerging tracks from Sick Puppies, Free Energy, and The Secret Sisters.

For the first time in NOW's history, NOW 36 also features a "NOW Flashback" track with "Suspicious Minds" from Viva ELVIS.  Viva ELVIS - The Album is a 21st century celebration of Elvis and his music, featuring the voice of "The King" in a whole new context. This postmodern studio masterwork invokes the spirit and essence of Elvis from a contemporary perspective, while furthering the revolutionary impulses of Elvis' sound.

NOW 36 also features a flyaway contest to Las Vegas to experience Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil at the ARIA Hotel & Casino. The contest will be hosted on www.VivaELVIS.com/NOWsweepstakes.

The "NOW What's Next" New Music Preview bonus track program featured on each numeric NOW release continues to preview hot new artists with tomorrow's biggest hits. Pop-rock band Runner Runner's track "So Obvious," originally featured as a"NOW What's Next" bonus track on NOW 34, is now a hit single continuing to climb Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 chart! Runner Runner, currently on tour with 2AM Club (also a "NOW What's Next" artist), have launched an album pre-order campaign on their official website, giving away a free acoustic EP.

To be released the same day as NOW 36, NOW That's What I Call The 1990s: The Alternative Pop Collection brings together 18 of the decade's top chart hits, including New Radicals' "You Get What You Give," Spin Doctors' "Two Princes," Barenaked Ladies' "One Week," Meredith Brooks' "Bitch," Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy," Joan Osborne's "One Of Us," Lisa Loeb's "Stay (I Missed You)," Des'Ree's "You Gotta Be," Duran Duran's "Ordinary World," Shawn Mullins' "Lullabye," Edwin McCain's "I'll Be," Tonic's "If You Could Only See," Vertical Horizon's "Everything You Want," Everclear's "Father Of Mine," Live's "I Alone," Collective Soul's "Shine," Blind Melon's "No Rain," and Sublime's "What I Got."

The NOW That's What I Call Music! series is a joint venture from EMI Music North America, Sony Music Entertainment, and Universal Music Group.  NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 36 and NOW That's What I Call The 1990s: The Alternative Pop Collection will be distributed by EMI Music North America.  NOW and NOW That's What I Call Music! are registered trademarks of EMI (IP) Limited.

The NOW That's What I Call Music! series debuted in the U.S. in 1998 after the brand had been a multi-platinum international success for 15 years. The series has generated sales exceeding 200 million albums worldwide, including more than 77 million copies in the U.S.  Every album in the numbered U.S. series has reached Billboard's Top 10, with NOW 3 the first non-soundtrack, multi-artist collection in history to reach #1.  

www.nowthatsmusic.com

NOW That's What I Call Music! Vol. 36 [CD, digital]

1.

Katy Perry

Teenage Dream

2.

Usher (feat. Pitbull)

DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love

3.

Ke$ha

Take It Off

4.

Adam Lambert

If I Had You

5.

Taio Cruz

Dynamite

6.

Nelly

Just A Dream

7.

Chris Brown (Tyga & Kevin McCall)

Deuces

8.

B.o.B (feat. Rivers Cuomo)

Magic

9.

David Guetta

Memories (feat. Kid Cudi)

10.

Maroon 5

Misery

11.

Neon Trees

Animal

12.

OneRepublic

Secrets

13.

Sara Bareilles

King Of Anything

14.

Paramore

The Only Exception

15.

Daughtry

September

16.

Sugarland

Stuck Like Glue

BONUS TRACKS: "NOW What's Next" New Music Preview

17.

Sick Puppies

Maybe

18.

Free Energy

Bang Pop

19.

The Secret Sisters

Tennessee Me

BONUS TRACK: "NOW Flashback"

20.

Elvis Presley

Suspicious Minds

NOW That's What I Call The 1990s: The Alternative Pop Collection (CD, digital)

1.

New Radicals

You Get What You Give

2.

Spin Doctors

Two Princes

3.

Barenaked Ladies

One Week

4.

Meredith Brooks

Bitch

5.

Sheryl Crow

If It Makes You Happy

6.

Joan Osborne

One Of Us

7.

Lisa Loeb

Stay (I Missed You)

8.

Des'Ree

You Gotta Be

9.

Duran Duran

Ordinary World

10.

Shawn Mullins

Lullabye

11.

Edwin McCain

I'll Be

12.

Tonic

If You Could Only See

13.

Vertical Horizon

Everything You Want

14.

Everclear

Father Of Mine

15.

Live

I Alone

16.

Collective Soul

Shine

17.

Blind Melon

No Rain

18.

Sublime

What I Got

SOURCE EMI Music / Universal Music Group / Sony Music Entertainment

Gala, Hosted By Cheyenne Jackson at Cipriani Wall Street On Monday, November 8th, Will Feature a Tribute To The 45th Anniversary of Rodgers And Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 -- On Monday, November 8th, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will honor Julie Andrews along with Grammy® Award Winners John Legend, John Mayer and The ASCAP Foundation. Paul Williams, legendary songwriter and President of The ASCAP Foundation, will accept on behalf of The Foundation. Additionally, Natasha Bedingfield, a member of the VH1 Save The Music Alumni Ambassador Group, is scheduled to perform and the program for the evening, presented by LG Mobile Phones, will celebrate music as a universal language that shapes our life stories and include a special tribute to the 45th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music by Kristin Chenoweth. The festivities will be hosted by Broadway veteran and 30 Rock star Cheyenne Jackson.

Pete Wentz, Lauren Conrad, Jason Mraz, Common, Billy Burke and Mayor Michael Bloomberg will also be on hand for this incredible evening as presenters. As a prelude to the Gala celebration, which marks 13 years of restoring instrumental music programs in our nation's public schools, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation announced their 2011 Ambassador class via twitter on Tuesday, October 26th. Ciara, a member of the 2011 class, informed her fans through the social media platform with a video message (Link: http://bit.ly/vh1savethemusic) and was joined by her fellow Ambassadors in celebrating their generous commitment to the Foundation.

"We are thrilled to have Pete Wentz, Lauren Conrad, Cheyenne Jackson, Jason Mraz and Common join us for the 2010 Gala," said VH1 Save The Music Foundation Executive Director Paul Cothran. "We could not ask for a better group of participants and are honored that one of our brand new Ambassadors, Kristin Chenoweth, will perform what I'm sure will be an unforgettable tribute to The Sound of Music."

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation inaugurated its Ambassadors program in 2008 around the theme, First Make Music, Then Make History. The campaign, spearheaded by a group of Ambassadors that included Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Chris Webber,Gavin DeGraw, NE-YO, John Rzeznik, Natasha Bedingfield, The Fray, 3 Doors Down and Venus Williams, committed to being the Foundation's most powerful advocates and fundraisers, lending their unique celebrity status to deliver key messages through a national press campaign about the importance of music to a child's complete education.  The First Make Music, Then Make History campaign's goal was to remind the public that many of our greatest leaders and visionaries – Eleanor Roosevelt,Bill Gates and Bill Clinton all share a common trait. Before they made history, they studied music. At the core of the movement, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation aims to remind the public that Music Education equals Brainpower and they too can affect great change by taking action. The program continued with the 2009-2010 class, which included Jason Mraz, Nick Lachey,Kelly Clarkson, OneRepublic, Fall Out Boy, Mandy Moore, Chrisette Michele and Colbie Caillat. The new Ambassador's join these incredible artists in helping to support music education in our nation's schools.

In John Legend, John Mayer and Kristin Chenoweth, the 2010 Gala will feature three esteemed members of the 2011 Ambassador class, all of whom are deeply committed to the Foundation. In addition to Chenoweth's tribute to The Sound of Music, the Gala will continue to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the most popular movie musical of all time as Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company – will present an exclusive online auction to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, entitled "My Favorite Things" inspired by one of The Sound of Music's signature tunes. The auction will feature fantastic experiential packages, including meet & greets with new and old alumni Ambassadors and artists who support the Foundation's mission, an exclusive Cirque du Soleil ticket package to Wintuk and Viva Elvis and a Broadway show package with tickets to Memphis and Jersey Boys along with a cast meet & greet.  The online auction will kick off at: charitybuzz.com/myfavoritethings on November 3rd, continuing through November 23rd.  Guests at the Gala will also be able to bid electronically during the cocktail reception.

In addition to the honorees and celebrity performers, a group of current students and alumni from the VH1 Save The Music Foundation's first grant recipient school, P.S. 58 will perform demonstrating the impact of the Foundation's work. Joining LG Mobile Phones, the evening's other sponsors include Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Anheuser-Busch, GREY GOOSE® Vodka, HP, JetBlue Airways, and is supported by DJ Skribble, Skam Artist Entertainment, The James New York Hotel, Mr. Boddington's Studio and Yak Pak. The night will celebrate the Foundation's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all students in America's public schools are getting a complete education that includes the benefit of music and develops the whole child.  

Julie Andrews, John Legend, John Mayer and The ASCAP Foundation join an esteemed group of past honorees that include Former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Grammy® award-winning superstar, Mariah Carey, NAMM, the International Music Products Association, and Founder and Vice Chairman of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation John Sykes.

For opportunities on how to participate in the Gala or to purchase tickets, please visitwww.vh1savethemusic.com/gala2010 or call 212.846.7416.

About The VH1 Save the Music Foundation:

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education.  To date, VH1 Save The Music has provided more than $45 million in new musical instruments to 1,700 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of over 1.4 million children.  With the support of people across the country and the 2010-2011 Ambassador Class including: OneRepublic, Chrisette Michele, Nick Lachey, Mandy Moore, Kelly Clarkson,Jason Mraz, Fall Out Boy, Colbie Caillat, it is The Foundation's renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade. Get involved and learn more at www.vh1savethemusic.com.

CONTACT:

Nick Carcaterra

Susan Blond, Inc.

212.333.7728 ext.126

nickc@susanblondinc.com

SOURCE VH1

RELATED LINKS
http://www.vh1savethemusic.com

DALLAS, Oct. 27 -- HDNet Concert Series presents another installment in the fan favorite "Heavy Metal Halloween" celebration with the debut of  "Avenged Sevenfold Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough" this Sunday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET.The concert, which was shot in 2008, is the band's April 10th hometown show at the Long Beach Arena.  Avenged Sevenfold, headlining the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour, was on the road in support of their self-produced, self-titled album, which topped the Billboard Alternative, Hard, and Rock charts one week after its release in October 2007.

Known for the metalcore sound on their first album, Avenged Sevenfold's style has evolved since the band was formed in 1999. To date, they have released five studio albums, including 2005's breakout City of Evil, fifteen singles, and one live album/compilation/DVD. The band's current album, Nightmare, bowed at No. 1 on Billboard's album chart and also topped the Rock, Hard Rock, and Digital charts. Nightmare's No. 1 debut is the band's highest first-week chart position ever.  The title track climbed to No. 1 on the Active Rock chart and is currently the most played song at Media Base Active rock for 2010.

Avenged Sevenfold hails from Huntington Beach, California, and consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, and bassist Johnny Christ.

HDNet' s Heavy Metal Halloween line-up also features "Korn Live - The Encounter," "Judas Priest Live: British Steel 30th Anniversary Special," and "Megadeth Blood in the Water: Live in San Diego."

A clip of the concert can be found at the following link:

http://www.hd.net/music.html

Don't miss your chance to rock out with Avenged Sevenfold and HDNet for all the "Heavy Metal Halloween" festivities thisSunday, October 31 at 8:00 p.m. ET!

About HDNet

HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and thought-provoking content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.

HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather.  Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world.  HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series.  "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010. 

HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts with its Friday night series, "HDNet Fights" (www.hdnetfights.com).  "HDNet Fights" works with leading MMA promoters including DREAM, Sengoku, King of the Cage, XFC, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC and more.  HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA, while "Fighting Words with Mike Straka," goes one-on-one with some of the biggest names in the sport. HDNet also features live coverage of regular season games from the second season of the United Football League.

HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series.  The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Paul McCartney, Mariah Carey, John Mayer, Nickelback and more.  HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Girls Gone Wild," "Deadline" and "Get Out!"  

Only HDNet Movies (www.hdnetmovies.com) delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters.  The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Robin Williams, Charlize Theron and Kim Basinger.

In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.

HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.

Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, and Verizon FiOS. 

The HDNet networks can be followed via Facebook at facebook.com/HDNet, facebook.com/HDNetFights andfacebook.com/HDNetMovies and via Twitter at twitter.com/hdnet, twitter.com/hdnetfights and twitter.com/hdnetmovies.

SOURCE HDNet

RELATED LINKS

http://www.hd.net

MP3 of "Speed Rail" Available for Download at http://www.itunes.com/tiesto

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 27  -- In an exciting first for the music and videogame industries, Activision Publishing, Inc.'s (Nasdaq: ATVI) DJ Hero® 2 and superstar DJ and Producer Tiesto have joined forces to deliver the first ever music video comprised entirely of videogame footage.  Having delivered two exclusive mixes to the best soundtrack in entertainment, Tiesto's globally recognizable in-game likeness from the critically acclaimed DJ Hero 2 is the feature attraction in the brand new "Speed Rail" music video viewable online at http://www.facebook.com/tiesto.

"I'm having a lot of fun playing myself in DJ Hero 2!" says Tiesto "I originally wrote 'Speed Rail' for the video game and then started playing the track at my shows. The music video idea came together after I asked Activision to cut together some footage of my character in the game to play on the large video screens I use on tour.  The fan reaction has been amazing, so I decided to go a step further and make it the official 'Speed Rail' music video. It looks really cool!"

"Tiesto has been a great partner on DJ Hero 2, appearing in-game, creating exclusive mixes for the soundtrack and acting as a brand ambassador," said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs, Activision.  "Creating the world's first ever music video with videogame footage further proves the groundbreaking ways that we're collaborating with the biggest artists in the world."

Hailed in reviews as "music game of the year"* featuring "the best soundtrack of any music game,"** DJ Hero 2 is the ultimate mixer of music and friends, delivering the definitive way for players to come together and party with a host of new multiplayer modes – including DJ Battles that pit DJ against DJ in mixes produced specifically for battle gameplay – and inviting vocalists into the spotlight with integrated on-screen singing and rapping of lyrics and rhymes while bringing the party to life with jump-in/jump-out Party Play gameplay.  Featuring the biggest dance, pop and hip-hop hits by the hottest artists everyone knows and loves remixed by world-class DJ's in an all-new way, the game's soundtrack delivers 83 unique creations only available in DJ Hero 2.  Further immersing players into the music, the game offers a heightened level of creative input and allows everyone to add their own touch, directly impacting the beats they're spinning with freestyle scratching, crossfading and sampling.  The game also features an all-new career-based Empire Mode where players start out as an up-and-coming DJ on the road to becoming the head of a major entertainment empire, all of which is founded solely on their success as a DJ.

Available now, DJ Hero 2 invites a wave of new digital disc jockeys to the turntables as the game is available in a Party Bundle which will include a copy of the game, two turntable controllers and a microphone, offering the ultimate "party-in-a-box."  Gamers who experienced DJ Hero®, the #1 new videogame intellectual property of 2009, can pick up DJ Hero 2 as a Turntable Bundle featuring one turntable controller and a copy of the game or as standalone software.  The game was developed by FreeStyleGames for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 and the Wii™ system from Nintendo.  The game is rated "T" (Teen – Mild Suggestive Themes, Lyrics) by the ESRB.  For more information about DJ Hero 2, please visit www.djhero.com, www.facebook.com/djhero and www.twitter.com/djhero.

About Tiesto

Tiesto is the world's largest DJ, whose musical achievements are unsurpassed. Currently on his Kaleidoscope World Tour, which is the biggest DJ-only tour in history, Tiesto is playing a 14 month long schedule with over 150 dates across 6 continents to an unprecedented 1,000,000+ people.

Inspired by the likes of Pink Floyd, his arena sized shows feature music which he writes and produces, including current hits with Nelly Furtado, Jonsi from Sigur Ros, Tegan & Sara, Three 6 Mafia and Calvin Harris. Also a renowned remixer, Tiesto's touch has been demanded by the likes of Muse, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Goldfrapp. He has been nominated for a Grammy, performed at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympics with music he composed especially for the occasion, wowed the rock festival crowds at Coachella and Bonnaroo and currently has songs charting across the globe. He is, in short, the biggest DJ the world has ever seen.

About Activision Publishing, Inc.

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain,Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Publishing generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "would," "might," "remains," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Publishing's titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, Activision Publishing's ability to predict consumer preferences among competing hardware platforms, declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, retail acceptance of Activision Publishing's products, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, industry competition including from used games and other forms of entertainment, litigation risks and associated costs, rapid changes in technology, industry standards, business models including online and used games, and consumer preferences, including interest in specific genres such as music, first-person action and massively multiplayer online games, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors, and third-party developers, including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and developers that can create high quality "hit" titles, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities and potential challenges associated with geographic expansion, and the other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.

DJ Hero and Activision are registered trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc.

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.  Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All rights reserved.

*Game Informer Magazine

**IGN.com

SOURCE Activision Publishing, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.activision.com

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 -- Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) today announced the signing of renowned session man and songwriter Leon Russell to a worldwide co-publishing deal for The Union, his collaboration with UMPG's legendary artist/composer Elton John and premier lyricist and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.  The new album was released on October 19.

Said UMPG Chairman/CEO David Renzer:  "Leon Russell is a legend in his own right. Teaming with Elton John, and Bernie Taupin has resulted in a special record that will be a true event around the globe. We're honored to have Leon join the UMPG family and look forward to seeing this project achieve worldwide acclaim and success."

"Representing three of the greatest songwriters who have ever lived, on one project, is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It doesn't get any better than this and we intend to do everything we can, here at Universal Music Publishing Group, to make this an incredibly successful project around the world," said Evan Lamberg, EVP of Creative, East Coast, Universal Music Publishing Group.  

The Union rekindles the musical friendship that Elton John and Leon Russell, whom John has referred to as his idol, initiated more than forty years ago. John, Russell, and Taupin (along with producer T Bone Burnett) co-wrote the entire album, their first ever studio collaboration, which they described to Rolling Stone as "Two pianos, no egos." The album features thirteen duets between Elton John and Leon Russell, with Rondor's Brian Wilson featured as a guest collaborator and features such singles as "If It Wasn't For Bad," "Hey Ahab," and "Monkey Suit." All songs on the album were performed live, with one or two takes. John and Russell are planning for The Union tour in 2011.

Throughout an impressive discography that stretches over five decades, Russell has collaborated with some of the world's leading artists and writers, including Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Glen Campbell, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones. Fourteen of his albums have landed in the Billboard Top 200 chart, including top ten successes Carney and Leon Live. One for the Road, his collaboration withWillie Nelson, featured the No. 1 country single "Heartbreak Hotel."

Elton John and Bernie Taupin met in 1967, and an uninterrupted quarter century of creativity ensued with Elton John selling more than 200,000,000 records, being awarded 23 Gold albums and 13 Gold single records. He and lyric writer, Bernie Taupin, comprise one of the longest-running and most successful songwriting teams of all time - John and Taupin have to date collaborated on over 30 albums and maintain extraordinary levels of popularity and accomplishment. Taupin continues to reign as one of the premier lyricists in the entire spectrum of rock and roll.

UMPG either owns or administers the rights to the entire catalogs of both Elton John and Bernie Taupin, including such classic songs as "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word," "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," and "Blue Eyes." Taupin's lyrics include such memorable hits as "Candle in the Wind," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," "Something About The Way You Look Tonight," and 1969's "Your Song," the songwriting team's first hit.

About Universal Music Publishing Group

Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) is the industry's leading global music publishing operation and is part of Universal Music Group. UMPG represents music in every genre from many of the world's top songwriters and catalogs including U2, Elton John, Bernie Taupin, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Nelly, Juan Gabriel, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Ciara,Dave Grohl, Prince, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Britney Spears, Beastie Boys, The Clash, The Sex Pistols, ABBA, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Paul Simon, Henry Mancini, Christina Aguilera, and Linkin Park, among many others. UMPG is also a global leader in the areas of Production Music, Christian and Classical Music.  For more information, visit: www.umusicpub.com.

Contact:

Heather Brown, Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Phone: (310) 235-4870 / Email: heather.brown@umusic.com

SOURCE Universal Music Publishing Group

RELATED LINKS
http://www.umusicpub.com