American Idol Underground Announces the Winners of Their First Online Music Competition

American Idol Underground Announces the Winners of Their First Online Music Competition

Celebrity Reviewers, Including Kimberly Caldwell and Isaac Hayes, Help Select Winners

LOS ANGELES, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- American Idol Underground (www.idolunderground.com), grants its first artist and listener prizes to competition winners in 13 music genres. Fluid Audio Networks, a Los Angeles-based Internet company, and FremantleMedia, co-producer and licensor of American Idol and one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, teamed earlier this year to create American Idol Underground. The Web site allows emerging artists to get their music heard and compete for exposure and prizes in 13 different music genres, simply by submitting their music and paying a nominal entry fee via www.idolunderground.com.

Artist winners were selected based on listener votes, with input from celebrity reviewers in each category. Celebrity reviewers included Isaac Hayes, famed R&B singer/song writer; Kimberly Caldwell, finalist on television's American Idol 2; Verdine White, founding member and bassist of the Grammy winning group Earth, Wind & Fire; Speech, leader of Arrested Development; Collin Raye, country musician with five Platinum records and 10 No.1 singles; and David Benoit, contemporary jazz pianist and five time Grammy nominee.

"We are excited for the inaugural group of American Idol Underground winners," said Justin Beckett CEO and founder of Fluid Audio Networks. "In addition to winning valuable prizes, these emerging artists are getting great exposure for their music."

Prizes were awarded for first through fifth place winners in each of the 13 genres supported in the American Idol Underground system. Winners include Bettina (Pop), Dominiq (Rap), Deadwood Revival (Folk), Matt Roberts Quartet (Jazz), Jag (R&B), Katie Minor (Faith-Based), Tony Ramey (Country), Orchestronics (Classical), Mitch Fatel (Comedy), Chris Burton Jacome (World) and Such a Lazy Snob (Electronica).

Winners received a wide range of prizes including digital recording equipment, instruments, cash, gift certificates and Spin Credits good for song submissions to American Idol Underground. Web site listeners are also eligible to win cash and prizes by rating music in any of the 13 genres.

The American Idol Underground Web site is powered by Fluid Audio's proprietary self-publishing software. American Idol Underground is a service of Fluid Audio Networks, licensed by FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas, the US licensing division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world.

About Fluid Audio Networks

Fluid Audio Networks (www.fluidaudio.com) is a Los Angeles-based interactive entertainment company whose applications feature emerging artists. Fluid Audio will build the largest network of emerging artists and fans by partnering with some of the world's most recognized entertainment brands including American Idol (www.idolunderground.com).

About FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas

FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas (FLW, Americas) is the licensing arm of FremantleMedia for North and South America. FremantleMedia one of the largest international creators and producers of program brands in the world, with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment and factual entertainment programming in over 40 territories. FLW, Americas exploits FremantleMedia's many strong brands, including the award winning, American Idol, the world's longest running gameshow The Price Is Right, the ever-popular Family Feud, and other classic gameshows, across multiple off-screen platforms including merchandising campaigns, live events, sponsorship, interactive and wireless support, home entertainment and music publishing. FLW, Americas is also responsible for additional business diversification initiatives including 'Thumbdance', a pioneering wireless channel delivering original made-for-mobile video content on demand.

FLW, Americas is part of FremantleMedia North America (FMNA). FMNA is on the leading edge of global broadcast production, developing some of television's most innovative and watched new programming. Based in Santa Monica and with offices in New York, FMNA has produced such genre-bending shows as the musical/reality phenomenon American Idol. In 2005, FremantleMedia programs garnered 16 Emmy nominations, including six for American Idol. Other credits include The Price Is Right (CBS), the longest-running gameshow in television history, the daily syndicated gameshow Family Feud, the hotly debated reality series The Swan (Fox), the breakout hit lifestyle show How Clean Is Your House? (Lifetime), Distraction (Comedy Central), Property Ladder (TLC) and the upcoming American Inventor (ABC) and The Gameshow Marathon (CBS).

FremantleMedia is the production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company. With interests in 34 television channels and 30 radio stations in 10 countries, RTL Group is a division of leading integrated media and entertainment company Bertelsmann AG. For further information, visit www.fremantlemedia.com.

Source: Fluid Audio Networks

CONTACT: Jordan Fischler of Allison & Partners, +1-212-302-5460, ext. 7,
Jordan@allisonpr.com, for Fluid Audio Networks

Web site: http://www.idolunderground.com/
http://www.fremantlemedia.com/
http://www.fluidaudio.com/

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