America's Hottest New Band to be Discovered by MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout 2006

America's Hottest New Band to be Discovered by MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout 2006

MTV2 Viewers To Determine The Next Big Breakout Band By Voting on MTV2.com and Via Verizon Wireless

MTV2, Mountain Dew, Freedom Zone and Partners To Provide Winning Band With Dream Promotional Package Featuring Major Exposure on TV, National Tours, Festivals, Top Music Magazines, and More

NEW YORK, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV2 today announced the 2006 Dew Circuit Breakout. Since 2004, Dew Circuit Breakout, MTV2's partnership with Mountain Dew and FreedomZone, has become a music brand with a proven track record for finding the next big breakout band and providing a platform to give these bands their first taste of national, mainstream exposure. This up and coming battle of the bands competition has produced a roster of critically acclaimed and hugely successful acts that have come through the Dew Music Circuit including: Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, Hawthorne Heights and last year's winners of MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout, HelloGoodbye. This year's lineup of semi-final Dew Circuit Breakout hopefuls include: Halifax, I am the Avalanche, Lorene Drive, Fallen From the Sky, Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, and Brandtson. Prizes for this year's Dew Circuit Breakout include: $15,000 shopping spree and promotional opportunities at Guitar Center, a profile in a future issue of Alternative Press magazine, guest appearances and exposure on future MTV2 programs and tours, a secured opening slot to perform as part of The Bamboozle 2007 festival and much more.

"The 2006 MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout embodies the DIY spirit our audience expects from MTV2 -- original new music from bands on the rise and empowerment for the audience to help put their favorite bands on the map," stated David Cohn, GM, MTV2. "This competition has become a leading emerging artist program and a shining example of the commitment and partnership between MTV2, Mountain Dew and Freedom Zone to discover and develop local music talent across the country."

"Mountain Dew is committed to supporting emerging artists and is proud to provide a platform where their voices can be heard," said Frank Cooper, VP of marketing, Mountain Dew. "MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout is a great example of how branded programming can be a win for the brand, the network, the bands and the fans."

Jim Milligan, President of FreedomZone says, "Talented hard-working bands have the opportunity to grow their fan-base with tours, radio support, and now significant exposure on MTV2. It really helps put independent artists on a more level playing field with the majors."

"After winning the MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout last year, we got a ton of cool opportunities from MTV like the Campus Invasion Tour and a walk on for TRL," stated Forrest, lead singer of HelloGoodbye. "It was a really good way of getting our name out there."

"The MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout was a great experience for us -- it really was one of those key launching pad shows that helped pave the way for us as a band to gain greater exposure," said JT, lead singer of Hawthorne Heights. "I would highly recommend it for any up and coming band to do, because it made a huge difference for Hawthorne Heights."

Each of the six semi-final 2006 MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout bands competing this year are part of Mountain Dew's "Dew Music Circuit" -- a touring circuit with over 200 bands and 300 radio stations nationwide. MTV2 will broadcast each Dew Circuit Breakout Challenge special on-air, followed by additional profiles on each band, interviews and performances on mtv2.com. The three finalists are determined by online voting and how well they did in the challenges. Each finalist is revealed at end of each Dew Circuit Breakout Challenge shows airing November 27th thru November 29th. Music fans will have the opportunity to decide the winning band by voting online at http://www.mtv2.com/ and wirelessly through Verizon, as it serves as the exclusive wireless carrier for Dew Circuit Breakout 2006 starting December 2nd in conjunction with the "MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout Live" special airing on MTV2 at 6:30pm. Online and wireless voting will conclude right before the start of the "MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout Finale" from the MTV Times Square Studios at 6:30pm ET on Saturday, December 9th. The winning MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout band will be chosen solely through viewer voting.

The on-air schedule for the 2006 "MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout" is as follows:

ROUND ONE: The Challenge Shows

In each of three half-hour shows hosted by Jim Shearer, two bands will compete head-to-head in three different cities to prove they have what it takes to make it in the music business. In addition to showcasing their talent, each band will be given two music-based challenges that they must execute. The three bands that complete the challenges the best and get the most MTV2.com votes will move on to the next round.

MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout Challenge - New York: Monday, November 27th at 9pm

In this battle for New York, semi-finalists, Zolof The Rock Roll Destroyer takes on Brandtson in a face-off to become the first Dew Circuit Breakout finalist. The bands must duke it out in head-to-head challenges, including getting as many people as they can aboard the upper level of a double decker tour bus for a ride and persuading people off of the street to design posters to promote their special performance at CBGB's.

MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout Challenge - Philadelphia: Tuesday, November 28th at 9pm

In Philadelphia, I Am the Avalanche takes on Fallen From the Sky to battle for the second Dew Circuit Breakout finalist spot. In addition to a performance at The North Star, their challenges include the bands setting up a stand, where they will be given a variety of supplies including: bedazzlers, iron-ons and fabric markers so they can get as many people on the street to let them "customize" an article of clothing with the band's name and then, the bands must perform one song at as many Cheese Steak joints as possible.

MTV2's Dew Circuit Breakout Challenge: Los Angeles: Wednesday, November 29th at 9pm

Lorene Drive battles Halifax in the fight for L.A. and for the final Dew Circuit Breakout finalist spot. For their challenges, the bands are given a Henna tattoo artist so they can convince as many people as possible to be tattooed with the band's name and then, each band is given a box of instruments, which will include: maracas, cowbells, triangles, bongos, harmonicas, tambourines and recorders so they can teach as many people on the street to play together with them to one of their songs.

ROUND TWO: MTV2 DEW CIRCUIT BREAKOUT LIVE
Saturday, December 2nd at 6:30 PM

Jim Shearer hosts this half-hour show from MTV's Times Square Studios. The three final bands have been flown to New York to battle it out for the grand prize in front of a live studio audience. They will each perform one of their songs for a panel of music industry insiders including Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba, Alternative Press' managing editor, Leslie Simon, and Virgin Records president, Jason Flom, who will each give the bands creative feedback and advice. Jim will invite viewers to log on to MTV2.com all week long and to Verizon Wireless to vote for their favorite band, which will be revealed on the Dew Circuit Breakout Finale.

ROUND THREE: DEW CIRCUIT BREAKOUT FINALE
Saturday, December 9th at 6:30PM

Prior to the show, the voting to determine the winner of the MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout Finale will be officially closed right before the half-hour show begins. MTV VJ Jim Shearer will reintroduce the three final bands who will each perform a cover song for the panel of industry insiders and the live studio audience. The MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout winning band will be crowned at the end of the show.

For complete details on the 2006 MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout including band information, show dates, and much more, visit http://www.mtv2.com/.

MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout is an MTV2 Production, in association with Mountain Dew and FreedomZone, Inc.

Mountain Dew is a product of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi-Cola North America (http://www.pepsi.com/), the refreshment beverage unit of PepsiCo Inc. in the United States and Canada.

FreedomZone, Inc. is an independent creative agency building integrated branded content programs since 1999.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 130 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 150 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Source: MTV Networks

CONTACT: Jeff Castaneda of MTV2, +1-212-846-6774,
jeff.castaneda@mtvstaff.com; or Melissa Barreto of MTV, +1-212-846-7226,
melissa.barreto@mtvstaff.com

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

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