Dallas Rock Band - Radiant - Wins the Booking of a Lifetime and Will Take Center Stage in Times Square on New Year's Eve

Dallas Rock Band - Radiant - Wins the Booking of a Lifetime and Will Take Center Stage in Times Square on New Year's Eve

Pontiac's countdownto1.com Contest Awards the Indie Rock Band an Opening Set on the Pontiac Garage in Times Square Joining My Chemical Romance and POD

DETROIT, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Pontiac announced that Dallas based rock band Radiant has emerged as the winning band of their nationwide musical talent search -- "Countdown to 1." This November, Pontiac in partnership with ABC's Late Night Talk Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live! sent out the challenge for unsigned bands to submit their best track in hopes they would win the chance of a lifetime and be selected to perform in front of millions in Times Square on the Pontiac Garage, as well as be featured in an up-coming Jimmy Kimmel Live broadcast on ABC.

Radiant is comprised of Levi Smith on vocals and guitar, Dragan Jakovljevic on guitar and Daniel Hopkins on drums. The band members, all in their twenties, released their latest LP, We Hope You Win this year and have three other full length albums to their credit: A Year of Holidays (2001) and The Sound of Splitting Atoms (2003). The band also won the Dallas Observer's "Best New Band" award in 2004.

"Radiant has worked incredibly hard over the last several years," said lead singer and the band's founder, Levi Smith. "We entered Pontiac's 'Countdown to 1' on a whim and never thought it would go this far. It was quite a shock to hear that we actually got a break like this. We're really excited about the opportunity and are looking forward to spending time in New York."

"Countdown to 1"

More than 1,000 bands entered the "Countdown to 1" contest www.countdownto1.com where they submitted an MP3 track and short essay describing why the judge's panel should select the band. Bands had the opportunity to submit a video, which was not used in the judge's decision. Radiant now has the breakthrough booking of a lifetime -- a chance to open for My Chemical Romance and POD, in Times Square, on New Year's Eve in front of millions of people, and an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The winning band was chosen by a panel of judges from Pontiac and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Consumer Sweepstakes

Fans were also able to participate in "Countdown to 1." During the promotional period there was a fan sweepstakes giving away an all-expenses-paid trip for two to New York City for all of the New Year's Eve celebrations as the VIP guests of Pontiac and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The winning fan is Sheri Singleton, from Rustburg, Va. Fans visiting countdownto1.com were also able to rate daily music and video submissions as well as view Jimmy Kimmel's "New Music of the Day" selections where he posted daily top-ten videos and tracks.

About Pontiac

Pontiac is a division of General Motors Corporation (NYSE:GM) and markets the G6 sedan, coupe and retractable hardtop convertible; Solstice roadster; Torrent; Vibe; Grand Prix and the G5 sports coupe. Pontiac sold more than 435,000 vehicles in 2005, ranking third among GM divisions in total sales. More information on Pontiac and its products can be found on the division's website at www.pontiac.com and in Spanish at www.pontiac.com/espanol.

For more information on the Pontiac Garage and Jimmy Kimmel, visit www.abc.go.com/primetime/jimmykimmel/garage.html.

About Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Kimmel and Jill Leiderman serve as executive producers of "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Jason Shrift and Douglas DeLuca serve as co-executive producers. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is shot live in front of a studio audience and produced by Jackhole Industries in association with Touchstone Television. The show airs at 12:05 a.m. on ABC. http://abc.go.com/primetime/jimmykimmel/index.html

Source: Pontiac

CONTACT: Scott D. Floyd, +1-310-854-4784, sfloyd@bncpr.com, for Pontiac;
or Jim Hopson, +1-313-667-4124, jim.hopson@gm.com, for Pontiac

Web site: http://abc.go.com/primetime/jimmykimmel/index.html

Web site: http://www.countdownto1.com/

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

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