Sony Teams With the American Idol Underground Web Site to Launch a Series of Music Contests

Sony Teams With the American Idol Underground Web Site to Launch a Series of Music Contests

Extreme Music Creation Contest Winner to be Flown to Los Angeles for a FREE Live Showcase This Spring With Other Selected Performers

MADISON, Wis., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Media Software, which brought American Idol Extreme Music Creator and Jam Trax into the homes and hands of families across the US in September 2006, just announced that they are sponsoring two music contests with American Idol Underground, an online community powered by Fluid Audio Networks, Inc., where emerging artists get their music heard and fans discover new music. For the Extreme Music Creator contest, artists submit songs to the American Idol Underground Web site. The songs are then guaranteed airplay on one of American Idol Underground's genre-specific online branded music players, music fans listen and rate the songs, the higher rated songs progressively get more airplay and the best songs from each genre win a chance at exposure and other awards. The first Extreme Music Creator contest launched at the end of October 2006 and ran through December 31, 2006. The second contest just launched on January 10, 2007 and ends on March 31, 2007.

Contestants can enter by visiting the American Idol Underground web site, where a special Sony page has been created at www.idolunderground.com/sony. Entry is free, but you must first submit your song to American Idol Underground which costs $25 and includes a minimum of 200 online radio spins on the American Idol Underground online branded music player. For a limited time, artists who purchase Extreme Music Creator will find a $25 coupon in the box for a free song entry on American Idol Underground. Both contests are open to all popular genres of music. The "top-rated" winner will be selected using Fluid Audio Networks' proprietary ratings system. Musicians that want to get their music heard will now get an opportunity to compete for prizes including free music creation software from Sony Media Software. Participants in the second contest starting in January of 2007 will also get the opportunity to compete for a trip to Los Angeles to perform with other selected performers in a free live showcase for press and industry executives at a popular music venue in Hollywood.

"With more and more people recording music on their home computers, and the release of our American Idol Extreme Music Creator and American Idol Jam Trax products, we felt the Extreme Music Creation contest was a perfect match for our mission in creating American Idol Extreme Music Creator and American Idol Jam Trax software," says Dave Chaimson, VP Marketing for Sony Media Software. "By participating in this contest, we are supporting efforts to help aspiring musicians get their music heard. We donated our best products, including ACID, Sound Forge, Vegas+DVD Production Suite, Sound Series and other software, to this contest to give aspiring musicians access to tools for music creation."

"We are excited to have Sony Media Software involved in sponsoring these contests," says Justin Beckett, CEO of Fluid Audio Networks, producers of the American Idol Underground web site. "Sony has a well-respected line of music creation products from ACID to the American Idol Extreme Music Creator, and we are proud to be featuring them as prizes for our top artists."

"As the music landscape continues to change, we are always looking for creative ways to leverage partnerships to get more exposure for artists," says Bob Buch, COO of Fluid Audio Networks. "This showcase sponsorship by Sony Media Software is a tremendous opportunity for artists and bands to get exposure and a great way for Sony to get the word out about its new products."

The American Idol Underground contest is a completely separate entity from the American Idol television show, and contest winners at AmericanIdolUnderground.com do not get to perform on the American Idol television show.

About Sony Media Software

Sony Media Software inspires creative expression with its award-winning line of products for digital video, music, DVD, and audio production. Sound Forge(R), ACID(R), and Vegas(R) software have defined digital content creation for a generation of creative professionals, amateurs, and enthusiasts. These signature product lines continue to advance the art of providing powerful, accessible tools to unleash the imagination. Today, there is a Sony Media Software application for every level of expertise, including a full line of consumer software based on the company's professional applications. In addition, Sony Media Software produces the extensive Sony(R) Sound Series collection of royalty-free loops and production music, Sony Pictures Sound Effects Series exclusive sound effects, Vision Series video creation assets, as well as ACIDplanet.com(R), the internet's premier site for independent music and video artists. As a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the company also develops applications that enhance the experience for users of Sony hardware devices including the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) and Sony Ericsson mobile phones. Sony Media Software customers span the globe and include seasoned professionals in the film, television, video game, and recording industries, students and educators, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and young children exploring music creation.

About American Idol Underground

American Idol Underground is an online community where emerging artists get their music heard and fans discover new music. As a new artist, you will be featured in one of American Idol Underground's genre-specific music areas, which are also places to connect with your fans, and you get the chance to win cash, equipment and other awards. As a fan, you get to hear the next big thing before it becomes the next big thing. More importantly, you get a real say in what music gets heard. And if that's not enough, the most active and accurate music reviewers can also win prizes and awards.

American Idol Underground is a service of Fluid Audio Networks, licensed by FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide, Americas, the US licensing division of FremantleMedia. The American Idol Underground Web site is powered by Fluid Audio's proprietary self-publishing software.

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 is 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 Atomic Wedgie, 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 televisions 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, Distraction (Comedy Central), American Inventor (ABC), The Gameshow Marathon (CBS), America's Got Talent (NBC) and Monarch Cove (Lifetime).

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: Sony Media Software

CONTACT: Steph Jorgl of Bender/Helper Impact, +1-310-473-4147,
steph_jorgl@bhimpact.com, for Sony Media Software

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

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

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

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

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

Web site: http://www.idolunderground.com/sony

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