Grammy Award Winner Rob Thomas, VH1 and Rhapsody Partner on Multi-Platform Campaign to Bring Thomas' New Album 'cradlesong' to Fans Everywhere

Grammy Award Winner Rob Thomas, VH1 and Rhapsody Partner on Multi-Platform Campaign to Bring Thomas' New Album 'cradlesong' to Fans Everywhere

- Innovative advertising campaign featuring Thomas to debut on June 16th

- VH1 and Rhapsody streaming new "cradlesong" album two weeks prior to June 30th street release

- Two exclusive tracks available through Rhapsody on June 30th

- Twitter contest featuring autographed memorabilia from TV campaign

NEW YORK and SEATTLE, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning June 16th, with the debut of an innovative advertising campaign featuring images spanning Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Rob Thomas' career, Thomas, Rhapsody, and VH1 are partnering to give fans even more access to his highly-anticipated new album "cradlesong." Due out on June 30th from Emblem/Atlantic Records, the entire album will be streaming free of charge two weeks prior to its release through Rhapsody (www.rhapsody.com/vh1) and VH1's "The Leak" (http://theleak.vh1.com/), beginning June 16th. This is VH1's first joint "Leak" with Rhapsody and will include streaming on VH1.com and Rhapsody.com using the Rhapsody player.

Through Rhapsody, Rob Thomas fans will also be able to download two exclusive tracks - "Years From Now" and "Remembered Well" - with purchases of the new album starting June 30th. The new Rob Thomas Rhapsody television promotion features the multi-platinum artist and countless visual clues that fans will recognize as references to his decade-long career, as his new single "Her Diamonds" plays in the background. The television spot debut will also serve as a starting platform for a Rhapsody-sponsored Twitter contest. Starting June 15 (follow @rhapsody), the contest includes prizes such as Rhapsody-optimized devices and several items autographed by Rob Thomas which appear in the television campaign. This effort is part of a series of promotions Rhapsody coordinates with music artists each month to create custom outreach unavailable through any other digital retailer.

"Working with Rhapsody and VH1 has been a unique experience, enabling me to interact with even more of my fans," said Thomas. "All of the different aspects of this campaign will allow me to reach an even bigger audience."

Rob Thomas is the latest artist to participate in VH1.com's exclusive advance listen program, "The Leak." This program has proven to have a positive impact on the first week sales of many of the programs' participating artists and in some instances has contributed to the biggest first week sales ever on their new records. The two-week streaming exclusive will be supported on VH1 with multiple on-air promotions, and through the television campaign developed by Rhapsody for Thomas, similar to the recently-aired Green Day spot.

"cradlesong" is the follow-up to Thomas's highly successful solo album "...Something to Be" which debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart and marked the first time a male artist from a rock or pop group debuted at #1 with his first solo album. The first single from "cradlesong," "Her Diamonds," gives the Matchbox Twenty vocalist his best Hot 100 start in his 16th overall trip to the Billboard list and is already being hailed as "....uplifting, gospel-choir assisted blue-eyed soul with a hook that will worm its way into your gray matter" by Rolling Stone magazine.

Media Contacts:
Lori Bogin, VH1
212-846-7131
lori.bogin@vh1.com

Oona Rokyta, Rhapsody
206-892-6445
orokyta@real.com
Twitter - @orokyta
Susan Novak/Lee Rothchild, Rob Thomas
212-685-4300
susan_novak@dkcnews.com/lee_rothchild@dkcnews.com

About Rob Thomas

One of the most distinctive vocalists and accomplished songwriters in contemporary music, Thomas has earned a string of accolades - both for his work as lead singer and primary composer with matchbox twenty as well as for his solo work and collaborations with other artists. In 2004, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented Thomas with its premiere "Starlight Award" - created to recognize a songwriter in the early years of his or her career who has already made a lasting impact. He has won numerous BMI and ASCAP Awards, and has earned the Songwriter of the Year crown from both Billboard and BMI, two years in a row.

Thomas has written and performed a remarkable string of hits, including matchbox twenty's #1-charting "Push," "3AM," "If You're Gone," "Bent," "Disease," and "Unwell," plus such favorites as "Real World," "Back 2 Good," "Mad Season," and "Bright Lights." His smash collaboration with Santana, the Thomas-penned "Smooth," earned Rob three Grammy Awards and ranks #1 on Billboard's "Top Hot 100 Rock Songs" chart and #2 on the magazine's "Hot 100 All-Time Top Songs." He has also worked with the likes of Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Marc Anthony, and Bernie Taupin. Combining all of his projects, Thomas has contributed to sales of more than 80 million records.

About VH1

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

About Rhapsody

Rhapsody(R) is an integrated and immersive digital music experience accessible to consumers via their computer, portable music device and their Verizon Wireless mobile phone. Rhapsody is the exclusive digital music service for RealNetworks(R), Inc. and for MTV Networks' music and pop-culture brands in the United States. Rhapsody is a service of Rhapsody America LLC, a joint venture between and MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B) and RealNetworks (NASDAQ:RNWK).

Source: VH1

CONTACT: Lori Bogin, VH1, +1-212-846-7131, lori.bogin@vh1.com; or Oona
Rokyta, Rhapsody, +1-206-892-6445, orokyta@real.com, Twitter - @orokyta; or
Susan Novak, susan_novak@dkcnews.com, or Lee Rothchild,
lee_rothchild@dkcnews.com, both for Rob Thomas, +1-212-685-4300

Web Site: http://www.vh1.com/

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