Video: Nine West Has Inspired America to Find Their Voice with the Vintage America Voices Contest

Video: Nine West Has Inspired America to Find Their Voice with the Vintage America Voices Contest

Jasmine Commerce Announced as Grand Prize Winner

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- After seven weeks of competition, Nine West announces singer and songwriter Jasmine Commerce as the winner of the Vintage America Voices Contest. Stemming from the core concept behind the new Nine West Vintage America collection, the contest was created to find a singer whose voice and song would speak to this generation and the American spirit -- personifying the soulful essence and authenticity of the Nine West Vintage America Collection.

To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ninewest/39069/

Commerce, one of seven finalists, was selected by a panel of judges which included Miranda Lee Richards, recording artist and face of VAC; Fred Allard, Nine West Creative Director; Rebecca Babcock, Lucky Magazine Merchandising Director; and Danny Strick, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Her song "Meant to Be," which was submitted on YouTube, won her the opportunity to record and release a single through Sony/ATV Music Publishing's in house label, Hickory Records, a feature in the December issue of Lucky Magazine, Vintage America Collection product, and the opportunity to meet Miranda Lee Richards.

"I am thrilled to be chosen as the voice of Nine West Vintage America Collection! To me, the Vintage America Voices competition represents a desire to find integrity in music - I feel privileged to be the voice of this collection, and of my generation," said Jasmine Commerce. "I look forward to recording my song, "Meant to Be," with Sony ATV/Hickory, meeting the judges, being featured in Lucky Magazine, and sporting Nine West Vintage America Collection!"

Commerce is a San Diego, CA based Folk/Pop/Indie singer/songwriter who recently released her first EP entitled "Somewhere in Between." A native Virginian, Commerce grew up in a household where music, literature and art were highly valued, and creativity encouraged. At the age of 9, she began her training on the violin, wrote her first song lyrics at age 10, and trained in voice throughout high school and college. Post college, she moved to the West Coast to pursue her songwriting career with a collection of songs already written but unrecorded. Three years later, her first project was released and is receiving airplay both nationally and internationally on FM and internet radio stations.

"I am pleased that Jasmine Commerce is the winner of the VA voices contest," said Danny Strick, Co-President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing. "Her unique writing and vocal style is very appealing, and I am looking forward to working closely with her towards bringing her music to a larger audience."

Nine West introduced the Vintage America Voices Contest in July, to celebrate the launch of Nine West Vintage America Collection as well as allow brand ambassador and singer/songwriter Miranda Lee Richards to spearhead a talent search to help someone else find their voice.

For more information visit ninewest.com/vintageamericacollection

Jones Apparel Group, Inc is a leading designer, marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty retail and value-based stores. The Company's nationally recognized brands include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper, Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, l.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan & David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand licensed from Givenchy Corporation, footwear under the Dockers Women brand licensed from Levi Strauss & Co and apparel under the Rachel Roy brand licensed from Rachel Roy IP Company, LLC. Each brand is differentiated by its own distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of its trademarks, including Jones New York, Evan-Picone, Anne Klein New York, Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt and l.e.i., with select manufacturers of women's and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30 years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value, and in operational execution.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing was established in 1995 as a joint venture between Sony and trusts formed by Michael Jackson. Sony/ATV Music Publishing owns or administers over 750,000 copyrights by such artists as The Beatles, Beck, Brooks & Dunn, Leonard Cohen, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Fall Out Boy, John Mayer, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Linda Perry, Richie Sambora, Kraftwerk, Shakira, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Hank Williams, KT Tunstall, and Diane Warren, among others. Sony/ATV recently acquired both the Leiber Stoller and Famous catalogues. Hickory Records is the in house music label of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Nashville-based Soles4Souls(TM) facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Soles4Souls has distributed more than 5 million pairs (currently donating one pair every 13 seconds) to people in over 125 countries, including Honduras, Uganda, Romania, and the United States. The charity has been featured in Runner's World and the Green Guide by National Geographic. It has also appeared on CNN, NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, BBC and hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

Video: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/ninewest/39069
Source: Nine West

CONTACT: Harrison & Shriftman, Marissa Vitagliano, +1-917-351-8615,
mvitagliano@hs-pr.com; Nine West, Quynh Dang, +1-212-536-9023, qdang@jny.com

Web Site: http://ninewest.com/

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