Music Renaissance Man will.i.am Announces First Annual Data Awards in Los Angeles

Music Renaissance Man will.i.am Announces First Annual Data Awards in Los Angeles

A Special Awards Ceremony That Will Recognize the Contributions of DJs and the Dance Community during Grammy Week

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Music industry pioneer will.i.am announced today that the First Annual Data Awards will be held on January 30, 2010 at the Regal Cinemas in Los Angeles during Grammy Awards week. Exclusively partnering with lifestyle networking site Dipdive.com and BlackBerry®, the awards show will recognize the growth and importance of the DJ and dance community and its contributions to the music industry. The press conference, held at the iconic Grammy Museum, released additional details on the awards including categories and members of the academy of judges.

"The Data Awards are recognizing some of the world's dopest dance djs and producers," said will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas. "As a musically driven society, this night will honor some of the most talented and respected artists during one of the most important weeks in our industry."

The Data Awards categories will include:
-- BEST DANCE DJ/PRODUCER SOLO
-- BEST DANCE DJ/PRODUCER GROUP
-- BEST REMIX
-- BEST ORIGINAL TRACK

Winners of the aforementioned categories will receive a custom gold BlackBerry® Bold(TM) 9700 smartphone.

In addition to The Data Awards, will.i.am also announced this afternoon that he will support a number of additional projects during music's biggest week. As a follow up to last year's successful "Worlds on Fire" artist exhibition, this year will.i.am, Dipdive, BlackBerry and the Grammy Foundation will collaborate to present "Who Killed the Music?," an art collection featuring customized, limited edition white BlackBerry Bold smartphones that will help kick-off Grammy Week at The Target Terrace on January 24-31. The collection also inspired an upcoming documentary under the same title. The gallery will host 15 pieces from the hottest contemporary surrealist artists, and a portion of all work sold will benefit the Grammy Foundation. Additional details on opening night and the exhibit will be available in the coming weeks.

For more information on The Data Awards and Dipdive.com please visit: www.Dipdive.com

For more information on the press conference including images, please contact Enjoli Duval at BNC.

About will.i.am:

will.i.am is best known to many as the front man and producer of the multi-platinum award-winning group The Black Eyed Peas. He has established himself as one of the top music producers in the industry, collaborating on tracks with U2, John Legend, and Justin Timberlake among others. Building on his success, will ventured into acting taking on the role of John Wraith in X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE and lending his voice to MADAGASCAR 2: ESCAPE TO AFRICA. In the past year he has also extended his prowess into the arts, deejaying, technology, education, and politics. His social networking site, Dipdive, continues to give will.i.am a platform to build upon all of his upcoming initiatives and partnerships.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Source: BNC

CONTACT: Enjoli Duval of BNC, +1-310-854-4800, EDuval@bncpr.com

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

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