Universal Music Group (UMG) and Talenthouse Partner to Launch Social Crowdsourcing Campaigns

Universal Music Group (UMG) and Talenthouse Partner to Launch Social Crowdsourcing Campaigns

LOS ANGELES and PALO ALTO, Calif., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's leading music company, has partnered with social crowdsourcing platform Talenthouse (http://www.talenthouse.com) to create a variety of campaigns for its roster of chart-topping artists. The announcement was made today by Rob Wells, UMG's President of Global Digital Business, and Talenthouse CEO Roman Scharf.

Through this partnership, Talenthouse will work with those UMG artists and labels interested in extending their reach as hosts for Talenthouse's social crowdsourcing competitions, also known as Creative Invites (CI's). In turn, Talenthouse's CI campaigns will drive traffic not only to UMG web properties, but vastly increase the Facebook presence of UMG artists through the company's proprietary voting platform.

Talenthouse has been creating very successful CI competitions with UMG since last fall, including Paul McCartney, Florence + the Machine, Taio Cruz, Queen, Lady Gaga, Ryan Leslie, Maroon 5, and Game.

Talenthouse permits well-recognized artists and brands to host global online competitions, opening the doors for emerging talent to submit their best work and campaign through a powerful Facebook-based voting process, with the winners receiving a "once in a lifetime" collaboration opportunity with the host. The entire campaign cycle is one of the most effective social marketing tools, incorporating phenomenal reach and sustainable value. Talenthouse's Facebook voting, Twitter voting and distributed cloud architecture are proprietary technologies.

"After 150 projects, we have clearly reached proof of concept. Now the goal for us is to scale," explains Talenthouse CEO Roman Scharf. "The partnership with Universal is a big step forward and shows what value we can bring to large entertainment companies."

"For the first time, aspiring talent from around the world will be able to collaborate with some of the greatest music acts through a social media pipeline," says Talenthouse founder Amos Pizzey. "The focus of our company is to help serve all artists worldwide. Who would pass up the chance to paint, compose, design, produce or sing with the amazing artists on the UMG roster?"

"Talenthouse provides a unique platform that extends and strengthens the connection between artists and fans," commented Mr. Wells, "and we are delighted to be working with them, offering consumers even more ways to enjoy the musical experience."

About Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 territories. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.

Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Def Jam Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island Records, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog-Universal Music, Universal Motown, Universal Music Latino, Universal Republic and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG's catalog is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; and Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division.

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.

About Talenthouse

Talenthouse, based in Palo Alto with offices in Los Angeles and London, is the leading platform for creative collaboration, providing life-changing opportunities for the creative community. Talenthouse embraces artists at every level of their career, as well as all supporters of the arts. Attracted by the potential for discovering, collaborating with and mentoring emerging talent many acclaimed industry icons and global brands partner with Talenthouse by hosting projects and initiatives known as "Creative Invites." Artists and brands choose Talenthouse to engage with their audience in a targeted, relevant and credible context.

To date, Talenthouse has launched more than 150 Creative Invites with global brands and entertainment icons such as Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, Rod Stewart, Brett Ratner, Sequoia Capital, Queen, Kylie Minogue, Dolce & Gabbana, Paul Oakenfold, Nokia, Adidas, Florence and the Machine, Glamour Magazine, Island Def Jam, Universal Music, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Naomi Campbell, The Stan Lee Foundation, Todd McFarlane, Sander van Doorn, Rusko, Andy Moor, Kelly Cutrone, Ryan Leslie, Taio Cruz, Anne Klein, JPG Magazine, Gavin Bond and Prismacolor.

SOURCE Universal Music Group

Universal Music Group

CONTACT: Maria Ho-Burge for UMG, office, +1-212-331-2569, and Drew Kerr +1-212-849-8250, office, +1-914-806-6530, mobile, for Talenthouse

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