Verizon Wireless Announces The "Musicanisimo" Mexican Regional Music Concert Series In California

IRVINE, CA — Verizon Wireless, operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, is sponsoring a Mexican regional music concert series that will not only delight fans of this popular music genre but will also serve as a vehicle to collect used wireless phones and accessories for HopeLine®, the company's signature domestic violence prevention program.

Top Mexican regional music bands like Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Conjunto Primavera, and Los Tigres del Norte will bring their pulsating music to 12 venues throughout the West and Southwest areas of the country.

Fans attending the concerts will have the opportunity to drop off used wireless phones in specially marked HopeLine collection boxes prior to each performance.

The stars say they welcomed the opportunity to join with fans in making a difference on a problem estimated to affect 30 percent of women during their lifetimes.

"We are proud to use our participation in this event as a way to raise awareness about this issue and more importantly, to help make a difference," said Tony Meléndez, lead singer of Conjunto Primavera. "We encourage all our fans to bring phones, chargers and headsets they no longer need to the concert and donate them to help people affected by this problem."

Mario Quintero, lead singer of Los Tucanes de Tijuana, said: "Its really a terrific idea to use the concert series to conduct the phone collection drive and call attention to this issue. This gives us the opportunity to do something positive for the community."

The concert series is the first music event to launch under the new "Musicanísimo de Verizon Wireless" signature brand, the company's new Latino music program created to celebrate the richness and variety of all Latin music genres. The word "Musicanísimo" is a fusion of two words "Música" (music) and "Buenísimo," a superlative that means 'extremely good.'

"We are thrilled to launch our first 'Musicanísimo de Verizon Wireless' concert series and to increase awareness about the issue of domestic violence at the same time," said Robert Miller, Verizon Wireless' vice president-marketing. "We are grateful the artists wanted to add their support to use the concert series to raise awareness and to help to send the message that donating used wireless equipment is a simple but highly effective way to aid domestic violence prevention efforts and survivors."

Verizon Wireless and its media partners are offering fans a limited number of free tickets though a variety of promotions. For each concert, 10 lucky fans and their guests will win tickets to the event. Five of those winners, and their guests, will also win backstage concert passes to meet the music artists in person.

To add to the fun, during the concerts, Verizon Wireless customers will have the opportunity to send TXT Messages that are posted on a giant screen next to the stage.

In keeping with the celebration of Latin music, Get It Now®, Verizon Wireless' virtual store, offers: Univision's exclusive suite of applications such as "Melodías" featuring constantly updated polyphonic ringtones from hot Latin artists like Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Daddy Yankee and Julieta Venegas.

Modtone's "Latin Garage" adds to the variety of polyphonic ringtones available with its compilation based on songs from artists like Vicente Fernandez, Maná and Elvis Crespo.

The 2005 Mexican regional music "Musicanísimo de Verizon Wireless" concert series will visit the following cities:

4/16/05
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Palace
Conjunto Primavera

4/22/05
El Paso, TX
Coliseum
Juan Gabriel

4/23/05
San Jose, CA
Convention Center
Los Tucanes de Tijuana

5/5/05
El Paso, TX
Coliseum
Los Lonely Boys

5/20/05
Ventura, CA
Ventura Fairgrounds
Ramon Ayala

5/27/05
Tucson, AZ
AVA Amphitheatre
Banda El Recodo

5/28/05
Anaheim, CA
Convention Center
Los Tigres Del Norte

5/28/05
San Diego, CA
Convention Center
Los Temerarios

5/28/05
Phoenix, AZ
Park and Swap
Banda El Recodo

5/29/05
Las Vegas, NV
Orleans Arena
Banda El Recodo

6/11/05
San Jose, CA
Convention Center
Conjunto Primavera

7/2/05
Ontario, CA
Convention Center
Intocable/Ramon Ayala

7/2/05
El Paso, TX
Coliseum
Los Tigres Del Norte

7/2/05
Pasco, WA
Trac de Pasco
Banda El Recodo, Bronco

7/16/05
Anaheim, CA
Convention Center
Los Tucanes de Tijuana

7/23/05
Tucson, AZ
AVA Amphitheatre
Banda Cuisillos/Palomo

8/6/05
Las Vegas, NV
Orleans Arena
Los Tigres Del Norte

8/7/05
Fresno, CA
Fresno Fairgrounds
Los Tigres Del Norte

8/12/05
Indio, CA
Indio Fairgrounds
Los Tucanes de Tijuana

8/12/05
San Jose, CA
Convention Center
Los Tigres Del Norte

8/13/05
San Diego, CA
Convention Center
Los Tucanes de Tijuana

9/4/05
Reno, NV
Convention Center
Intocable/Ramon Ayala

9/24/05
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Palace
Banda El Recodo

10/22/05
Anaheim, CA
Convention Center
Los Temerarios

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 43.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

About HopeLine
2005 marks the 10 year anniversary of the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, which puts wireless products and services to work to combat domestic violence. Today, HopeLine collects wireless phones and accessories from any wireless carrier and refurbishes or recycles them with proceeds benefiting victims of domestic violence. The environmentally friendly HopeLine Program also provides victims with essential communication tools — wireless phones and wireless services, including voicemail and pre-paid wireless minutes. Donations are accepted at all 1, 900-plus Verizon Wireless Communications Stores across the country. For additional information, customers can visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.  

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