Verizon Wireless And MySpace Announce "Calling All Bands" Semifinalists

BEDMINSTER, NJ and AUSTIN, TX — This week, as the SXSW (South by Southwest) Music Conference kicks off in Austin, 15 bands are one step closer to having the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be the first unsigned band to launch their career on a wireless phone. From more than 4,000 bands that entered from across all music genres, 15 were selected by Verizon Wireless and MySpace as the semifinalists in the "Calling All Bands" contest. The lucky winning band will have the opportunity to have their song, music video, ring tone and ring back tone released on Verizon Wireless — the nation's leading wireless provider with 51.3 million customers.

Semifinalists in the "Calling All Bands" contest include:

Artist, Song Title, Genre, Hometown, URL:

Aroarah
"Unfold"
Pop/Hard Rock
Sacramento, CA
http://www.myspace.com/aroarah

Berto Ramon
"Shadows"
Hip Hop/Latin
Chicago, IL
http://www.myspace.com/bertoramon

Codebreaker
"Saturn Life"
Electronica
Milwaukee, WI
http://www.myspace.com/codebreaker  

Donora
"She's Just a Girl"
Indie Dance Rock
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.myspace.com/donora  

F. ANTHONY
"Nvr Trusted U" (NTU)
R & B/Soul
Bronx, NY
http://www.myspace.com/thefam2

Hepburn
"Frequencies Set"
Post Hardcore
Boston, MA
http://www.myspace.com/hepburnmusic

Hitchhiker
"Summer Feeling"
Hip Hop
Capitol Heights, MD
http://www.myspace.com/hikervision  

Holiday Parade
"Crimson Red"
Acoustic Pop
Roswell, GA
http://www.myspace.com/holidayparade

Jim Van Fleet and the Reign
"No Way"
Country
Orlando, FL
http://www.myspace.com/jimvanfleet

Modico
"Dead Decoy Days"
Indie Rock
Forth Worth, TX
http://www.myspace.com/modico  

Mouse Fire
"Beneath All"
Indie Rock
Tampa, FL
http://www.myspace.com/mousefire

Parlour Boys
"Lovers"
Indie Dance Rock
Lexington, KY
http://www.myspace.com/parlourboysmusic

The Arrival
"Inside of This"
Emo/Post Hardcore
Madison, AL
http://www.myspace.com/thearrival  

Tim Corley
"Summer's End"
Acoustic Pop
San Diego, CA
http://www.myspace.com/timcorley  

Unset
"The Wait is Over"
Emo/Metal
San Diego, CA
http://www.myspace.com/unset

Until March 22, the MySpace community of more than 60 million users can listen to the semifinalists and vote online for their favorite band at www.myspace.com/callingallbands.* The top five entries to receive the most votes will become finalists; Verizon Wireless will select the winner from the finalists and the winner will be announced on MySpace on March 29.

Verizon Wireless will release the "Calling All Bands" winner's song on V CAST Music — marking the first time an unsigned band will release its first single on a wireless phone. The winner will also collaborate with a MySpace Independent Filmmaker and Verizon Wireless to produce a music video that will be released on V CAST, plus a ring tone and ring back tone of the winning song that will be available for purchase by Verizon Wireless customers. MySpace helped Verizon Wireless introduce up and coming bands to the mobile world, further extending the music experience on customers' communication devices they use most every day — their wireless phones.

V CAST Music
V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless lets customers play music on their wireless phones from well-known and independent artists — the same device they have come to rely upon for entertainment, information and mobile communication. The V CAST Music store will contain a million songs by spring and lets customers browse, preview, download and play high-quality digital music from their phones or in the Verizon Wireless V CAST Music online store. V CAST Music songs cost $0.99 if purchased from the PC or $1.99 if purchased and downloaded over the air onto a V CAST Music phone.

V CAST Music runs on Verizon Wireless' broadband network, the most robust, award-winning wireless broadband network in the nation, available to 150 million people from coast to coast. Customers need a V CAST-enabled phone and a subscription to the V CAST VPak, which is $15.00 monthly access, added to their Verizon Wireless calling plan to access V CAST Music and music videos on their phones. Customers interested in managing their music from their PCs in the V CAST Music Online Store can do so without a V CAST VPak.

V CAST Music is available through Verizon Wireless' 2,000 Communications Stores and Circuit City locations and online at www.verizonwireless.com. For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com/music.  

* No purchase necessary. Void outside the U.S.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 51.3 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.  

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