Calling All Bands: Verizon Wireless and MySpace Want to 'Sign' You to V CAST

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Now one band has the chance of a lifetime: to be the first unsigned band to launch their career on a wireless phone. Leveraging the newest medium for artists to reach their fans, the "Calling All Bands" contest from Verizon Wireless and MySpace offers one lucky unsigned band 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.

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 work with 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, with more than one million registered bands, helps Verizon Wireless bring authentic bands to the mobile world, further extending the music experience on customers' communication devices they use most every day — their wireless phones.

Beginning today, any unsigned band on MySpace can submit an original song for the "Calling All Bands" contest. From all submissions, 15 semi-finalists will be selected and the MySpace community of friends and fans can listen and vote online for their favorite band from the contest page. The top five entries to receive the most votes will become finalists; the winner will be chosen among the finalists by Verizon Wireless and MySpace and will be announced on MySpace at the end of March.

Save These Dates:

• February 15 - March 1: Entrant submission period
• March 13 - March 22: The 15 semi-finalists, chosen by MySpace Music Editors, will be linked to or posted on the contest page where MySpace bands, their friends and fans can vote for their favorite band
• March 24: The five contest finalists are announced on www.myspace.com/callingallbands
• March 29: "Calling All Bands" contest winner is selected by Verizon Wireless and MySpace and announced online on www.myspace.com  

John Harrobin, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless, said "V CAST, with music that crosses all genres, has quickly become the hottest medium for artists to reach new and existing fans. Verizon Wireless V CAST Music customers love music and many of them are plugged in to the latest music trends — the 'Calling All Bands' contest is another opportunity to discover new artists, which makes this the perfect way for lesser-known artists to showcase their music to an entirely new audience."

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 already boasts a collection of more than a half-million songs and 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 about 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. For a limited time, customers who sign up for V CAST receive one month of V CAST service free. 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.  

"Calling All Bands" Contest Rules

Contest runs from February 15 at 9:00 p.m. PT through March 29 at 11:59 p.m. PT and is open to any unsigned band. Interested entrants can submit an original song online by March 1 at www.myspace.com/callingallbands that will be judged on quality, originality and popular appeal of the submission by MySpace Music Editors. Bands must be registered on MySpace to participate and registration is free. Bands need to upload their digital music file and fill out an entry form at the site. From all submissions, MySpace Music Editors will select 15 semi-finalists that will be linked to or posted on the contest page from March 13 through March 22 where MySpace bands and their community of friends and fans can listen and vote for their favorite band. The five entries to receive the most votes will become finalists and Verizon Wireless and MySpace will select and announce the "Calling All Bands" contest winner online on www.myspace.com on March 29. For a complete list of contest rules, visit www.myspace.com/callingallbands. No purchase necessary. Void outside the U.S. and where prohibited.

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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