CMT LOADED’S ONLINE TALENT SEARCH “MUSIC CITY MADNESS” RETURNS FOR SECOND SEASON ON AUGUST 1
08/07/07
Bucky Covington to Host On-Air and Online Elements
Chevrolet Signs On as Exclusive Sponsor
NASHVILLE – August 6, 2007 – Following the overwhelming success of CMT LOADED’s first ever user-generated talent search, MUSIC CITY MADNESS, the contest seeking America’s best unsigned or independent country acts returns on August 1, 2007. Chevrolet has signed on as the official online and on-air sponsor for the talent search, while Sony BMG Nashville has signed on as the official record label partner for Season 2. In addition, the online series has been expanded to include a CMT TV special, hosted by American Idol finalist and Lyric Street Records recording artist Bucky Covington.
The nationwide search offers unsigned artists a chance to reveal original, undiscovered music to fans across the country. The winning entrant will receive an all-expenses paid trip to CMT’s Nashville studio to record their own episode of UNPLUGGED AT STUDIO 330, CMT LOADED’s original online performance series. In addition, the winner will receive a private audition with Sony BMG Nashville's A&R department.
Entries for MUSIC CITY MADNESS 2007 are accepted August 1 through October 15. Entrants can submit their original video performance entry online or via mail to compete against the nation’s best undiscovered talent. All styles of country music are welcome, including bluegrass, folk, southern rock and Americana, among others. The top 64 finalists will be chosen by CMT and revealed on October 23, where they will compete in single-elimination tournament-style fan voting over a period of seven weeks. CMT.com visitors will narrow the field week by week by voting for their favorite act. CMT will reveal the grand prize winner on December 11.
When the contest launched in 2006, CMT received more than 600 entries covering all subjects and genres of country music. More than 1.2 million votes were cast to determine the winner, Stephanie Beck Williams. Williams recently visited CMT’s Nashville studio to record an episode of UNPLUGGED AT STUDIO 330, which debuted at CMT.com on August 1. Williams is also celebrating the release of her first studio album, “Not Your Normal Country Girl,” available on CMT’s digital music service, URGE, with a 20 city promotional tour.
For complete rules and information on how to enter the MUSIC CITY MADNESS Video Contest, visit madness.CMT.com.
Martin Clayton, vice president of digital media for CMT and Lewis Bogach, vice president, programming for CMT, oversee the development of original music and entertainment programming for CMT LOADED. Mark Hall serves as executive producer for CMT LOADED.
Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
Chevrolet is one of America’s best-known and best-selling automotive brands. With the largest dealer network in the United States, Chevy is the leader in full-size trucks and the leader in sales of vehicles priced $35,000 and above. Chevrolet delivers more-than-expected value in every vehicle category, offering cars and trucks priced from $9,995 to $83,175. Chevy delivers expressive design, spirited performance and great value with standard features usually found only on more expensive vehicles. For more information, go to www.chevy.com.
Sony BMG Nashville includes its four country label operations – RCA, Columbia, BNA and Arista Nashville – and Provident Music Group, one of the world’s leading Christian music companies. Sony BMG Nashville is a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland entertainment, reaching more than 84 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT’s broadband channel, CMT Loaded.
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 137 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.
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