MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION VOTES DETERMINE WINNER OF CMT’S FIRST ONLINE TALENT SEARCH “MUSIC CITY MADNESS”
04/03/07
MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION VOTES DETERMINE WINNER OF CMT’S FIRST ONLINE TALENT SEARCH “MUSIC CITY MADNESS”
Nashville’s Stephanie Beck Williams Wows Fans With Original Song and Video “D.R.U.N.K.”
NASHVILLE – April 3, 2007 – CMT announced today the winner of MUSIC CITY MADNESS, the network’s first online talent search inviting fans to create and produce original music videos at CMT.com for a chance at national notoriety. More than 1.2 million votes later, Nashville’s own Stephanie Beck Williams was crowned the winner by fans for her original song and video “D.R.U.N.K.” As the winning entrant, Williams will visit CMT’s Nashville studio to record an episode of STUDIO 330 SESSIONS, CMT Loaded’s online performance series. She will also walk the red carpet and attend the 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS on April 16.
More than 600 entries were received, and 64 finalists were posted at madness.CMT.com, where fans voted over six weeks in a head-to-head video competition. Entries representing all ages and styles of country music were received — with musical inspirations ranging from war to Wal-Mart, dirt roads to honky-tonks, and love to love gone bad. The nationwide talent search offered unsigned or independent artists a chance to reveal original, unpublished music to fans across the country.
Williams is currently in production on a CD titled Not Your Normal Country Girl, in which she wrote and co-wrote seven of the songs. “D.R.U.N.K.” is the first single and video from the album, and chronicles the desperate cry from a woman in her quest to be perfect. Williams is originally from Biloxi, Miss., and is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she performed in a traveling all-girl trio, “Southern Dolls.” Her influences range from Elvis, to Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Karen Carpenter.
Martin Clayton, vice president of digital media for CMT and Lewis Bogach, vice president, programming and development for CMT, oversee the development of original music and entertainment programming for CMT LOADED. Mark Hall is executive producer for CMT Loaded.
For more information on the MUSIC CITY MADNESS Video Contest or to view the winning submission, visit madness.CMT.com.
Visit CMT's press-only web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 84 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.cmt.com.
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