MORE THAN 4 MILLION VOTES CAST TO DETERMINE WINNER OF CMT’S “MUSIC CITY MADNESS”
12/11/07
Utah’s 13-year-old Katelyn Jolley Wins Nationwide Talent Search at CMT.com
NASHVILLE – December 11, 2007 – CMT announced today that more than four million votes were cast at CMT.com to crown 13-year-old Katelyn Jolley’s “This Game” the winner of MUSIC CITY MADNESS 2, the network’s second annual user-generated talent search. The Utah native is a self-taught musician, who only began playing the guitar in January. This year’s runner-up was Macy VanArnam, a 16-year-old from New York.
“Katelyn’s future in country music is bright, and her outstanding performance in this contest really speaks to its authenticity,” said Lewis Bogach, vice president, programming, CMT. “The audience chose talent over production. Katelyn also proved the power of Internet marketing, and generated hundreds and hundreds of thousands of votes, literally.”
As the winner, Jolley will receive an all-expenses paid trip to CMT’s Nashville studio to record an episode of UNPLUGGED AT STUDIO 330, CMT.com’s online performance series, and a private audition with Sony BMG Nashville’s A&R department.
Hundreds of 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. Sponsored by Chevrolet, the nationwide talent search offered unsigned or independent artists a chance to reveal original, unpublished music to fans across the country. This year the online competition expanded to include a CMT TV special hosted by American Idol finalist and Lyric Street Records recording artist Bucky Covington.
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, and Donna Priesmeyer serves as executive producer for CMT.com.
To view Jolley’s acceptance speech, visit http://www.cmt.com/loaded/index.jhtml?vid=194624.
Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.
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 87 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 VOD.
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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PRESS CONTACT:
Amanda Murphy 615-335-8408 amanda.murphy@cmt.com
