FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ABC Radio Networks Launches Fame Games
In Search for the Next Music Superstars –
Show Will Allow Local Market Artists to Compete
in International Competition
Venture merges online music world with terrestrial radio
And reinforces the Network’s commitment to young end programming
DALLAS (June 2, 2008) -- ABC Radio Networks announced today it has partnered with Mere Music International (MMI) to bring Fame Games – the popular Web-based competition for new music artists – to U.S. and international radio syndication. The show, which has been available on the Web since 2006, has drawn unsigned artists from more than 70 countries and currently pulls a weekly audience of more than 2.5 million listeners. Fame Games will begin airing on select ABC Radio Networks affiliates on June 30 and be comprised of three 15-week competitions targeting young end consumers.
Fame Games provides an online stage for aspiring musicians. While the showcased artists are truly international in scope, almost three quarters of the weekly listeners and on-line voters are from the United States – an indication there will be a strong reception from young, active listeners in America who want to help determine tomorrow’s music idols. The show is expected to drive traffic to station websites from listeners looking to cast their ballot and follow the weekly competition.
“Unsigned artists are writing and recording some of today’s best music and they’re doing it from their own garages and bedrooms,” said Laura Krier, an independent musician and co-founder of Fame Games. “This global radio launch is going to provide airplay and recognition for a new generation of talent. We can’t wait to start broadcasting the show with new affiliates in the U.S. and have an army of new voters choosing our top songs.”
To enter Fame Games, artists submit their song(s) via the MMI artists site (www.meremusic.com) where it is evaluated by a production team before being made available for review by peers and listeners at www.famegamesradio.com. By gaining fan support and positive reviews, a song can then advance through several voting stages required to reach the qualifier show. Winners are determined by the highest vote totals with weekly finalists from qualifying events competing for track of the month honors.
“Fame Games is going to be a phenomenal opportunity for stations seeking to provide a vehicle for local artists to become a star and will also allow the stations to own the new music niche in their market,” said TJ Lambert, Senior Vice President of Affiliate Relations for ABC Radio Networks. “We’ll be taking what has already been a successful online program and joining it with the strength and reach of network radio to attract a coveted demographic of active listeners.”
Weekly episodes of Fame Games will air Monday-Friday. The program will be hosted by the established panel of five judges, which includes Laura Krier, Paul Sedkowski and Graham Keeling - all independent musicians and writers - as well as Sid Olivera, a former BBC radio personality. The group is rounded out by Jake Waby and Lexy Badger-Ward, two teenage music phenoms and artists-in-training who provide the teen perspective to the group’s discussion and on-air reviews.
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About ABC Radio Networks
ABC Radio Networks has 4,400 affiliate radio stations reaching more than 105 million listeners in the 12+ demographic each week. Programs and services include ABC News Radio, Paul Harvey News and Comment, The Sean Hannity Show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, Big Boy’s Neighborhood, The Ride with Doug and DeDe, Kidd Kraddick in the Morning, MoneyTalk with Bob Brinker, The Mark Levin Show, American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks, The Michael Baisden Show and Dick Bartley's American Gold and Rock & Roll's Greatest Hits. Other ABC services include advanced digital media platforms with online interactive advertising, streaming audio and podcasts, ABC Sports Radio, syndicated music and talk programs including Flashback, format-specific ePREP, production libraries, nine 24-Hour Formats, including Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel, ESPN Radio and ABC Radio Networks en Español.
About Mere Music
MMI, originally Meer Music Ltd, was founded in 1996 by veteran songwriter and producer, Paul Sedkowski (Barcelona Olympics promos, Kimera, Prince Scandal) together with partners John Coletta (ex-manager of Deep Purple, Whitesnake), Derek Lawrence (producer Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Hot Chocolate), Dutch businessman, Peter van der Meer, and collaborators Rob Davis (guitarist Mud, Darts, songwriter and author of hits such as Fragma's "Toca's Miracle," Spiller Groovejet's "If This Ain't Love" or Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Outta My Head"), and artist, songwriter/producer Andy Tumi (Sugababes, Fishbowl, Supafly, daFunk, Point Break). The company is built on artist development, production and songwriting, developing music in a wide range of styles from dance to r&b to pop. In 2003, Paul teamed up with singer/songwriter Laura Krier and TV director Mary Jane Trokel (Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, Solid Gold) and renamed the company to Mere Music International. When MMI released Laura Krier’s Nothing But Trouble album in 2006 the need for radio play became evident, inspiring the move to develop and broadcast Fame Games on the Web and help as many Independent artists as possible get regular rotational airplay.
For additional information on Fame Games, Click Here.
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