Venture merges online music world with terrestrial radio And reinforces the
Network's commitment to young end programming
DALLAS, June 2 -- 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 and
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 (http://www.meremusic.com) where it is evaluated by a production team
before being made available for review by peers and listeners at
http://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.
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 Espanol.
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.
See Also
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull has proved a huge hit at the Cannes International Film Festival on Sunday - receiving a standing ovation from critics at its world premiere. The fourth installment of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas' famous adventure franchise was one of the most eagerly awaited screenings at the French event, attracting a huge amount of hype and publicity. But weeks of speculation threatened to tarnish the premiere after rumors suggested the film had been panned by movie bosses at an exclusive initial screening in Los Angeles last month. However, the film - which sees 65-year-old Harrison Ford return to the role of Indiana Jones after a 19 year gap - was praised by the world's media, reportedly garnering a three and a half minute standing ovation by the select few who were invited to watch it, according to American industry publication Variety. Before the screening, manic crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the movie's returning star Ford, who told awaiting reporters he didn't care if the movie received bad reviews, as long as moviegoers enjoyed the action. He said, "I expect to have the whip turned on me. I'm not really worried about it. I work for the people who pay to get in. They are my customers and my focus is on providing the best experience I can for those people." And although legendary moviemaker Lucas admitted last month he had hatched plans to revive the action hero for a fifth film, he kept tight-lipped about the plans at the Cannes premiere. He told reporters, "Harrison, Steven and I haven't talked about it. We can't do it unless I can come up with a good idea, which I haven't." The original trilogy - the last being 1989's Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade - was one of the highest-earning franchises in film history, grossing over $1 billion at the global box office.
