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For Immediate Release:
February 19, 2004
Contact:
Ann-Marie Nieves (anieves@giles.com)
Giles Communications
(914) 798-4114
Danny Chi (dchi@bncpr.com)
Allison Hastings (ahastings@bncpr.com)
Bragman Nyman Cafarelli
(310) 274-7800
Maura Corcoran (maura_corcoran%vh1@paramount.com)
VH1
(212) 846-7325
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"It's
been proven over and over again that a fully rounded
person needs exposure to music and the arts. I want
to thank Jack Black for making SCHOOL OF ROCK because
there is probably fifty percent more interest in covering
this story because of the success of the movie. Why
build more prisons and take away music education programs?
We need to give kids a chance so that they have the
opportunities that I had in school." -- Bonnie
Raitt |
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Hollywood, February 19, 2004 - To promote music education
in both schools and at home, Paramount Home Entertainment,
VH1 Save The Music and the American Music Conference (AMC)
have banded together to develop a nationwide contest encouraging
students to create and record their own original song. Celebrating
the DVD release of SCHOOL OF ROCK on March 2, the "VH1/SCHOOL
OF ROCK Battle of the Bands Contest" will enable
middle and high school students aged from 13-19 to compete
for the chance to have their original recording produced into
a music video and aired by VH1.
The contest will run through March 31, 2004. To enter, students
must record their own original song with entries being submitted
and uploaded to AMC's website, or they may mail in an audio recording of
their original song.
"SCHOOL OF ROCK provided us with a great opportunity
to get behind music education and send a positive message
to students and schools alike that music is a key component
in a child's well-rounded education," said Michael Arkin,
Senior Vice President, Marketing, Paramount Home Entertainment.
"We couldn't have partnered with better organizations
than VH1 and the AMC, as their mission has always been to
save music in our schools," added Arkin.
"The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is thrilled to partner
with Paramount Home Entertainment and the American Music Conference
on such an exciting project," said Christina Norman,
President, VH1. "We believe that there is no better gift
for students than the power of music. This innovative SCHOOL
OF ROCK contest will inspire young students to harness all
the benefits that music can bring them."
Continuing their commitment to music education and their
rally against nationwide cuts in music programs in our schools,
AMC emphasizes the positive effects that music education and
music making have on developing minds. "We are pleased
to be involved with this contest that gives teens across the
nation the opportunity to express themselves creatively through
making music," says AMC Executive Director Rob Walker.
"Active music making has been shown to correlate with
better reading skills, math scores and teamwork among teens.
This is a great opportunity to draw attention to the positive
benefits of making music for young people," he adds.
Released in theaters on October 3, 2003, SCHOOL OF ROCK
has brought in over $80 million at the box office and the
film's star, Jack Black, was recently honored with a Golden
Globe nomination for best performance in a comedy. The DVD
features commentary by Jack Black and director Richard Linklater,
a commentary by the kids of SCHOOL OF ROCK, a featurette
("Lessons Learned in the School of Rock"), "Jack
Black's Pitch to Led Zeppelin," "Kids' Video Diary:
Toronto Film Festival," the SCHOOL OF ROCK music
video, "Dewey Finn's History of Rock," the theatrical
trailer and a public service announcement (PSA) in support
of VH1 Save the Music Foundation.
Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, more than $25
million worth of musical instruments has been donated to 1,000
public schools in 80 cities, improving the lives of more than
500,000 children. VH1 Save The Music's many honors include
the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster
Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence and many
Beacon Awards.
Visit www.paramount.com/homeentertainment
to learn more about Paramount Home Entertainment's new releases,
as well as other classic Hollywood films, television programs,
animated titles and family and special interest programming.
Paramount Home Entertainment is part of the operations of
Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc.
VH1 is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of
Viacom International Inc. MTV Networks also operates and offers
joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals
whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.
Founded in 1947, The American Music Conference (AMC) is a
national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting
the importance of music, music making and music education
to the general public. For more information on the American
Music Conference and the benefits of making music for all
ages, go to www.amc-music.org;
for tools to save music programs in your local community,
www.SupportMusic.com;
and for additional education resources,
www.namm.com/weekendwarriors
for adults, and www.newhorizonsband.com
for seniors.
Click here for contest rules
and regulations.
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