Feb 21

B2B Tech Marketers OK With Online Video, But Not Sure of Social Networks and Wikis

New research by KnowledgeStorm and Universal McCann illuminates the impact that emerging online media have on B2B technology marketing and shows how online video, social networks and Wikis are evolving into B2B information delivery tools

A wiki (WICK-ee) or (WEE-kee)[1] is a website that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove, and otherwise edit and change available content, and typically without the need for registration.)

This survey indicates the B2B marketplace seems to have taken advantage of the benefits online video offers, but has grappled with different aspects and business applications of Wikis - and to a greater extent social networks.

Summary of Key Findings:

With regard to interest in Online video...

• Sixty-three percent of the survey respondents access online videos at least weekly. An additional 27% view videos downloaded from the Internet on a monthly basis.
• For the majority of respondents, the content they choose is a combination of both technology and business information. Twenty percent alone are reading technology-related material. Only 7% do not access either type of information through online video.
• The Webcast tops the list of most popular online video content with 70% of respondents saying they use this format. News and demonstrations rounded out the top three spots.
• 84% of respondents said that online video enhances content related to technology product information and research.
• 76% of respondents are sharing online video content either weekly or monthly. Only 18% said they "never" recommend this type of content to co-workers or colleagues.
• Fifty-seven percent of respondents in this survey felt that online videos impacted their purchasing decisions. A previous report by KnowledgeStorm and Universal McCann showed that podcasts influenced 27% of respondents when it came to technology purchases, while blogs played a decisive role for 53%.

In responding to social networking online...

• Seventy seven percent of B2B technology buyers have little to no familiarity with social networking online. Of the 24% who are very accustomed to social networks, a large majority of the respondents visit these sites at least once a month.
• 70% of B2B technology buyers use social networking sites for business networking and/or development, though 59% admit to also using these sites for personal reasons.

And, during the involvement with "wiki" questions...

• Eighty-six percent of respondents are familiar with Wikis, such as Wikipedia, with 47% considering themselves "very" comfortable with this medium. And, more than 50% are weekly Wikis visitors.
• Sixty-three percent of survey respondents who visit Wikis do so for both business and technology information, with 96% percent rating information from Wikis as "somewhat" to "extremely" valuable. Only 6% of respondents regularly contribute content to Wikis, though
• Considerable sharing of Wiki content is occurring among respondents with 70% preferring to endorse or pass along related information among co-workers and colleagues.
• Respondents are closely divided on the impact that Wikis currently have on IT decisions. Fifty-two percent of the respondents state that Wikis influence their purchasing decision-making while 48% aren't so sure.

Finally, the editors conclude and recommend that, "as B2B marketers continue to increase online spending, they need to move beyond traditional banner advertisements and search marketing to explore and experiment with emerging media such as online video, social networks and Wikis... to target specific niches and increase reach within the B2B technology marketplace."

Administered in October 2006, the survey represents responses from more than 5,300 participants on the topics of online video, social networks and Wikis. The survey was answered by an equal representation of business and IT professionals across a variety of job titles, vertical industries and company sizes. The demographic profile shows:

• 45% of the respondents were involved with their company's technology at a strategic level
• 55% are engaged in implementation or day-to-day management
• 42% are relied upon by 10 or more people within their organization for IT research and expertise
• 28% have a major influence on IT purchasing or actually authorize purchases

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ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb. 21In the race for Best Picture Oscar, there is no clear "runaway" hit according to the American public. One in five U.S. adults (19%) say "Letters from Iwo Jima" should win the Oscar for Best Picture, while 13 percent each say the Oscar should go to "The Departed" and "Little Miss Sunshine." Eight percent of adults say "The Queen" should win Best Picture and four percent say the award should go to "Babel." The largest groups, however, are the 20 percent who say none of the nominated movies should win, and the 21 percent who are not sure. Though the nominated movies may have critical acclaim, it appears that mass popular appeal has eluded them.

Over one-quarter (27%) of those in the West say "Letters from Iwo Jima" should win, while the rest of the country is much more evenly divided. A different front-runner emerges among those who say they are planning to watch the Oscars this year also. One in five Oscar watchers say "The Departed" should win, while 17 percent say it should be "Little Miss Sunshine," and 16 percent say the award should go to "Letters from Iwo Jima."

These are some of the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 1,013 U.S. adults surveyed by telephone by Harris Interactive(R) between February 6 and 12, 2007.

Best Actor

In the race for Best Actor there is a clear favorite, with 38 percent saying Will Smith should win for "The Pursuit of Happyness." Thirteen percent each say the Oscar should go to Forest Whitaker for "The Last King of Scotland" and Leonardo DiCaprio for "Blood Diamond." Veteran actor Peter O'Toole is next as seven percent say he should win for his role in "Venus," while one percent believes Ryan Gosling should win for his role in "Half Nelson." Over two in five (44%) Oscar watchers also say Will Smith should win the Oscar, followed by Leonardo DiCaprio (20%).

Best Actress

One-quarter (26%) say the Oscar should go to Meryl Streep for "The Devil Wears Prada," while 18 percent say it should go to Helen Mirren for "The Queen." Further down the list, nine percent each say the award should go to Kate Winslet for "Little Children" and Penelope Cruz for "Volver" and five percent say Judi Dench should take home the Oscar for "Notes on a Scandal." Of those who say they will watch the Oscars this year, 31 percent say the Best Actress award should go to Meryl Streep and 29 percent believe it should go to Helen Mirren.

Oscar Host

The choice of host tends to get almost as much scrutiny as the awards themselves. With Ellen DeGeneres hosting this year, about two-thirds (67%) of adults say it makes no difference in their decision to watch the Oscars, while 17 percent say it will make them more likely to watch and 15 percent say it will make them less likely to watch. One-quarter (24%) of women, however, say the choice will make them more likely to watch as do one-third of those who say they are going to watch the Oscars.

Watching the Oscars

More than two in five (43%) U.S. adults say they are planning to watch the Oscars this year, while just over half (54%) say they are not planning on watching. Perhaps not surprisingly, Oscar viewers are more likely to be female than male, with over half of women (52%) expecting to watch, while almost two- thirds of men (64%) expect not to watch.

Why do people watch the Oscars? More than half (54%) of those who planning to watch the Oscars say it is because they enjoy movies and like to see the recognition, while 46 percent say they watch to see the actors and the actresses. One-third (32%) say they always watch them, three in 10 tune in for the fashions and 29 percent say they just love award shows. On the flip side, 38 percent of those who are not planning to watch say it is because they don't enjoy watching award shows, while just under one-quarter (23%) don't watch the Oscars because they don't watch many movies. One in five (18%) say they don't watch because the show is just too long, 16 percent say it is because they always forget they are on and 11 percent don't watch the Oscars because they don't know any of the actors and actresses.

Other results from The Harris Poll(R) are:

* Education plays a role in the choice for Best Actor and Best Actress

winners. Over one-quarter (26%) of those with a post graduate education

think Forest Whitaker should win Best Actor and the same number think

Helen Mirren should win Best Actress;

* There is a generational difference in who will watch the Oscars. Just

under half of Echo Boomers (those ages 18 to 30) and Generation X (those

ages 31 to 42) (48% each) are planning on watching, while 43 percent of

Baby Boomers (those ages 43 to 61) and just one-third (32%) of Matures

(those ages 62 and older) will watch;

* Seven in 10 (71%) of those in the West who are planning to watch the

Oscars say this is because they enjoy the movies and like to see them

get recognition;

* One-third (32%) of Echo Boomers don't watch the Oscars because they

always forget they are on, while two in five Matures (39%) don't watch

because they don't watch many movies.

TABLE 1

BEST PICTURE OSCAR

"Which movie should win the Oscar for Best Picture?"

Base: All adults

Region Oscar Viewers

Oscar Non-Oscar

Total East Midwest South West Watchers Watchers

% % % % % % %

Letters from

Iwo Jima 19 16 18 17 27 16 22

The Departed 13 16 11 15 9 20 7

Little Miss

Sunshine 13 13 14 16 6 17 10

The Queen 8 9 7 9 9 11 7

Babel 4 3 5 3 7 9 1

None of these 20 18 27 16 21 13 25

Not Sure 21 24 17 22 21 14 26

Decline to

answer 1 1 1 1 1 * 2

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%.

TABLE 2

BEST ACTOR OSCAR

"Who should win the Oscar for Best Actor?"

Base: All adults

Education Oscar Viewers

Non-

HS or Some College Post Oscar Oscar

Total less College Grad Grad Watchers Watchers

% % % % % % %

Will Smith for "The

Pursuit of Happyness" 38 46 36 24 22 44 33

Forrest Whitaker for

"The Last King of

Scotland" 13 9 11 23 26 18 10

Leonardo DiCaprio

for "Blood Diamond" 13 14 15 9 10 20 8

Peter O'Toole for

"Venus" 7 6 7 8 10 6 8

Ryan Gosling for

"Half Nelson" 1 * 2 1 1 2 *

None of these 13 12 11 18 12 5 19

Not sure 15 13 17 15 19 6 21

Decline to answer 1 1 1 1 - * 1

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%; -No response

TABLE 3

BEST ACTRESS OSCAR

"Who should win the Oscar for Best Actress?"

Base: All Adults

Education Oscar Viewers

Non-

HS or Some College Post Oscar Oscar

Total less College Grad Grad Watchers Watchers

% % % % % % %

Meryl Streep for "The

Devil Wears Prada" 26 25 28 30 16 31 21

Helen Mirren for

"The Queen" 18 14 21 22 26 29 10

Kate Winslet for

"Little Children" 9 11 7 6 9 9 10

Penelope Cruz for

"Volver" 9 11 8 5 6 10 8

Judi Dench for

"Notes on a Scandal" 5 3 6 5 9 5 4

None of these 15 16 11 18 14 6 22

Not sure 17 18 17 14 20 10 23

Decline to answer 1 1 1 1 - * 1

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%; -No response

TABLE 4

ELLEN DEGENERES AS HOST

"This year Ellen DeGeneres has been chosen to host the Oscars. Does this selection for a host make you more likely to watch the Oscars this year, less

likely to watch the Oscars or will it make no difference to you?"

Base: All Adults

Gender Oscar Viewers

Oscar Non-Oscar

Total Male Female Watchers Watchers

% % % % %

More likely 17 10 24 33 5

Less likely 15 17 14 9 20

No difference 67 73 61 58 73

Not sure 1 * 1 - 1

Decline to answer * * * - *

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%; -No response

TABLE 5

OSCAR VIEWERSHIP

"Are you planning on watching the Oscars this year?"

Base: All Adults

Gender Generation

Echo Baby

Boomers Gen X Boomers Matures

Total Male Female (18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+)

% % % % % % %

Yes 43 35 52 48 48 43 32

No 54 64 44 51 48 53 64

Not Sure 3 2 4 1 3 3 4

Decline to Answer * - * - - * -

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

* Less than 0.5%; -No response

TABLE 6

WHY WATCH THE OSCARS?

"Why do you watch the Oscars?"

Base: Planning on watching the Oscars

Region

Total East Midwest South West

% % % % %

Enjoy the movies and like to

see the recognition 54 46 49 54 71

To see the actors and actresses 46 46 34 53 47

Always watch them 32 40 29 30 29

To see the fashions 30 37 19 35 23

Just love award shows 29 26 25 32 31

Other 8 5 6 13 3

Not sure * * * - -

Note: Multiple-response question

Note: Percentages may not add up to exactly 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%; -No response

TABLE 7

WHY NOT WATCH THE OSCARS?

"Why are you not planning on watching the Oscars?"

Base: Not planning on watching the Oscars

Generation

Echo Baby

Boomers Gen X Boomers Matures

Total (18-30) (31-42) (43-61) (62+)

% % % % %

Don't enjoy watching award

shows 38 39 42 42 30

Don't watch many movies 23 24 9 18 39

The show is always too long 18 19 11 18 21

Always forget they are on 16 32 17 10 8

Not sure who any of the

actors are 11 11 8 8 20

Other 27 17 38 31 24

Not sure * - - 1 -

Note: Multiple-response question

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

*Less than 0.5%; -No response

Methodology

The Harris Poll(R) was conducted by telephone within the United States between February 6 and 12, 2007 among a nationwide cross section of 1,013 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults, number of voice/telephone lines in the household, region and size of place were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results of the overall sample have a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points of what they would be if the entire U.S. adult population had been polled with complete accuracy. Sampling error for the sub-sample results is higher and varies. Unfortunately, there are several other possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be interviewed (nonresponse), question wording and question order, interviewer bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these factors.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

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Q550, Q555, Q560, Q570, Q575, Q580, Q585

The Harris Poll(R) #15, February 21, 2007

By Regina Corso, Research Director, Issues and Industry Research Practice, Harris Interactive(R)

About Harris Interactive(R)

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides innovative research, insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com.

Web site: http://www.harrisinteractive.com/

James Brown's Widow, Tomi Rae Brown, Signs Multi-faceted Record, Literary and Video Deal With The Machine Productions

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 The widow of the late James Brown acknowledged Monday night on "Larry King Live" that she has just signed a multi-entertainment deal with The Machine Productions of Irvine, California.

Brown told King she is working on a tribute CD to her late husband, featuring original material she and the late soul singer wrote together. The CD tentatively entitled "Mrs. Brown: This is for you" will feature duets with Tomi Rae and James Brown, together with contributions from various successful rap artists.

Among the deal points announced by The Machine's CEO Michael Reynolds is a partnership between Mrs. Brown and the company for music on the company's "Groove Records" label, and literary, video and online projects. Reynolds said, "Tomi Rae is a very talented person and we are proud to have her join The Machine family."

Mrs. Brown said, "I'm very excited to be a part of The Machine's multi- faceted entertainment offerings. We have already begun to plan television projects as well as music projects. With The Machine's wide ranging distribution partners, James's fans will have an opportunity in the future to hear and see him in new and original material."

Michael Nason, President of The Machine Productions said, "We are enthusiastic about the amazing amount of content that Tomi Rae has created with James Brown, as well as her own, very impressive solo material." He added, "There are endless opportunities here and we look forward to bringing them to market."

About The Machine Productions:

The Machine Productions is a Multimedia Entertainment Company based in Irvine, California. The Company has three record label imprints in addition to television and film production arms. The Company is focused on developing and delivering quality, positive entertainment content across all media platforms. www.themachineproductions.com

Source: The Machine Productions

Web site: http://www.themachineproductions.com/

'Borat,' 'Babel' and 'Blood Diamond' Among Oscar Nominees Not Credited With 'No Animals Were Harmed'

DENVER, Feb. 21 With all the excitement surrounding the upcoming Oscar awards, it is easy to overlook the animals that play such an important role in movies. Although animals are an integral part of some of the most acclaimed films, their well-being and safety are sometimes neglected. American Humane, the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed"(R) end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, applauds those nominated movies that included animal-safety monitoring as part of their production process -- but calls attention to those that did not.

The following Oscar-nominated films, which were not monitored by American Humane, contain animal action that appears to have put animals in jeopardy and, in some cases, may have caused an animal's death:

  *  "Apocalypto"      *  "Borat"                *  "The Last King of   *  "Babel"           *  "Marie Antoinette"        Scotland"   *  "Blood Diamond"   *  "Notes on a Scandal"   *  "The Queen"  

Most of these movies were filmed outside the United States, in locations that included England, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa and Uganda. Current funding restrictions for American Humane necessitates that, when filming outside the United States, productions pay a fee for the monitoring services as well as other travel-related expenses for American Humane's Certified Animal Safety Representatives. The above productions either had prior knowledge of this standard process and declined American Humane's services, or were foreign productions that were not familiar with American Humane.

American Humane is the only organization authorized to monitor and award the "No Animals Were Harmed"(R) end credit disclaimer, regardless of where a production is filmed. American Humane's International Program is designed for foreign productions and for U.S. productions filmed overseas. American Humane's Film & Television Unit works early in the process with productions to advise on the use of animals in the production and to act as a credible witness to the humane treatment of the animal actors. American Humane's services are provided free of charge for SAG domestic productions filmed in the United States.

American Humane has contacted distributors of the above-listed films in an effort to ascertain whether or not animals were harmed and for an explanation of the filmed action that depicts cruelty to animals. To date, American Humane has not received responses.

However, American Humane would like to applaud and congratulate those nominated films that incorporated our oversight of animal action. The following productions went over and above to ensure the safety of their animal actors by making American Humane a part of the production process. For more information on these productions and others, visit www.americanhumane.org and click the link to the Film and TV Unit for an inside look at the world of animals in filmed entertainment.

  *  "Click"                     *  "Pirates of the Caribbean:   *  "The Departed"                 Dead Man's Chest"   *  "The Devil Wears Prada"     *  "The Prestige"   *  "Half Nelson"               *  "Superman Returns"   *  "Little Children"    About American Humane 

The American Humane Association is the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals. Founded in 1877, American Humane is celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. Through a network of child and animal protection agencies and individuals, American Humane develops policies, legislation, curricula and training programs to protect children and animals from abuse, neglect and exploitation. The nonprofit membership organization, headquartered in Denver, raises awareness about The Link(R) between animal abuse and other forms of violence, as well as the benefits derived from the human-animal bond. American Humane's regional office in Los Angeles is the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed"(R) end credit disclaimer on film and TV productions, and American Humane's office in Washington is an advocate for child and animal protection at the federal and state levels. American Humane meets the strong, comprehensive standards of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance and has been awarded the Independent Charities of America "Best in America" Seal of Approval. Visit www.americanhumane.org to learn more.

Source: American Humane Association

Web site: http://www.americanhumane.org/

United Artists' 'Lions for Lambs' to Be Released Worldwide by MGM

Robert Redford Directs and Stars With Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise in the Production Which Began Filming on January 29, 2007

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 United Artists Entertainment LLC (UA) and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) have announced that Robert Redford's LIONS FOR LAMBS will be released in North America on Friday, November 9, 2007, with the remainder of the world to roll out in subsequent months. Principal photography on the first production from the new UA, began on January 29th with Robert Redford directing and starring alongside Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Derek Luke, Michael Pena, Andrew Garfield and Peter Berg. Matthew Michael Carnahan wrote the original screenplay and produces alongside Redford, Tracy Falco and Andrew Hauptman.

"Robert Redford has a remarkable ability to tell moving stories and capture the essence of the human experience," says United Artists CEO Paula Wagner. "We are very proud to have him at the helm of our inaugural production."

LIONS FOR LAMBS tells the poignant and layered story of several individuals caught up at various ends of the nation's war on terror -- a senator (Cruise) attempting to spin the latest 'comprehensive strategy' to a network news journalist (Streep), an idealistic professor (Redford) trying to convince one of his most promising students (Garfield) to change the course of his life; and two young men (Luke and Pena), fighting in the snow-capped mountains of Afghanistan, whose desire to live a life of meaning leads them to join the U.S. army and the fight against global terrorism.

Redford is an accomplished producer and Academy Award(R) winning director whose directing credits include ORDINARY PEOPLE, A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT and QUIZ SHOW. He also has starred in such legendary films as BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID, THE STING, OUT OF AFRICA, THE NATURAL, ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN, THE WAY WE WERE and THE HORSE WHISPERER.

Streep is an Academy Award(R) winning actress who won the 2006 Golden Globe and is nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA. Other film credits include THE DEER HUNTER, KRAMER VS. KRAMER, SOPHIE'S CHOICE, OUT OF AFRICA, ADAPTATION and PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION.

Cruise is three-time Academy Award(R) nominated actor whose film credits include the box office phenomenon MISSION IMPOSSIBLE series, WAR OF THE WORLDS, COLLATERAL, JERRY MAGUIRE and the critically acclaimed THE LAST SAMURAI and MAGNOLIA among others.

  Luke's credits include ANTWONE FISHER, PIECES OF APRIL and CATCH A FIRE.   Pena's credits include MILLION DOLLAR BABY, CRASH and WORLD TRADE CENTER. 

Carnahan penned the screenplay for the upcoming Peter Berg film, THE KINGDOM, starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. He is also writing STATE OF PLAY starring Brad Pitt and working on the screenplay for WHITE JAZZ, directed by Joe Carnahan and starring George Clooney.

About United Artists Entertainment LLC

United Artists Entertainment LLC was formed in November 2006 under a partnership between Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), with Wagner serving as CEO. The historic UA brand was initially founded some 85 years ago by movie greats Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and D.W. Griffith and, throughout its history, has appeared on such iconic film franchises as ROCKY, PINK PANTHER and JAMES BOND.

About Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., through its operating subsidiaries is actively engaged in the worldwide production and distribution of motion pictures, television programming, home video, interactive media, music and licensed merchandise. The company owns the world's largest library of modern films, comprising around 4,000 titles. Operating units include Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., United Artists Films Inc., MGM Television Entertainment Inc., MGM Networks Inc., MGM Distribution Co., MGM International Television Distribution Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Home Entertainment LLC, MGM ON STAGE, MGM Music, MGM Worldwide Digital Media, MGM Consumer Products and MGM Interactive. In addition, MGM has ownership interests in international TV channels reaching nearly 110 countries. MGM ownership is as follows: Providence Equity Partners (29%), Texas Pacific Group (21%), Sony Corporation of America (20%), Comcast (20%), DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (7%) and Quadrangle Group (3%). For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Source: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. 

Web site: http://www.mgm.com/

Top 40 Radio Can't Get Enough of Hilary Duff; First Single 'With Love' #1 Most Added!

BURBANK, Calif., Feb. 21  This week marks the triumphant return of Hilary Duff to the # 1 most added song at Top 40 radio. Hilary's new single "With Love" soared past the competition with adds at such radio stations as Z100 in New York, WXKS in Boston and KZZP in Phoenix. Hilary's video for "With Love" recently premiered on TRL and has already reached #1 on the count down.

"With Love" is from Hilary's highly anticipated forthcoming album, Dignity, which is due in stores April 3. Leading up to the Dignity release, Hilary will co-host a week of TRL, appear on GMA, and perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ellen.

Dignity marks a new direction in Hilary Duff's musical career. The album has an edgy dance feel with elements of rock at the same time. Hilary co- wrote each song, and the lyrics showcase her growth as a young woman. The songs showcase both her confidence and vulnerability with depth and urgency.

Hilary teamed with Grammy-Award winning Kara Dioguardi (Gwen Stefani, Pussy Cat Dolls, Enrique Iglesias, Kelly Clarkson), as well as top producer/songwriters like Chico Bennett & Richard Vission (Madonna, Usher, Killers), Tim & Bob (Nas, Madonna, Jennifer Lopez), Vada Nobles (Rhianna, Lauryn Hill, Faith Evans, Natasha Bedingfield, Warren G), Fred Wreck (Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Fergie), Will.I.Am and Rhett Lawrence.

A deluxe edition of "Dignity" will be released April 3 as well, and will contain exclusive artwork, and a DVD video retrospective hosted by Hilary from her own home. The week of April 3, Hilary will also announce her tour plans for the summer for the United States, Canada and Europe.

Hilary gained worldwide recognition in 2001 starring in the hit Disney Channel series "Lizzie McGuire." In May 2003, she brought her character to the big screen with Walt Disney Pictures' "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." She went on to co-star in hit films like "Agent Cody Banks," "Cheaper by the Dozen," "Cinderella Story," "Raise Your Voice," "Perfect Man," and "Material Girls." She recently wrapped "War Inc." in Bulgaria, which stars John Cusack, Sir Ben Kingsley and Marisa Tomei. Hilary also recently launched her own Elizabeth Arden perfume "With Love" and a new line of "Stuff by Hilary Duff." Hilary has sold over 13 million records worldwide.

Source: Hollywood Records

An 'American Idol' First - Jon Peter Lewis

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 With Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson storming the music charts, another 'American Idol' finalist is savoring personal success. Jon Peter Lewis has become the first 'Idol' finalist coming off the show to independently produce and release a full-length debut album with all original songs. Called a "true entertainer" by MTV, an "American Idol favorite" by Billboard magazine, and "brave" by Simon Cowell, industry insiders are not only impressed with Jon's passion and determination to create his own label and maintain control of his first record, but with his music as well. JPL's eagerly awaited debut album, Stories from Hollywood, follows on the heels of his critically acclaimed singles, "If I Go Away," "It's Christmas," and "California Christmas."

"Stories from Hollywood is a collection of instantly infectious songs with clever, provocative lyrics ... in other words, it's the sort of album you wished more former 'Idols' dared to make. We knew JPL was a true entertainer, now we know the kid can write." -- Corey Moss Senior Writer, MTV

"Don't take a road trip without this CD. Jon Peter Lewis has many stories to share -- all worth listening to." -- Monica Rizzo, People magazine

"Jon Peter Lewis has real charisma as a person, a performer and recording artist. The songs are honest yet accessible and Jon sings them with warmth and conviction. I prefer this album to some of the other major label Idol releases." -- Don Grierson, Former Head of A&R at Capitol and Epic Records

"This eclectic combo of pop, alternative rock and a bit of the blues, mixed with strong vocals, great instrumentals and unique beats, showcases this up-and-coming artist as a star in the making." -- Jessica Venditto, AI Magazine

On "California Christmas:"

"American Idol favorite, Jon Peter Lewis, swipes at the winter chill in 'California Christmas,' an instant classic which conjures Beach Boys meets Phil Spector." -- Chuck Taylor, Billboard Magazine

Although a challenging path to take, Jon turned down offers from producers wanting to package him in favor of maintaining control over his debut album. "My heart just wasn't into being a ballad singer or creating a teenybopper image." Jon explains. "I've always felt more comfortable with a rock edge to my music and that's the sound I wanted to develop."

Jon is currently performing with his band throughout the country, including recent performances at the Viper Room in Hollywood, California and a live broadcast performance at the prestigious Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. Jon headlined the 2007 Mardi Gras celebration in Larose, Louisiana and was the Grand Marshal of their parade. Jon continues to be a favorite guest of radio and television, most recently performing live on Valentine's Day for the national morning show Fox & Friends in New York City.

About Jon: Jon Peter Lewis was a finalist on American Idol's third season. Following his successful run on 'Idol' and subsequent 50-city tour, he began writing and recording songs with impressive results. Presently living in Los Angeles, Jon has appeared on numerous national television programs, including The Today Show, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Good Day Live, Regis & Kelly!, MTV, TLC, and The CBS Early Show. Jon has been a recent contributor to Rolling Stone.com and will be featured in People magazine's upcoming 'Idol' success book. He will also be profiled in the original series, Frequency, jamming with Grammy nominee Dave Koz, which is set to air on Public Television stations this summer.

AT&T Invites its Wireless Customers to Pick Up Their Cell Phones and Exercise Their Right to Vote for the Next "American Idol"

As Fans Enjoy the First Week of Voting, AT&T Announces the Return of Messaging-Based Offerings Including a New Messaging Sweepstakes

ATLANTA, Feb. 21 -- Now that the "American Idol" auditioners have taken their last bow, the Top 24 are singing their hearts out in front of an American television- viewing -- and voting -- audience.

Cingular, now the new AT&T, is again making it easy for its customers to use their cell phones to stay plugged in to America's No. 1 television show through a host of messaging-based offerings including Text Voting, Vote Reminder, Idol Trivia and a new messaging sweepstakes where the grand-prize winner will have a chance to win up to $1,000,000.

"As in past seasons, messaging is the foundation of our 'Idol'-themed wireless offerings, and our customers who are fans of the show continue to embrace these services so they can stay connected to all of the excitement of 'American Idol,'" said Jim Ryan, vice president-consumer data services, AT&T. "We are thrilled to once again deliver an innovative suite of messaging-based programs to keep our 'Idol' fans engaged with the show and, of course, make it simple and convenient for them to wirelessly text their votes to help ultimately determine the winner."

Since "American Idol" debuted four weeks ago to a record audience of 37.3 million viewers, AT&T wireless customers have been able to enjoy video and ringtone content from the audition shows on their cell phones. Now with the Top 24 contestants determined, it's time to expand the content offerings. Teaming with VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) , the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure for the networked world, the new AT&T is once again offering a host of exciting messaging-based interactive services this season, which include:

   * Text Voting. Text the word "VOTE," then send it to your "Idol's"      number. You can vote for as many contestants as you want, as often as      you like, during the voting window after each show.    * Vote Reminder. To receive text messages listing all the "Idols" and      their codes on your wireless phone each week, just text AI to short      code 3003.    * Idol Trivia. To sign up for weekly "American Idol" trivia, text AI to      short code 5005.    * Idol TXT Chats. Once it's down to the Top 12, AT&T wireless customers      will have the opportunity to chat each week with the "Idol" contestant      who was eliminated from the previous night's show. Fans will post      questions, as part of a group chat, to the contestant during a      designated time and then will receive a text message with the      contestant's response. To sign up, text the word "YES" to 7007.    A Chance to Win a Trip to the Finale Plus up to $1,000,000 

AT&T is giving "Idol" fans a million reasons to text this season. One lucky fan of the show will have a chance to win up to $1,000,000. Entry into the sweepstakes is easy; simply text the word "IDOL" to 4004. After that, every text message, multimedia message and/or instant message sent before May 4, 2007, counts as an entry into the sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes will be randomly selected from all the entries received, and he or she will win a trip for two to the "American Idol" season finale in Los Angeles where they will have a chance to win a great cash prize. Want to know more? Visit www.cingular.com/idol for all the details.

Rise in "Idol"-Related Texting

Since a text-messaging component was first introduced on "American Idol" Season 2 by AT&T, there has been a steady increase in overall "American Idol"- related text messages sent each season. In anticipation of another stellar messaging season, AT&T's wireless network has worked to triple its network capacity by building a dedicated high-volume messaging complex.

   * "American Idol" Season 2.  The campaign generated 7.5 million text      messages in its debut season.    * "American Idol" Season 3.  A total of 13.5 million text messages were      sent, almost doubling the results of the previous season.    * "American Idol" Season 4.  The campaign more than tripled the number of      "American Idol"-related text messages, with 41.5 million sent      throughout the season.    * "American Idol" Season 5. Last season, more than 64.5 million text      messages were sent -- breaking last year's record.    Text Voting Is as Easy as 1, 2, 3! 

If you're an "American Idol" fan but you've never picked up your new AT&T wireless phone to vote, you just need to follow these three simple steps:

   1.  On your AT&T wireless phone, select Menu, and start a new message        from the Text Messaging option.    2.  Type in the word "VOTE;" then select Options and Send.    3.  Enter the four-digit number of the contestant(s) for whom you want to        vote, then select OK. (Contestant numbers are listed during each        voting show.)    Two easy ways to text message:    * Pay as you go (automatically included with your service -- 15 cents a      message).    * Select a messaging package for as low as $4.99 a month. Messaging      packages include text, picture, video and instant messages.  

Most AT&T wireless phones support text-messaging. Have an older phone and are not sure whether it is enabled for text-messaging? Visit www.cingular.com/media/text_messaging, or dial 611 from your wireless phone to find out whether your phone is compatible.

Visit www.cingular.com/idol for more details on the new AT&T's "Idol"- related content and features this season, and watch "American Idol" on FOX!

Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss.

About AT&T

AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company in the United States and around the world, with operating subsidiaries providing services under the AT&T brand. AT&T is the recognized world leader in providing IP-based communications services to businesses and the U.S. leader in providing wireless, high speed Internet access, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising through its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding video entertainment offerings to include such next-generation television services as AT&T U-verse(SM) TV. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at www.att.com.

AT&T is a registered trademark of AT&T Knowledge Ventures. Subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. provide products and services under the AT&T brand.

Source: AT&T

Chart-Topping Recording Artists KoRn, The Game, +44, Rise Against and Young Jeezy Take Center Stage at Boost Mobile RockCorps Concert Friday, March 30 at LA's Kodak Theatre

Today's Hottest Hip-Hop & Rock Artists Will Perform Exclusively for 3,000 Youth Volunteers

NEW YORK, Feb. 21  Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC), the national youth volunteerism movement that has motivated more than 16,000 young people to get involved and help their communities, today announced that recording artists KoRn, The Game, +44, Rise Against and Young Jeezy are to perform at this year's first-ever BMRC concert event at LA's Kodak Theatre on March 30. The concert will reward 3,000 hard-working local youth who have volunteered four hours of community service through BMRC to earn tickets to this ultra-exclusive event.

RockCorps, an organization harnessing the power of music to inspire volunteerism, and Boost Mobile, a wireless telecommunications brand dedicated to boosting the lives of today's youth, continue their highly successful partnership for the third year in a row. BMRC exposes young people to simple and fun ways they can proactively contribute to their neighborhoods and positively transform society. Combining the power of music, community and volunteerism, Boost Mobile RockCorps will offer entrance to this summer's most popular concerts for which the only way in is to earn tickets by contributing four hours of volunteer service.

A recent comparison of BMRC and non-BMRC participants illustrates the impact of the program on today's young people. Findings suggest close to 80% of BMRC volunteers are likely to volunteer again in the future -- without a concert ticket/reward. Additionally, 73% of participants who attended the BMRC concert conveyed it gave them a sense of how powerful volunteer work can be. Music has the power to bring people together, and Boost Mobile RockCorps is channeling this power as a catalyst for making volunteering cool and relevant to today's youth.

BMRC 2007 kicked off in Los Angeles in early February with a diverse roster of volunteer projects and partnerships involving local LA youth that will culminate with the unprecedented concert event at the Kodak Theatre. Major reward concert events are also scheduled to take place at Atlanta's Fox Theatre and New York City's legendary Radio City Music Hall later this year, with additional tour stops to be announced next month.

Last year's BMRC program made stops in Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. By the end of the 2006 tour, BMRC volunteers had contributed approximately 40,000 hours of community service and transformed close to 125 project sites in eight cities across the country.

Youth interested in becoming part of the Boost Mobile RockCorps movement can call BMRC at 1-888-ROCK-889, or log onto www.boostmobilerockcorps.com for more information and to register for membership. BMRC members will be notified of volunteer opportunities in their area.

About RockCorps

RockCorps is an organization that harnesses the power of music to inspire volunteerism. Based on the early work of The Greenbucks Foundation, RockCorps was founded in 2003 to affect social change and act as the bridge between communities in need and the young adults who want to make them better. RockCorps' goals are to introduce volunteerism to teens and young adults, motivate people to volunteer in their community and launch a national movement. The company has formulated a unique blend of music, community and volunteerism to expose young people to simple ways they can proactively contribute to the greater good. The program employs music as an incentive to entice and then funnel volunteers through established non-profit organizations. By completing four hours of community service, each participant receives a ticket to a signature RockCorps event which features performances by some of the hottest names in music. Experience shows that after volunteering once with RockCorps, young people are twice as likely to do it again.

About Boost Mobile

Based in Irvine, California, Boost Mobile is a lifestyle-based telecommunications brand focused on offering premium Pay-As-You-Go wireless phones and services to the youth market. Boost Mobile is dedicated to boosting the lives of today's young people by contributing to youth development programs. Boost's community relations efforts, which include Boost Mobile RockCorps, Boost Mobile Ahead of the Game youth basketball camps, support to Big Brothers Big Sisters and Historically Black Colleges and Universities and more, are helping young people enhance their lifestyle and status, and build stronger connections and greater independence. Experience Boost on the Web at www.boostmobile.com

Source: Boost Mobile RockCorps

Web site: http://www.boostmobile.com/
http://www.boostmobilerockcorps.com/

DreamWorks Pictures Releases Statement About Dreamgirls

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Dreamgirls is a work of fiction. It is also an homage to Motown. We used many wonderful accomplishments that belong to the rich Motown history. For any confusion that has resulted from our fictional work, we apologize to Mr. Gordy and all of the incredible people who were a part of that great legacy. It is vital that the public understand that the real Motown story has yet to be told.

Source: DreamWorks Pictures

Jagermeister Sets the Stage for Ozzfest!

Jagermeister to sponsor Ozzfest's Second Stage with its own mobile stage

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 Shortly after Sharon Osbourne made the big announcement about this year's Ozzfest -- it's free! -- she followed it up with another big announcement: Jagermeister will sponsor the entire second stage!

Known as rock's biggest juggernaut, Ozzfest is now turning to sponsors to provide added support for the festival's new incarnation as a "FREEfest," and Jagermeister is taking full advantage of the opportunity.

A longtime sponsor of Ozzfest, Jagermeister will roll out its own state of the art mobile stage for the summer's biggest heavy metal festival. All second stage acts will play on the Jagermeister stage, a fully self-contained stage hauled cross country by a custom Showhauler toter home, complete with a full audio sound system provided by JVC Mobile and amped by one whopping generator. The stage measures 34' long, 16' deep, and 20' high. The entire PA system, provided by Peavey Electronics and Schecter Guitars, will be hung for optimum sound. The stage will include state-of-the-art lighting by Chauvet. "Jagermeister has been kicking around this idea for a long time. The fact that we've spent a year designing and building this stage proves our dedication to music," says Rick Zeiler, Director of Marketing and Brand Development for Jagermeister. "We can't wait to showcase it at Ozzfest."

"Jagermeister has been part of the Ozzfest family for the last eight years," says Sharon Osbourne. "This year they are kind enough to be supplying Ozzfest '07 with their revolutionary mobile stage. Jagermeister's stage and their continued support are helping to make our FREE Ozzfest tour concept a reality."

"We are incredibly jazzed that Jagermeister is bringing their innovative and state-of-the-art mobile stage on this history-making tour," says Jane Holman, Vice President of Touring for Live Nation, Ozzfest's organizer. "Jager has been a great supporter of Ozzfest and the metal genre for years, and we couldn't be happier to be able to help them showcase their new baby."

Bands will play the Jagermeister stage every day from 1-7 p.m. In addition to Ozzfest being free, this year will also see the return of Ozzy to the main stage as headliner. He'll be unleashing new songs from his forthcoming album. It's going to be a groundbreaking show, and Jagermeister will be there every thundering step of the way. Lineups and ticket information to be announced as details become available. The first show is slated for July 7th in Los Angeles. More dates and cities to be announced. For more information, visit www.ozzfest.com, www.livenation.com, and www.jagermusic.com. Jagermeister ... dedicated to music, not underage drinking.

About Jagermeister

Imported from Germany and made with herbs and spices, Jagermeister is the most popular shot brand in the United States and the leading imported cordial. Known for its creative marketing and innovative promotions, Jagermeister is proud to be a part of the music scene and an active supporter of up-and-coming musicians. Jagermeister is imported by Sidney Frank Importing Co., Inc. of New Rochelle, NY who encourages all those 21 and over to drink responsibly.

About Live Nation

Live Nation is the world's leading live entertainment company, annually connecting more than 67 million fans with their favorite performers at over 33,000 events. We are the largest producer of live concerts in the world, the second-largest venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. Live Nation creates superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate and/or have booking rights for more than 170 venues, including House of Blues-branded music venues and prestigious locations such as San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London's Hammersmith Apollo and Wembley Arena. Live Nation's websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." For more information regarding concerts near you, Live Nation and its businesses, please visit our website at www.livenation.com.

Web site: http://www.ozzfest.com/ 
http://www.livenation.com/ 
http://www.jagermusic.com/ 

TIME LIFE RELEASES

THE BEST OF BARBARA MANDRELL & THE MANDRELL SISTERS

ON TWO DISC DVD

Nashville, Tenn.--February 21,2007--On the heels of what has been a huge year for Barbara Mandrell, Time Life announces the release of The Best of Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters to DVD for the very first time.  The NBC variety show, starring Barbara Mandrell and her sisters Louise and Irlene, aired over two seasons (1980-1982) and was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft.  The show garnered a massive 40 million viewers a week and earned a combined eleven Emmy® and Golden Globe® nominations in its short two year run. "Time Life is very excited to be releasing The Best of Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters," said Mike Jason, Sr. VP of Time Life.  "Fans of Barbara have been waiting for over 20 years for her television series to be available on video, and the show looks as exciting today as it did when it first aired."  This two disc DVD set highlights the best moments from the hour long show with over 44 musical performances by Johnny and June Carter Cash, Dolly Parton, Ray Charles, Alabama, Glenn Campbell, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, the Statler Brothers, the Charlie Daniels Band, Ray Stevens and many more.  The DVD will be available in-stores May 1 for the suggested retail price of $24.98.  For more information, log onto www.barbara-mandrell.com or www.timelife.com/mandrell.

In 2006, after nearly two decades in the shadow of retirement, Barbara Mandrell was propelled back into the spotlight when more than a dozen of country music’s biggest superstars, including Reba McEntire, Randy Owen of Alabama, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, and Gretchen Wilson, just to name a few, paid tribute to Barbara’s illustrious 38 year career with the release of BNA’s She Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell.  A television special by the same name soon followed on GAC.   

Like the return of a long-lost friend, Barbara’s amazing talent was renewed in the hearts and minds of the country music industry and fans everywhere.  The tribute opened the floodgates for GAC’s re-airing of “Steppin Out” and “Best of the Best with Lorianne Crook,” which also highlighted her career.  Barbara made several other media appearances in '06 including CMT Giants, GAC’s “Grand Ole Opry Live,” and “Broadway Meets Country.”  Barbara also presented the CMA’s most coveted award in 2006, Entertainer of the Year, a trophy she has claimed twice in a row herself.

CMA and the City of Nashville Celebrate "Flatts Tuesday"
By Wendy Pearl

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

Let the good times roll as the Country Music Association and the City of Nashville celebrated the 2006 best-selling act of all genres, Rascal Flatts, at a Mardi Gras-style event on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville.

"An accomplishment like this calls for a celebration," said CMA Chief Operating Officer Tammy Genovese. "And we were delighted to partner with the City of Nashville to acknowledge the significance of this career milestone and the positive impact that this outstanding group has had on Country Music, Tennessee, and Rascal Flatts' hometown - Music City, USA."

"We take seriously the art of making music and try to put a lot of hard work and dedication into our albums," said Jay DeMarcus, Rascal Flatts bassist and background vocalist. "We are very thankful to our fans who have given us the best jobs in the world and are grateful to CMA, the City of Nashville and the Country Music community for making this our special day."

Me and My Gang, was the highest debuting album in 2006 with more than 721,000 units sold in its first week, and when the cash registers stopped ka-chinging at year's end, the album was the top selling artist album of the year with 3.4 million copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. And that figure continues to rise with a current tally of more than 4 million copies. These sales combined with the continued strong sales of previous albums, including Feels Like Today, earned Rascal Flatts the title of being the best selling artist of 2006 in all musical genres.

This marked the first time in the era of monitored music sales that a Country group had the top selling artist album of the year, according to Nielsen SoundScan research.

"We are happy to join CMA and the Nashville community in celebrating Rascal Flatts' many outstanding accomplishments in 2006 and the attention these achievements have brought to both the country music industry and the city of Nashville" said Lyric Street Records President and CMA Board President-Elect Randy Goodman.

Me and My Gang, features two chart-topping singles, including the band's first crossover hit, the multi-week Adult Contemporary (AC) No. 1, "What Hurts the Most," and the group's sixth No. 1 Country single, "My Wish." Rascal Flatts became one of only three Country artists (including the Dixie Chicks and Faith Hill) in the 45 years of shared Country and AC radio chart history to land two different songs in the No. 1 position on two different genre's radio charts in the same week, when "What Hurts the Most" topped the Radio & Records AC chart in the same week that "My Wish" went to No. 1 on the Mediabase Country chart.

"It's just an honor to be here, another exciting and proud moment for Nashville, Tennessee," said Nashville Vice Mayor Howard Gentry. "Were it not for the Country Music industry, we would not be able to stand here as proud as we do as a City. On behalf of Mayor Bill Purcell and the Metro Council, we thank the industry for providing these opportunities to grow nationally and also to grow at home in our own community."

The honors are outstanding, but just as incredible is Rascal Flatts' commitment to giving back to their community. In September, the group held its second concert in support of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, donating $1.4 million since 2005 (the largest donations in the hospital's history).

"The Children's Hospital is such a special place," Gentry continued. "And I have a personal experience. My daughter has been diagnosed with an arthritic condition, and the Children's Hospital has been treating my daughter and doing such outstanding work and if it had not been for contributors such as Rascal Flatts and others of you in this community, I dare say that she would not be getting the level of treatment that she is. She's fine and she's going to be great, but it's because of these kinds of commitments to the Children's Hospital that they can do the great work that they do."

They are on a roll, with no signs of stopping the enormous momentum and support from the fans and industry. On. Feb. 11 they performed at the GRAMMY Awards where they were nominated for Best Country Performance by a Country duo or Group for "What Hurts The Most." Rascal Flatts has been nominated for 10 CMA Awards, winning five times including Horizon (2002) and Vocal Group of the Year four years in a row (2003-2006).

"I'm not surprised at the success they've had," said Kix Brooks of Brooks and Dunn and Co-Chairman of the CMA Artist Relations Committee. "I'm really excited for them. They've got hearts as big as this building and more talent than we can talk about. I'm here to give them a really big pat on the back. Continued success fellas and congratulations." 

Rascal Flatts just hit the highway with their "Me and My Gang 2007" concert tour, playing 21 cities before wrapping in early April to work on their next album. The band's 2006 tour played to more than 1 million fans in 74 cities. A total of 61 of those dates were sold out including LA's Staples Center and New York's Madison Square Garden. 

"As a longtime friend and supporter of Rascal Flatts, it is gratifying to see all their hard work rewarded by becoming the best selling artist of 2006," said Connie Bradley, ASCAP Senior Vice President and Co-Chairman of the CMA Artist Relations Committee. "This is an accomplishment that the entire Nashville music community and City of Nashville can celebrate. Their albums are recorded and produced here and feature many Nashville-based songwriters and musicians. Nashville continues to live up to its title as Music City USA, and Rascal Flatts is one of our main musical ambassadors."

Rascal Flatts has sold more than 13.7 million units in the six years since the release of their self-titled debut. Feels Like Today is certified quadruple Platinum for sales of more than 4 million units, while Rascal Flatts and Melt are each certified double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Me and My Gang is the band's fastest selling title to date.

On the Web: www.rascalflatts.com

Being George Strait
By Phyllis Stark

© 2007 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.

George Strait gave a memorable lead performance as Country singer Dusty Chandler in the 1992 film "Pure Country," but hasn't been seen on film since. But with his recent induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame and with 54 No. 1 hits under his big belt buckle, Strait confessed he's considering going Hollywood once more.

"I am starting to get the bug again," he said of acting. "If the right thing was to come along, I may get serious. I need to do it again because I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun."

In the meantime, Strait has plenty to keep him occupied on the music side of his career, with two new albums on the market and a major tour that launched in January. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last November during "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" in Nashville.

Strait released his most recent MCA Nashville Platinum-selling album, It Just Comes Natural, his 34th album, Oct. 3, 2006. Its leadoff single, "Give It Away," gave him that 53rd No. 1 at the same time Strait marked his 25th anniversary with the label and more than 62 million albums sold, 32 of which are Platinum. Strait is the third most certified artists of all genres after Elvis and The Beatles. His second single, "It Just Comes Natural," was his 54th No. 1 hit.  Strait is Billboard's all-time leader for No. 1 Country singles.

From sophisticated Western swing and clever barroom anthems to sawdust two-steppers and smoky neon ballads, It Just Comes Natural, featuring 15 songs, is all that and more. It's vintage Strait from Bobby Braddock's timeless, tongue-in-cheek "She Told Me So," to the sensual ballad "That's My Kind of Woman," co-written by perennial Strait favorite Dean Dillon. The deceptively simple title track, penned by Jim Collins and Marv Green, is a perfect fit for Strait's smooth, unaffected style, as is the easygoing Cris Moore and Lee Roy Parnell toe-tapper, "One Foot in Front of the Other." The whimsical "Texas Cookin'," written by the legendary Guy Clark, is culinary gold mined from the mid-70s Austin folk scene. A trio of cowboy tunes help round out the album featuring 15 gems from the master.

Strait also had a new holiday album released late last year, Fresh Cut Christmas, which sold exclusively - and briskly - in Hallmark Cold Crown stores for only $7.95 each with purchase of three Hallmark cards. Hallmark reported the album sold a million copies in just its first week on the rack. The retailer also sold special "Say It With Music" song cards that played Strait's version of "O Christmas Tree," as featured on the album.

As for the Hall of Fame induction, Strait said he was "totally surprised" when he first got the news. While it was something he aspired to achieve one day, Strait never thought it would happen at what he considers to be this early stage of his career. "It's such a huge honor," he said, adding that it's an "outstanding idea" to induct some artists into the Hall at the prime of their careers.

Still, Strait said, it's only now starting to sink in that he's joined the legends as a member of the Hall of Fame. "I'm starting to get a little cockier, starting to treat people a little different, look down on people a little bit," he quipped with a boisterous laugh."

Not likely.

"I'm starting to realize that this is the ultimate compliment that can be paid to an entertainer in the County Music field," he said, more seriously. "I'm wondering what the hell else am I going to do now?"

Longtime producer Tony Brown thinks part of the appeal of this five-time CMA Male Vocalist of the Year winner is that he's not trying to reinvent the wheel. He has a strong sense of what works for him as an artist, and he sticks close to what he knows his audience wants. Consequently, Brown said, "He's still a relevant artist after all these years."

"Unlike some artists who get bored and try to reinvent themselves, he's never felt the need to do that," said Brown, who has worked with Strait on 15 albums. "It's fun working with an artist like that because he's not trying to push the envelope. He just enjoys being George Strait."

One secret to Strait's success, according to Brown, is that "George always comes to the studio and sings like he was performing in front of 20,000 people, which inspires the band. He still has that fire in his belly."

Brown said Strait likes to use the same studio musicians for each album, and "if someone can't make it, it's always a big deal. His comfort zone is to be around people he loves working with."

After a quarter century in the business Strait said he still finds almost everything about it enjoyable, with the exception of the travel.

"It's still a lot of fun when I walk out on stage and do the shows," Strait said. "There's just hardly any words to describe it because the crowds are just . awesome. The traveling part is not something I look forward to, but doing the shows I love, and making the records I love."

As a touring act, Strait's performances have been consistently successful. He holds more than 20 attendance records at venues around the country.

Given the 25 years he's been on the road, and the number of venue capacity records his shows have broken, it's hard to image that Strait still gets nervous about performing. Yet he admitted to getting butterflies in his stomach as plans for each annual tour ramp up, with the nerves continuing until the first gig is well underway.

"That first show is always a little nerve wracking," he confessed. "After all these years you'd think it would just come automatic, but you still have those doubts. You just don't want to mess up. But after I walk out and I've gone through that first song, it's just like we've been doing it all year long."

Strait kicked off his next arena tour Jan. 11, at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., which meant the butterflies began for him back in October. The tour's first leg, with Ronnie Milsap in the supporting role, will encompass more than 23 dates ending March 10. Last year, Strait grossed more than $15 million from 18 arena dates, according to Billboard Boxscore.

After six months or more off the road, Strait ramps up for each new tour by rehearsing with his Ace in the Hole band to "knock the cobwebs off, grease all the wheels and get back in the feel of it," he said.

Asked what it is about him as an entertainer that consistently packs arenas, Strait modestly responds, "I wish I knew." Pressed for an answer, he credited his "great band," which ensures a show that is "musically very tight." He also credited the abundance of hit songs he has to draw on, and the fact that he and the band try to perform the songs just as they sound on the CDs, something Strait believes his audience really wants.

"Other than that, I have no idea what it is," he said of his appeal

Despite the butterflies, and his jokes about "hanging it up," Strait has no plans to quit touring anytime soon. "We've had a lot of fans for a lot of years and they're very loyal," he said. "I'm going to keep going as long as they keep coming."

On the Web: www.georgestrait.com

Feb 20

Jennifer Love Hewitt, SBE Entertainment and Esquire Magazine Host 'The Envelope Please' 6th Annual Oscar-Viewing Party at The Abbey Benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles

More than 500 Guests to Attend Fundraiser on Hollywood's Biggest Night

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 21 In an effort to raise funds and awareness for AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), SBE Entertainment and The Abbey will join Esquire magazine to host the organization's sixth annual Oscar-viewing party, "The Envelope Please" on Sunday, February 25. Host Jennifer Love Hewitt will welcome guests to a private cocktail reception and black tie dinner as they view the awards ceremony in a private tent at The Abbey, SBE's iconic West Hollywood restaurant and bar along the famed "Oscar row."

"The Envelope Please" is a major fundraising event for APLA, an organization with food banks, dental clinics and other urgent direct services serving the HIV community in Los Angeles for 24 years.

"Gathering with friends to watch the Academy Awards is one of my favorite traditions and I am very excited to join APLA's supporters once again for a great evening at The Abbey," said Jennifer Love Hewitt, who has hosted the event for the past three years. "We are looking forward to a wonderful night of entertainment, dining and most importantly, a chance to raise much-needed funds for a very worthwhile organization."

Added SBE Entertainment CEO Sam Nazarian, "We are thrilled to play a role in this year's Oscar event, and are firm supporters of the important work that APLA does for this community." The Los Angeles-based SBE acquired The Abbey in May 2005, partnering with founder David Cooley to expand the popular concept nationwide.

Additional sponsors include ClearChannel, Merck, Effen Vodka, United Airlines, Wells Fargo, Capital Radio London and the City of West Hollywood.

"The Envelope Please" will kick off with a cocktail reception at 4:00 pm, followed by dinner and the viewing party at 5:00 pm. Individual tickets begin at $300 and space is limited. For more information or to order tickets, please visit www.apla.org.

AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. Founded by four friends in 1982, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit www.apla.org.

Source: AIDS Project Los Angeles

Web site: http://www.apla.org/

CMP Channel Group's CRN Hall of Fame Channel Forum to Take Place at Interop Las Vegas 2007

Includes a Full Day of Educational Sessions for Solution Providers and the CRN Industry Hall of Fame

MANHASSET, N.Y., Feb. 21  The CMP Channel Group today announced that the CRN Hall of Fame Channel Forum featuring the CRN Industry Hall of Fame Awards will take place in conjunction with Interop Las Vegas 2007.

The CRN Hall of Fame Channel Forum is a full day of activities that include networking, educational sessions and an awards program for industry leaders and Solution Providers. The event, powered by CMP's XChange conference group, will take place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22.

The CRN Industry Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have transformed the technology industry with new ideas, revolutionary concepts and ingenious technology. This year CRN will induct technology leaders into the eleventh annual Industry Hall of Fame. The CRN Industry Hall of Fame inductees are hand-selected by the CRN editorial staff.

"The event is a great opportunity for Solution Providers to network with senior professionals and meet with fellow Solutions Providers and vendors. And it is a natural fit for us to combine our event with Interop since it is THE event for IT professionals and business leaders," said Dan Dignam, Vice President and publisher of CRN. "The Industry Hall of Fame allows us to pay tribute to the industry's pioneers, visionaries, entrepreneurs and evangelists. Through their ideas, drive, and perseverance, these individuals have revolutionized the computer industry."

"For over two decades, Interop has helped IT and business decision-makers bring together the key components of a solid information strategy to drive efficiency and competitive advantage for their organizations," said Lenny Heymann, Interop General Manager. "As business continues to drive the adoption of technology, an emerging 'IP for business' philosophy has woven itself into the fabric of business process applications that will be on display at global Interop events in 2007."

Established in 1997, the CRN Industry Hall of Fame is the most anticipated invitation-only event in the high-tech industry for honoring innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders who are the pivotal figures in evolving the most dynamic industry in the world. Industry Hall of Fame alumni include legendary leaders of highly recognized companies such as William Hewlett, Andy Grove, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Charles Geschke and Michael Dell; industry renowned engineers and developers such as Philip Zimmermann, Steve Wozniak, Bill Joy, Ray Ozzie and Drew Major; well-known visionaries such as Steve Ballmer, Larry Ellison, Chip Lacy and Philippe Kahn; and other industry catalysts, such as Douglas Engelbart, Mort Rosenthal, Tim Berners-Lee, Don Estridge, Vint Cerf and Bill Millard.

A special report on the CRN Industry Hall of Fame will be published in the November 12 issue.

For CRN advertising or sponsorship opportunities, contact VP/Publisher Dan Dignam at 516.562.7139 or ddignam@cmp.com.

About CRN (www.crn.com)

CRN provides solution providers and technology integrators with the crucial information and analysis they need to drive their company's sales. As an advocate for and voice of the IT channel, solution providers turn to CRN first for immediate information. With nearly 25 years of experience, CRN is the most trusted source for channel professionals. CRN can be found on the web at http://www.crn.com/.

About CMP Channel Group (www.cmpchannelgroup.com)

CMP Channel Group is the one stop shop customers turn to in order to meet their global sales channel objectives from access to execution. Through use of its print products which include CRN and VARBusiness, their accompanying websites, the broader ChannelWeb network, the Group's XChange worldwide face- to-face conferences and the Institute for Partner Education & Development (IPED), vendors are able to accelerate sales through the channel. CMP Channel Group provides a worldwide answer to advertising, branding and marketing services, lead generation, market intelligence, branded and custom events, education of solution providers and best practices for vendors.

About Interop(R)

For 22 years, Interop (R), part of the CMP Technology family of global brands, has helped IT and business decision-makers bring together the key components of a solid information strategy to drive efficiency and competitive advantage for their organizations. As business continues to drive the adoption of technology, and the converged network is creating new advantages, an emerging "IP for business" philosophy has woven itself into the fabric of business process applications that will be on display at Interop 2007 global events. Through in-depth educational programs, workshops, real-world demonstrations and live technology implementations in its unique InteropNet and InteropLabs programs, Interop (R) provides the forum for the most powerful innovations and solutions the industry has to offer. 2007 Interop events include Interop Las Vegas, May 20-25, Mandalay Bay Convention Center; Interop Moscow, May 30-31, Forum Hal; Interop Tokyo, June 11-15, Mukahari Messe; Interop New York, October 22026, Javits Convention Center; and Interop Berlin, November 6-8, Fairground Berlin. For more information about these events, visit www.Interop.com.

About CMP Technology (www.cmp.com)

CMP Technology is a marketing-solutions company serving the technology industry. Through its market-leading portfolio of trusted information brands, CMP has earned the confidence of more technology professionals than any other media company. As a result, CMP is the premier provider of access, insight and actionable programs designed to connect sellers and buyers in ways that yield superior return on investment. CMP Technology is a subsidiary of United Business Media (http://www.unitedbusinessmedia.com/), a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $3 billion.

Source: CMP Technology 

Feb 20

FUNimation Dominates U.S. Anime Industry

Controls largest market share for sixth consecutive year

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 20  FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, today announced that the company maintained its position as the anime market share leader for the home video sales of Anime for the sixth straight year. According to an analysis of Nielsen VideoScan data for the year 2006, FUNimation controls 23.2 percent of the market. The company's next closest competitor held 12.6 percent of the market.

"We knew when we started this company that our commitment to quality over quantity would put us into the leadership position in the United States," said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "We have achieved this honored position through the hard work of all the employees of FUNimation and with the help of all of our great business partners in Japan."

Nielsen VideoScan collects sell-through POS (consumer purchase) sales data weekly from traditional channels of video distribution including mass merchants, audio/video and video specialty retailers, electronics outlets, grocery stores, drug stores, and some Internet sites. Nielsen VideoScan maintains this weekly POS data in one of the largest databases of VHS and DVD products in the country.

FUNimation compiled data from Nielsen VideoScan reports for 2001 through 2006. The analysis showed that FUNimation has been the market share leader since 2001 and has continued to outdistance its competitors with a solid catalog of titles. "This has been one of our biggest years and we plan to keep growing our market share in the years to come," continues Fukunaga.

In 2006, FUNimation had DVD releases from such popular titles as Dragon Ball Z, Fullmetal Alchemist, Trinity Blood, Negima, Gunslinger Girl, Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid and many others. For 2007, FUNimation plans to continue its number one market share presence with releases from such titles as Afro Samurai, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, Witchblade, School Rumble, Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles and new releases from franchise titles such as Dragon Ball Z and Fullmetal Alchemist.

About FUNimation Entertainment

FUNimation(R) Entertainment is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation and the market share leader for the home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation is known for acquiring top-rated anime series from Japan and for developing some of North America's most popular anime series. The company has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. The company's most recent initiative is the FUNimation Channel, which is a 24/7 digital channel programmed with top-rated anime series from Japan. The FUNimation Channel is now available to over 34 million households throughout the United States.

Source: FUNimation Entertainment

Web site: http://www.funimation.com/

ALTERNATIVE BUILDING MATERIALS & DESIGN EXPO 2007

PREMIER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EXPO EXPANDS TO TWO DAYS WITH MORE EXHIBITORS, ACCREDITED PROGRAMS AND A VARIETY OF PAVILIONS

WHAT: The 4^th annual Alternative Building Materials & Design Expo is the premier green building Expo in Southern California, expanding for the first time to two full days of exhibitors (over 100), hands-on workshops, panels, book signings, specially-created presentations and interactive take-home materials. Day 1 will be geared to the design and construction communities (including accredited programs), and Day 2 will be directed primarily to the general public. The Expo has become an energetic presentation of the largest and most extensive showcase in the Southern California area of green and sustainable building materials and design materials, landscape products, furnishings and more. This year, the Expo introduces an alternative energy pavilion, a solar pavilion, and a garden wonderland that will include a gazebo, green roof, solar panels and multiple applications to discover. The Expo has become key to spreading the message of sustainability for the region. The Expo Presenting Sponsor is the City of Santa Monica. Sponsors include AIA, ASID, Building Green, Global Green USA, FSC, eco-structure, and the Los Angeles Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

WHEN: Friday, May 18, 2007 (Industry Day focus, though also open to public)

            Saturday, May 19, 2007 (General public day)

            * Please check the website for seminar schedules and event times.

WHERE: Santa Monica Air Center (Barker Hangar)

            3021 Airport Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405

ADMISSION: Free

INFORMATION: Please visit the website at www.altbuildexpo.com or call (310) 390-2930.

Johnson Matthey's Heavy Duty Diesel CRT(R) Filter 'Stars' on Country Music Television's (CMT) 'Trick My Truck' Series on Friday, Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m.

MALVERN, Pa., Feb. 20  Johnson Matthey's Heavy Duty Diesel (HDD) award-winning CRT(R) particulate filter "stars" on Country Music Television's (CMT) hit big-rig makeover "Trick My Truck" series on Friday, Feb. 23 at 8:30 p.m. The cast of "Trick My Truck" features truck mechanics who "hijack" the rigs of lucky truck drivers and customize them, turning the drivers' dreams into reality.

The episode, "Ken England's: Ken's Drive-In," incorporates a CRT (Continuously Regenerating Technology) particulate filter as part of the "facelift" of a unique "diner" rig. The episode will also air at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25; at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27; and at 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

"Trick My Truck" is highly popular with many over-the-road drivers and teams with, among others, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership, a voluntary collaboration between the EPA and America's freight industry designed to increase energy efficiency, while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.

The SmartWay program places major emphasis on emissions controls, including leading-edge technology like Johnson Matthey's CRT particulate filter, which is why it is being featured on "Trick My Truck." And, in keeping with the flashiness of the makeovers, the CRT filter used for Ken's Drive-In was specially fabricated and "super-chromed" by Johnson Matthey's engineers and technicians.

Johnson Matthey's CRT particulate filter is the most widely used filter for controlling particulate matter (PM) from heavy-duty diesel engines with over 120,000 in use worldwide and more than a billion miles of service. The EPA recently adjusted its verification of JM's CRT diesel particulate filter to the real world PM reduction of 90 percent.

About Johnson Matthey's CRT Particulate Filter:

The market leader in reducing diesel emissions with new and retrofit installations, the CRT particulate filter removes virtually all PM from a wide range of diesel engines. Johnson Matthey's CRT was the first filter to be verified by the EPA's voluntary retrofit program. Through the patented combination of a platinum-based pre-catalyst and a filter element, the CRT reduces PM, as well as carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (including toxics), by more than 90 percent for hundreds of thousands of miles, proving itself to be the most durable filter available.

About Johnson Matthey's Environmental Catalysts and Technologies:

Traded on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: JMAT), Johnson Matthey is a specialty chemicals company focused on its core skills in catalysts, precious metals and specialty chemicals. The $9.3 billion company is 190 years old and employs almost 7,500 people in 34 countries. As part of Johnson Matthey's Catalysts Division, the world's largest supplier of catalysts for the automotive industry, Environmental Catalysts and Technologies has been providing cost-effective catalytic solutions for the worldwide light- and heavy-duty diesel markets for more than 30 years.

Contact Information:

Source: Johnson Matthey

Web site: http://www.jmcatalysts.com/

UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND IMAGINE ENTERTAINMENT BEGIN PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY ON 'KIDS IN AMERICA,' A NEW COMEDY FROM DIRECTOR MICHAEL DOWSE AND ACADEMY AWARD(R)-WINNING PRODUCER BRIAN GRAZER

Anna Faris, Dan Fogler, Teresa Palmer Join Topher Grace in Film

PHOENIX, Feb. 20 Start of production begins this week on the comedy "Kids in America," Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment announced today. The film, starring Topher Grace ("In Good Company," upcoming "Spider-Man 3") as recent college graduate Matt Franklin, follows Matt, his twin sister and his best friend during their misadventures at a raucous Labor Day party in 1988. "Kids in America" will be lensed in Phoenix, Arizona.

Co-starring in the film are Anna Faris ("Scary Movie 4," "Lost in Translation") as Matt's sister, Wendy; Tony Award-winning actor Dan Fogler ("School for Scoundrels," upcoming "Balls of Fury") as his hapless best friend, Barry Nathan; and Australian actress Teresa Palmer ("The Grudge 2," "December Boys") as the girl of Matt's dreams, Tori Frederking.

Co-writer Michael Dowse ("It's All Gone Pete Tong," "Fubar") directs "Kids in America" from a screenplay by writing partners Jeff Filgo ("That '70s Show," "Happy Hour") & Jackie Filgo ("Peep Show," "Happy Hour"). The film is produced by Oscar(R)-winning producer Brian Grazer ("The Da Vinci Code," "Inside Man") and executive-produced by Grace, Gordon Kaywin and Dany Wolf.

The behind-the-scenes team of "Kids in America" includes cinematographer Terry Stacey ("Friends with Money," upcoming "The Nanny Diaries"), editor Lee Haxall ("The Dukes of Hazzard," "Meet the Fockers"), production designer William Arnold ("In Good Company," "Shopgirl") and costume designer Carol Oditz ("The Break-Up," "Murder by Numbers").

Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80% owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

Source: Universal Pictures

Web site: http://www.universalstudios.com/

Save the Date: Premiere of ``300'' Monday, March 5

Feb. 20, 2007 Warner Bros. Pictures: -0-

WHAT: "300" is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of

       Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 

       Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive

        Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and

        sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian 

       enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.  

      Inspired by the work of graphic novelist Frank Miller, creator

        of "Sin City," "300" is an epic adventure about passion, 

       courage, freedom and sacrifice embodied by the Spartan warriors

        who fought one of the greatest battles in history. 

       Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Legendary

        Pictures and Virtual Studios, a Mark Canton / Gianni Nunnari 

       Production, "300." The film stars Gerard Butler ("Phantom of

        the Opera"), Lena Headey ("The Brothers Grimm"), David Wenham

        ("The Lord of the Rings" trilogy) and Dominic West ("The 

       Forgotten"). The screenplay is written by Zack Snyder & Kurt

        Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon, based on the graphic novel by

        Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. Directed by Zack Snyder ("Dawn of 

       the Dead").        "300" is produced by Gianni Nunnari ("The Departed"), Mark

       Canton ("Land of the Dead"), Bernie Goldmann ("Land of the 

       Dead") and Jeffrey Silver ("Training Day") with Deborah Snyder,

        Frank Miller, Craig J. Flores, Thomas Tull, William Fay and

        Benjamin Waisbren serving as executive producers.  WHO:

  From the film: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic 

       West, Rodrigo Santoro, director Zack Snyder and graphic novel

        author Frank Miller. Celebrity guests to follow.  WHEN: Monday, March 5, 2007

       Celebrity Arrivals: 6:00PM       Screening: 7:00PM  WHERE:Grauman's Chinese 

The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection

From Warner Home Video June 12

 Feb. 20, 2007 Murder, mayhem and missing persons mix it up on DVD June 12 when Warner Home Video releases The Original Nancy Drew Movie Mystery Collection. Four classic mysteries never before on DVD and featuring the escapades of the feisty teenage detective include Nancy Drew, Detective; Nancy Drew, Reporter; Nancy Drew,Troubleshooter and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase. The Collection will be presented on 2-Discs and will sell for $24.98 SRP.

In 1930, the Nancy Drew mystery series debuted in print, captivating girls everywhere. In 1938, the teen detective came to the screen in the first of four Warner Bros. films starring the undeniably charming Bonita Granville, fresh from her Oscar(R)-nominated performance in 1936's These Three. The four films in the collection follow Nancy as she seeks a missing heiress (in Nancy Drew, Detective), investigates a poisoning (Nancy Drew, Reporter), clears a family friend accused of murder (Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter) and faces death in a haunted mansion's secret tunnel (Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase).

The Nancy Drew book series has lasted for generations, selling to date more than 100 million worldwide copies in 22 languages. This summer, star Emma Roberts brings a fresh look to the young sleuth when she stars in Warner Bros.' new, adventuresome remake premiering nationwide in theatres June 15.

The $230 Million Box-Office Family Favorite!! NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Exhibits on DVD April 24, 2007 from Fox Home Entertainment

Ben Stiller Leads an All-Star Cast Including Comedy Favorites Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and More Two-Disc Special Edition Features Tons of Bonus Features Including Deleted and Extended Scenes, Blooper Reel, an Alternate Opening, Featurettes and a DVD Rom Game; Single Disc Also Available

Feb. 20, 2007 Night At The Museum, the "romping, stomping good ride" (San Francisco Chronicle) hit, action-comedy that stayed in the top five at the box-office for 8 weeks, comes to DVD on April 24, 2007 from Fox Home Entertainment featuring a wild collection of extras. Ben Stiller (Dodgeball, Meet The Parents, There's Something About Mary) stars as Larry Daley, an unlucky, yet hopeful dreamer who takes a job as a graveyard-shift security guard at the famous museum. When it closes at night, Larry soon learns that things are not what they seem when a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton wants to play fetch, an Easter Island monolith talks to him and Attila The Hun attacks. With the museum denizens loose and not wanting to lose his job, Larry turns to a re-animated wax figure of President Theodore Roosevelt (played by Oscar(R)-winner Robin Williams, Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting, 1998) to help save the museum. Night At The Museum also stars Paul Rudd (The 40 Year Old Virgin) and some of Hollywood's all-time favorite comedians Dick Van Dyke ("The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Diagnosis Murder") and Mickey Rooney (The Black Stallion, Babes In Arms).

The two-disc Special Edition DVD arrives full of bonus features including deleted and extended scenes with optional commentary by director Shawn Levy (Cheaper By The Dozen, The Pink Panther) and Ben Stiller, an alternate opening, a hilarious gag-reel, behind the scenes featurettes, a DVD-ROM Explorer Game and more. Both the single disc widescreen and pan-and-scan versions also include commentary by Shawn Levy and Ben Stiller as well as film writer's Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. The Night At The Museum Special Edition DVD will retail for $34.98 U.S./$46.48 Canada and the single disc versions will be available for $29.98 U.S./$43.48 Canada. Prebook is March 28, 2007.

Marketing Support:

TCFHE will support the DVD release of Night At The Museum with a massive multi-million dollar marketing, promotions, publicity and media campaign with a plan to target national television, print, radio, in-school and online outlets. In addition, TCFHE will set free an aggressive publicity campaign targeting moms, kids and families via print and broadcast editorial placements and news generating events, as well as an impressive promotional partnership with Kellogg.

A LARGER THAN LIFE RELEASE:

Night At The Museum Special Edition DVD:

The Night At The Museum two-disc Special Edition DVD is presented in widescreen format with Dolby Surround 5.1 DTS in English and Dolby Surround in French and Spanish. The DVD also includes English and Spanish subtitles and is packed with extras including: -0-

-- Deleted and extended scenes with optional commentary by Director,

    Shawn Levy -- Alternate opening scene -- Blooper Reel -- Directing 101

 -- Bringing the Museum to Life Featurette -- Acting With Nothing Featurette

 -- Monkey Business Featurette -- Building the Museum -- Historical Threads

: the Costumes of Night At the Museum -- Storyboard Comparison with

 Introduction by Shawn Levy -- Making of Night At The Museum Featurette

 -- Theatrical Teasers -- DVD-ROM Explorer Game    -- Reunite with Rexy

 -- Commentaries by Shawn Levy and film's writers, Robert Ben Garant

    and Thomas Lennon 

Night At The Museum Single-Disc:

The widescreen and pan-and-scan single-disc versions include special commentaries by Shawn Levy and film's writers, Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon. Additionally, they will be presented in English Dolby Surround 5.1 DTS as well as French and Spanish Dolby Surround and include English and Spanish subtitles.

Synopsis:

Ben Stiller leads an all-star cast, including Robin Williams, in this hilarious blockbuster hit. When Larry Daley (Stiller) is hired as Museum night watchman, he soon discovers that all the exhibits come to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face to face with frisky T-Rex skeleton, tiny armies of Romans and Cowboys and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But Larry may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes. Boasting jaw-dropping special effects and big laughs, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM is your ticket to non-stop fun!

A recognized global industry leader, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC (TCFHE) is the worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox film and television programming on VHS, DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) as well as acquisitions and original productions. The company also releases all products around the globe for MGM Home Entertainment. Each year TCFHE introduces hundreds of new and newly enhanced products, which it services to retail outlets from mass merchants and warehouse clubs to specialty stores and e-commerce throughout the world. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment LLC is a subsidiary of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, a News Corporation company. -0-

The Police: Sell Out Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, Canadian Shows; Additional Shows Announced Today

New York Madison Square Garden - 2 shows sold out in 14 minutes!

Boston Fenway Park - 2 shows sold out!

Additional Shows Confirmed - E. Rutherford, Los Angeles & Oakland!

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 20  Following last week's momentous performance and announcement of their world tour, tickets for The Police have sold out in all markets announced thus far. Beginning this past weekend with sell-outs in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, this morning also saw immediate sell-outs for the two Madison Square Garden performances (both shows sold out in 14 minutes) as well as complete sell-outs for both Fenway Park performances. In all, 8 shows have sold out with second shows also announced in Vancouver and Montreal.

As a result of this morning's sell-outs a third New York area play at Giants Stadium -- Sunday, August 5th in E. Rutherford has also been confirmed. Tickets for that event will go on sale on Monday, February 26th. In addition, tour promoters The Next Adventure confirmed today that The Police will perform June 13th at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland (tickets on sale Sunday, Feb. 25th) as well as June 23rd at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (tickets on sale Monday, February 26th).

Special guest Fiction Plane will join The Police for the North American portion of the tour. Known for their high-energy live shows, this dynamic rock trio will be releasing their second album in May. Fiction Plane are: Joe Sumner (Bass); Seton Daunt (Guitar); Pete Wilhoit (Drums).

The North American tour is presented by Best Buy. In the United States, members of Best Buy's Reward Zone program will have the opportunity to access tickets prior to the general public. To qualify for the presale, participants need to be 18 years old or older and must have a current Reward Zone program membership that was activated by February 1, 2007. Presale tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster on a first come first served basis. Complete details of the Reward Zone program presale can be found at www.bestbuy.com/thepolice.

A portion of the proceeds from this tour will be donated to WaterAid, an international NGO founded in 1981 and dedicated to reducing poverty by improving access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene education.

The Police World Tour is produced by The Next Adventure, a Live Nation Company in association with RZO Entertainment, Inc.

For complete tour & ticket information, fan club memberships and more visit:

                          www.thepolicetour.com     About Live Nation 

Live Nation is the world's leading live music company, annually connecting more than 60 million fans with their favorite performers at over 30,000 events. We are the largest producer of live concerts in the world, the second-largest venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. Live Nation creates superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate and/or have booking rights for more than 170 venues, including House of Blues-branded music venues and prestigious locations such as San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London's Hammersmith Apollo and Wembley Arena. Live Nation's websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." For more information regarding concerts near you, Live Nation and its businesses, please visit our website at www.LiveNation.com.

Source: Live Nation

Web site: http://www.livenation.com/
http://www.thepolicetour.com/

COFFIN CASE – NAMM 2007 RE-CAP

A&M/Octone will be headed by CEO/President James Diener, formerly President of Octone Records and Sr. VP, A&R/Marketing, for J Records & The RCA Music Group. In the formation of the label, A&M/Octone is acquiring SonyBMG's interest in OctJay, a joint venture between SonyBMG and Octone Records. Artist roster will also include Octone developing acts Michael Tolcher & Dropping Daylight, new signings and select Interscope contributed artists. A&M/Octone will be based in New York City and distributed worldwide by the Universal Music Group. Current A&M roster artists will remain within the Interscope Geffen A&M family marketed under the established A&M name.

 Source: Bridges TV 

  -- Open up a 401(k).  Check to see if your employer matches a percentage      of your contribution. A matching contribution is essentially free      money.    -- Bank your raise or at least a portion of it.  If you don't get used to      having the extra money, you won't miss it.    -- If you're carrying student loans, make repaying them a priority over      discretionary consumer spending.    -- Keep driving that old car.  There are websites, such as      www.360financialliteracy.org, that help you calculate savings if you      keep your car for a longer period of time.  Also consider carpooling.    -- Consider raising the deductible on your insurance policy.  For example,      if it's $100, increase it to $200.  It will have an impact on your      premium payments.    -- Be energy efficient.  Turn down the thermostat, and turn off the      lights.    -- Always pay your credit card bill in full each month to avoid interest      charges.  Choose credit cards with cash back rewards and no annual      fees. Even consider cutting up a credit card.    -- Dust off your library card and watch DVDs for free.  Many libraries      also offer free Internet access.    -- Maximize your company's healthcare reimbursement accounts.  You      contribute pre-tax dollars and reimburse yourself with tax-free      dollars.    -- Kick the habit once and for all. Smoking is hard on the wallet and your      health.  

Joost will allow users to have free access to thousands of programs and channels not readily available on the Web. Through Joost, viewers can watch programming from many of Viacom's brands on their computers through a customizable platform with advanced television viewing features such as links that lead to more information or related websites based on the content; and a variety of plug-in applications, such as instant messaging, message boards, and news tickers.