Clear Channel Radio Announces Winners Of National "Get Discovered!" Talent Competition

Three Winning Acts from Across the U.S. Get Their Big Breaks -- Performing Live on National Television During the Annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Labor Day Telethon -- Unsigned Artists Share Their Music To Build Awareness of the Fight Against Muscle Disease; Clear Channel Continues Its Support of MDA Through PSAs

San Antonio, Texas – August 24, 2011 – Clear Channel Radio, the leading media company in America with a greater reach in the U.S. than any radio or television company, today announced the winners of its second annual “Get Discovered!” talent search competition.  “Get Discovered!” is a part of Clear Channel’s ongoing commitment to providing emerging, independent musicians a platform to share original music with an engaged public audience.  The three winning acts earned the opportunity to perform live on television during the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Labor Day Telethon on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. 

The online competition attracted over 7,800 unsigned music artists who entered via iHeartRadio.com, Clear Channel’s industry-leading digital radio service, or any of Clear Channel Radio’s participating stations’ websites.  Participants were ranked using the innovative media platform WHOOZNXT.COM, which tracked the growth of their digital fan base during the contest period.  The winners were then determined by a panel of music industry leaders.

The three winning bands that will perform live on national television during the 2011 MDA Telethon are:

One Step Away, Boston, Mass., Pop/Rock, www.facebook.com/onestepaway.

Brokedown Cadillac, Nashville, Tenn., Country, www.brokedowncadillac.com.

Rootdown, Eugene, Ore., Pop-Rock-Reggae, www.rootdownsound.com.

“The underlying purpose of ‘Get Discovered!’ is to ignite creativity among talented artists living in local communities across the U.S. while raising awareness of the fight against neuromuscular diseases,” said Clay Hunnicutt, Senior Vice President, Programming, Clear Channel Radio.  “The three winners are a clear indicator of the amazing pool of independent musicians living in all of our neighborhoods.  Through this competition, we empowered thousands of home-grown, undiscovered talent to share their original music for a great cause.”

“Thanks to Clear Channel Radio, the ‘Get Discovered!’ contest has become the ultimate head-to-head competition for unsigned music artists,” said Gerald C. Weinberg, MDA President & CEO.  “We’re delighted the three truly outstanding artists who prevailed in this extraordinary national competition, which involved more than 7,800 artists, will have their first network television live performances on the MDA Labor Day Telethon, Sunday, September 4.  Tens of millions undoubtedly will respond enthusiastically to their breakthrough performances – especially since they’ll be helping MDA speed treatments and cures for progressive muscle diseases.”

The Telethon will air in every time zone from 6 p.m. to midnight on Sunday, Sept. 4, and will broadcast from the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas.

Clear Channel Radio’s 850 stations will continue to broadcast a series of public service announcements through Sunday, Sept. 4 as part of the company’s three-month commitment to the MDA and its ongoing dedication to improving the lives of people with neuromuscular diseases. 

About the MDA Telethon

The 46th annual MDA Labor Day Telethon will air on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011 on more than 150 television stations.  The six-hour primetime event will feature about 20 performances by some of the biggest names in show business.  Broadcast from 6:00 p.m. to midnight in every U.S. time zone, the show also will be streamed live online.  Co-hosts for the 2011 MDA Telethon are Nigel Lythgoe (American Idol + So You Think You Can Dance), Nancy O’Dell (Entertainment Tonight), Alison Sweeney (The Biggest Loser + author of The Mommy Diet), and Jann Carl (Emmy-winning journalist and independent producer).

About the MDA

MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to curing muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research.  The Association also provides comprehensive healthcare and support services, advocacy and education.  See the award-winning MDA “Make A Muscle,Make A Difference” PSA.

In addition to funding more than 330 research teams worldwide, MDA maintains a national network of some 200 hospital-affiliated clinics; orchestrates hundreds of support groups for families affected by neuromuscular diseases; facilitates extraordinary local summer camp opportunities for thousands youngsters fighting progressive muscle diseases.  Known globally for the MDA Labor Day Telethon, the Association is the first nonprofit to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Medical Association “for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity.”

ABOUT WHOOZNXT

WHOOZNXT.COM is the first and only media network that rewards emerging artists for growing their digital fanbase with real-world high-profile exposure opportunities for television, radio and live performances including ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” the Vans Warped Tour and the Dew Tour.