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Hungry For More, Virgin Mobile USA and Universal Music Group Cement Second Exclusive Ringtone Deal
WARREN, N.J., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Mobile USA and Universal Music Group (UMG) today announced another exclusive mobile music deal -- this time offering ringtones from G Unit's Lloyd Banks and Young Buck. In conjunction with G Unit/Interscope's platinum-selling album The Hunger for More from Banks and the new release of Straight Outta Cashville from Young Buck, Virgin Mobile will offer its customers "First Dibs" on access to Superphonic, or real music, ringtones from both highly anticipated debut rap albums. First Dibs on The Hunger For More and Straight Outta Cashville is Virgin Mobile and UMG's sophomore offering -- following June's exclusive access to ringtones from Detroit's own D12, off smash hit D12 World.
For the next three months, Virgin Mobile will be the only company to offer downloadable Superphonic ringtones for songs such as "On Fire" and "Karma" from Banks' G Unit/Interscope album The Hunger for More (released 6/22). And following in September, Virgin Mobile customers will have exclusive access to ringtones for songs from Young Buck's debut G Unit/Interscope album Straight Outta Cashville" (released 8/24).
"Our customers download ringtones for breakfast, lunch and dinner," said Howard Handler, chief marketing officer of Virgin Mobile. "Working with UMG has given us the ability to serve up exclusive ringtones from a talented roster of artists that our customers know and love."
"The marriage of music and mobile phones has generated another outlet for self expression and personalization," said Steve Berman, chief of sales and marketing for Interscope Geffen A&M. "Virgin Mobile customers share our passion for artists like Lloyd Banks and Young Buck, and this latest offering will bring them that much closer to their favorite rappers."
Virgin Mobile Users Get "First Dibs"
Virgin Mobile users can already choose from thousands of downloadable ringtones from dozens of different genres. But its ongoing "First Dibs" program -- launched in June of this year -- continues to be the first to score exclusive access to fresh new Superphonic ringtones from some top artists. Superphonic ringtones offer a true audio clip of an original recording, voice or sound just like you'd hear on a radio or digital music player.
First Dibs at the MTV Video Music Awards
Virgin Mobile will promote its exclusive ringtone offering of Lloyd Banks' song "On Fire" with an integrated ad campaign on MTV, MTV2 and hip-hop radio stations in 15 major markets. Virgin Mobile launched this effort last weekend during one of the biggest music events of the year -- the MTV Video Music Awards.
About Virgin Mobile USA, LLC:
Launched nationally in July of 2002, Virgin Mobile USA, LLC has set the pace as the fastest growing wireless carrier in the U.S. while redefining the entire prepaid category. The nation's first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), Virgin Mobile has attracted two million wireless users to its Pay As You Go service with no contracts and no hidden fees. All Virgin Mobile customers have access to VirginXtras -- a host of music, entertainment and fun lifestyle features, including exclusive content from strategic partner MTV: Music Television. Virgin Mobile is a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Sprint, which operates the largest 100-percent digital, nationwide PCS wireless network in the United States.
Virgin Mobile phones and Top-Up cards are available direct on the Web at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/; at 888-322-1122; or, at more than 12,000 locations, including Amazon.com, Best Buy, CompUSA, Media Play, Rite Aid, Safeway, Sam Goody, Sprint Stores, Target Stores, Trans World Entertainment, Wal*Mart, Virgin Megastores and select college bookstores. Top-Up cards are also available at more than 45,000 locations, including Circle K, CVS and 7-Eleven stores.
About Universal Music Group:
Universal Music Group is the world's leading music company with wholly- owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, DreamWorks Records, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing and Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technology division.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
Virgin Mobile USA; Universal Music Group
CONTACT: Anne Green of CooperKatz & Co., +1-212-455-8017,agreen@cooperkatz.com, for Virgin Mobile USA; Dennis Dennehy of InterscopeGeffen A&M Records, +1-310-865-7934
Web site: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/
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