NEW YORK, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Pepsi, MTV and MTV Games, a part of Viacom's MTV Networks , have announced the nominees for the "2009 MTV Video Music Awards Best Performance in a Pepsi Rock Band Video" category. These five nominated bands were selected by MTV, Harmonix, and Pepsi based on their creativity, viewer rating, and originality.
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Over 650 Rock Band videos were submitted and only one band will take home this year's first-ever Moonman for a Rock Band music video. Now the fates of the five finalists lie in the hands of voters, who can log on to http://www.pepsirockband.com/ through September 1 to cast their vote. The lucky band chosen will get to travel to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, walk the red carpet, receive their Moonman, and be featured in a television spot airing during the MTV VMAs.
Hosted by UK's controversial comedian, Russell Brand, MTV's 26th annual Video Music Awards will air live from New York City, for the 14th time in its history, on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 9PM (Live ET/Tape delayed PT.
Drum roll please. . . and the nominees are: -- Blaq Star: Performing Earth Wind & Fire's 'Shining Star.' These talented musicians from the Bronx, New York take us on a psychedelic journey back in time in their seventies inspired video paying tribute to their music icons Earth, Wind & Fire. -- Nerds in Disguise: Performing Lit's 'My Own Worst Enemy.' Putting Springfield, Illinois on the map, Nerds in Disguise features only 10 people, although through fancy camera work, it looks like a lot more. The talented director makes a cameo in the video doubling as the vengeful pizza man. -- One (Wo)Man Band: Performing Joan Jett's 'Bad Reputation.' This Virginia Beach, Virginia trio comprised of two nerds and a hot chick reminds us why 80's music videos were so awesome - hot chicks and pyromaniacs! -- The Sleezy Treezy: Performing OK Go's 'Here It Goes Again.' These cutie pies from Birmingham and Homewood, Alabama (insert southern drawl here) put blood, sweat and tears - not to mention a Pepsi-inspired shower scene - into the making of this video and go on a cops and robbers-style chase to get their Pepsi back. -- Synopsis: Performing 30 Seconds To Mars' 'The Kill.' These Amarillo, Texas natives totally remind us of Jared Leto's adolescent days on My So-Called Life. This creative, thought-provoking video uses mirrors to represent how we all like to at times pretend to be someone we're not.
The Pepsi Rock Band VMA category is part of a larger "Drink Up, Rock Out" summer long promotion giving away thousands of Rock Band DLC music tracks and games. As part of an 'Under the Cap' promotion running through September 13, 2009, Pepsi drinkers who see a Rock Band icon on specially-marked caps of 20oz or 1L bottles of trademark Pepsi products are encouraged to look under the cap for a code and then go to http://www.pepsirockband.com/ for a chance to win from an abundance of prizes.
Quotes:
Attributed to Ralph Santana, VP of colas, Pepsi-Cola North American Beverages:
-- "The variety of submissions that came in from all parts of the country offered the refreshed approach to music videos that we hoped to see at the start of the program," said Ralph Santana, VP of colas, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages. "We're looking forward to learning which talented band the voters will award with a Moonman."
Attributed to Christina Glorioso, Vice President Marketing Partnerships for MTV Games:
-- "We were completely blown away by the level of creativity and passion of our Rock Band fans. We agonized over picking the nominees as there were so many original, funny, and diverse video entries to choose from!" Nominee Band Members: Blaq Star -- Musie Ghebremedhin -- Bereket Ghebremedhin -- Antonio Devars -- Jahmal Brooks -- Jazmine Casiano Nerds in Disguise -- Matt Hartzler -- Jake Giganti -- Mike Ranos -- David O'Brien -- Charlie Clausner -- Mitch Falter -- Alec Veldhuizen -- Shane Reynolds -- Taylor Blake -- Ben Parks One Wo(man) Band -- Justin Junda -- Scott Hansen -- Elisa Hansen The Sleezy Treezy -- Robert Hill -- John Stevens -- Ry Keel -- Kevin Wehby -- Marty Donaldson -- Hannah Franklin -- Ian Hazzelhoff -- Cole Jolley -- Zach Lee Synopsis -- Thomas Macias -- Kristofer Fredrick -- Jennifer Macias About Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages:
The Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages (PCNAB) portfolio features market-leading liquid refreshment beverages, including the Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sierra Mist and Mug trademarks in the carbonated soft drink category. PCNAB is a division of PepsiCo, which offers the world's largest portfolio of billion-dollar food and beverage brands, including 18 different product lines that each generate more than $1 billion in annual retail sales. Our main businesses - Frito-Lay, Quaker, Pepsi-Cola, Tropicana and Gatorade - also make hundreds of other nourishing, tasty foods and drinks that bring joy to our consumers in over 200 countries. With more than $43 billion in 2008 revenues, PepsiCo employs 198,000 people who are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth, called Performance with Purpose. By dedicating ourselves to offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and fun nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture, PepsiCo balances strong financial returns with giving back to our communities worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.pepsico.com/.
About MTV Games:
MTV Games is dedicated to creating, marketing and publishing high-quality, innovative interactive products that are relevant to the MTV audience and complement the core values of the MTV Networks brands.
About MTV Networks:
MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 350 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Noggin, The N, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, Atom, Gametrailers and Xfire.
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
MTV Networks
CONTACT: Mariana Agathoklis, +1-212-846-5755,
Mariana.Agathoklis@mtvstaff.com; or Jessica Casano-Antonellis,
+1-212-331-8434, jessicaa@text100.com, both for MTV Games; or Nicole Bradley,
+1-914-253-2964, Nicole.bradley@pepsi.com, for Pepsi
Web Site: http://www.mtv.com/
