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To Celebrate Black Music Month, KFC & Music Industry Exec Bryant Reid Cook Up 'Hitmaker' Contest For Musicians

By: KFC |  1 Shares     237 Reads

Program Discovers Up-and-Coming Talent and Benefits Little Kids Rock, A National Non-Profit Helping Aspiring Musicians Succeed in the Classroom and Beyond

June 03, 2008 // Franchising.com // LOUISVILLE, KY - Everyone knows KFC delivers hot, finger-lickin' meals. For the second consecutive year, KFC will also generate hot, finger-snappin' beats with its "Hitmaker" song contest. To celebrate Black Music Month, KFC invites aspiring musicians to submit their best beats to win national exposure and great prizes as part of its Pride 360° program.

Musicians who enter the contest will get a chance to be one of 12 artists featured on the Pride 360° CD. KFC will also team with music industry veteran Bryant Reid, president and CEO of B Street Entertainment, producer of B Street Live, and former vice president of A&R for LaFace Records and Atlantic Records, to pick one grand prize winner who will receive a home recording studio.

Award-Winning Music for a Good Cause

Musicians will have their songs on the Hitmaker Web site www.KFC.com/pride360, where they can be downloaded as mobile phone ring tones. KFC will donate all profits from ring tone downloads to Little Kids Rock, a national non-profit organization that supports music in the academic lives of public school children by providing instrument instruction, free instruments and trained mentors.

"This year's KFC Hitmaker song contest is bigger and better than ever," said KFC's chief operating officer Harvey Brownlee. "We are proud to salute those striving to make Black Music Month a celebration this year and in the future. By helping Little Kids Rock, KFC hopes to have a positive impact on those who will add to the universal language of music for years to come."

Notes from a Hitmaker

During his tenure, Reid demonstrated an eye for new talent. He discovered the young talent of Grammy Award winning and multi-platinum artist Usher and worked on Toni Braxton's multi-platinum selling debut album. He has continued to find ways to expose deserving talent by producing and creating a television series called "B Street Live," which aired on a regional cable network.

"I listen for artists who bring a unique style and sound," said Reid. "I look forward to seeing the creativity and pride that Hitmaker 2008 will inspire."

Tune Up and Tune In

To enter, any musician can create a song about Pride 360°. All winning song entries will use the key words Individual, Family, Community, and Heritage. Artists may upload their audio submissions (and artist/musician photos) at www.KFC.com/pride360 or mail them by August 1 to KFC at 1900 Colonel Sanders Lane, Louisville, KY, 40213, Attn: KFC Hitmaker. All visitors to KFC.com can vote for their favorite versions of the Pride 360° theme song from August 4-18.

The grand prize winner and the other winners whose music will be featured on the CD will be selected on August 31. For more information and official rules, please visit www.KFC.com/pride360.

About KFC

KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world's most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe®, Extra Crispy™ and Colonel's Crispy Strips® with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 14,000 KFC outlets in more than 80 countries and territories around the world, serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.)

About Pride 360°

Pride 360° is KFC's reminder that the reasons we succeed are all around us - Individuals, Families, Communities. KFC wants to encourage others to succeed and achieve by honoring their heritage and fostering a belief in people. KFC believes, "What we honor today comes full circle tomorrow." For more information about KFC's commitment to the African-American community, please visit www.kfc.com/pride360.

About Little Kids Rock

Little Kids Rock is a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and music classes to low-income children in public schools. Little Kids Rock believes that music is a critical component of first-rate education. Founded by an elementary school teacher in 1996, Little Kids Rock is now serving thousands of students in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington D.C. More information can be found at www.littlekidsrock.org.

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