NEW YORK (Ford Motor Company/ www.ford.com) - Ford Motor Company announced today its collaboration with Sony
Pictures Digital on the creation of Fusion Flash Concerts, a series of free, unannounced-until-the-last-minute concerts performed by 10 hot and emerging music artists in secret locations across the country.
* Jermaine Dupri, Yellowcard, Fat Joe,
Pete Yorn and The
Roots will participate in this unprecedented, interactive music experience. Five additional musical acts will also perform throughout the summer.
*
Music fans must register online at https://www.fusionflashconcerts.com or text message "Go" to 35274 (Flash) to register via mobile phone, and receive exclusive "Insider" information on artists' performance dates and locations, as well as free, original content.
* This concert series and interactive web experience sets the stage for the early Fall launch of Ford's all-new 2006 Fusion sedan.
Several of America's most talented and intriguing rock and hip hop music artists will perform in a series of free, up-close-and-personal "flash concerts" for fans across America this summer - but there's only one catch, they're keeping the details secret.
Fusion Flash Concerts feature performances by The Roots, who will kick off the series in New York in early July and Jermaine Dupri, who will follow up with a performance in Atlanta in mid-July. Details on confirmed performances by Fat Joe, Yellowcard, Pete Yorn and five other musical acts including cities, dates and venues will be available exclusively via email and text messages once visitors register at https://www.fusionflashconcerts.com
Fusion Flash Concerts is a fresh, interactive take on the underground "flash mob" phenomenon. Flash mobs are instant gatherings of large groups of people who are notified via emails or text messages just prior to the event taking place, and simultaneously converge on a set location. In this case, fans will converge throughout the summer to see amazing live musical performances.
Starting today, music lovers nationwide can visit https://www.fusionflashconcerts.com or text "Go" to 35274 (Flash) on their mobile phones to register as an "Insider," to find out if their favorite artists will be performing at a park, club, pier or parking lot near them. Insiders receive up-to-the-minute e-mails as well as "Flash Alerts" (text messages) powered exclusively by Cingular, which reveal details on the artists, cities, venues and show times. Cingular Wireless subscribers receive added perks for registering, including early "Flash Alerts" and premier viewing area access at the concerts.
The Fusion Flash Concerts website also features exclusive video, a tour blog, concert reviews, a "mash-up" remix contest hosted by ACIDplanet.com, 10 music downloads provided by connect.com, and the chance to win prizes including an all-new 2006 Ford Fusion sedan, Sony consumer electronics and VIP access to the shows.
In addition, plans are in the works to release a compilation disk of participating artists in the Fusion Flash Concerts that will be available for sale exclusively at Target retail locations at the conclusion of the Fusion Flash Concerts series.
"We're really excited to get this summer-long party started in New York," said The Roots' ?uestlove. "With our music fusing together an audience of hip hop, rock, jazz and funk fans, we're a perfect fit for this one-of-a-kind concert series."
"There's a spontaneity factor unique to this concert series," said Jermaine Dupri, multi-platinum-selling solo artist, songwriter and producer. "The last minute release of show details and ongoing interaction with fans really builds energy and excitement."
Consumers can also visit https://www.fordvehicles.com to "fuse" their own photographs with other uploaded photos from music fans around the world, to create an entirely new, standalone image.
Ford Motor Company is sponsoring Fusion Flash Concerts in a grassroots effort to amplify the street buzz surrounding the debut of its much-anticipated 2006 Fusion sedan this Fall.
"This is all about challenging people to break free from their reality TV shows and office cubes, and inviting them to come out and play with us," offered Marty Collins, General Marketing Manager, Ford Division. "We're committed to building trusted, lasting relationships with music lovers over time vs. 'marketing to' them," he added.
