MINNEAPOLIS, MN. (Top40 Charts/ Best Buy) - Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY) today unveiled two new TSAs ('Teen Service Announcements') featuring American rock artists
3 Doors Down and
Hinder at www.at15.org. The groups, who recently co-headlined a multi-city summer tour, participated in the TSAs in support of @15, a new teen-led social change platform underwritten by Best Buy to give teens a voice and give them opportunities to direct the company's philanthropy through the newly-created @15 Fund.
Formed in 1995 in Escatawpa, Mississippi, 3 Doors Down includes Brad Arnold (lead vocals), Matt Roberts (lead guitar), Chris Henderson (guitar), Todd Harrell (bass guitar) and Greg Upchurch (drums, percussion). Since its debut album, The Better Life was released in 2000, the band has sold well over 13 million albums worldwide. Its fourth studio album, a self-titled set, is due in stores December 2008.
'We started this band when I was 15,' Arnold said in the 3 Doors Down TSA. 'We were 15 when we started, and 15 when we wrote a lot of our hits. I wrote the lyrics to those songs in high school algebra class. My advice to any teenager would be live today like it's not coming back because it's not - aim for your future and start it now.'
Hinder, formed in Oklahoma City in 2001, features Austin Winkler (vocals), Joe 'Blower' Garvey (guitar), Mark King (guitar), Mike Rodden (bass guitar) and Cody Hanson (drums). The band's new album, Take It to the Limit, was released November 2008, and debuted at No 4 on the Billboard 200 with 81,000 sales in its first week. Hinder is currently on tour through the end of 2008.
'Whatever you're into, just keep going, and get better and better and better, no matter what people say, and eventually you'll be good at it,' Rodden said in the Hinder TSA. 'Enjoy being 15 - [because] when you're 25, you're gonna miss being 15,' Winkler added.
Like a traditional PSA, the @15 TSAs are short, unscripted videos that share the collective thoughts and experiences of teens - and former teens - with messages of hope and inspiration for America's youth. Over the next several months, the @15 Web site, along with its social networking pages and YouTube channel, will feature messages from teens engaged in Best Buy programs, celebrities and musicians, and Members of Congress.
About @15
Best Buy believes in the power of teens, and @15 is a new platform to connect with them, give voice to their perspectives, and invest our resources - including the energy and talents of our employees - to turn their ideas into action and support their efforts to lead social change. Teens bring passion and enthusiasm to tackling tough issues. They're also important to our business - they shop in our stores, and they're our future employees. There's a real opportunity to listen to - and learn from - what teens have to say. And through the @15 Fund, we'll put the philanthropic power of @15 directly into their hands. To learn more, visit www.at15.com.
