MINNEAPOLIS (Top40 Charts/ Best Buy) - Best Buy Co., Inc. today unveiled a new TSA ('Teen Service Announcement') featuring pop-punk band
Fall Out Boy at www.at15.org.
Fall Out Boy participated in the TSA as supporters of @15, the teen-led social change platform underwritten by Best Buy to give teens a voice and provide them with opportunities to direct the company's philanthropy through the @15 Fund.
Formed in 2001 in Wilmette, IL, Fall Out Boy consists of Patrick Stump (lead vocals and guitar), Joe Trohman (guitar and vocals), Pete Wentz (bass guitar and vocals) and Andy Hurley (drums and percussion). The band reached mainstream success in 2005 with their first major label album, 'From Under the Cork Tree'. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number 9 and went on to achieve double platinum status selling more than 2.5 million albums in the United States alone. With 3 major albums under their belt, the band has received 6 Teen Choice Awards, 4 MTV Video Music Awards and a nomination for 'Best New Artist' at the 2006 Grammy Awards.
Being a part of the alternative genre, Fall Out Boy has dealt with the difficult perceptions of fitting in and offered their advice to teens in the latest TSA. 'When you're 15 you feel under all this pressure and duress to find this identity that you'll live out for the rest of your life, and that just never happens,' Stump said. 'No one really fits into a mold, so when you feel like you're the outcast there's really nothing to be an outcast of. You'll never fit into just one mold so don't worry about it, just be yourself and live life.'
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.org.
About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, China, Europe and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $45 billion annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales Kitchen, Bath and Electronic Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately 155,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2009, we donated a combined $33.4 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuy.com.
