CHELMSFORD, MA (AUGUST 3, 2010) – In July, Grammy-nominated Aspire/Young Money/Cash Money recording artist Drake teamed with OurStage.com and Sprite for the “Thank Me Later“ Competition. Lokz, of Toronto, triumphed over thousands of musicians across North America to earnthe opportunity of a lifetime–a coveted performance slot in front of 15,000 fans at Drake’s first annual O.V.O. Festival. Fan judging brought Lokz to the attention of the blue-ribbon panel including Drake, experts from OurStage.com, and radio station Program Directors, who ultimately selected him as the Grand Prize Winner. The Festival, which also featured performances by Jay-Z, Eminem, Fabolous, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, Kardinal Offishall, Bun B, and Francis & The Lights, was held during North America’s largest street fest, the 43rd annual Caribana Toronto Festivalat Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on August 1st.
Drake said, “Lokz was great up there,I’m glad he got to join me at the O.V.O. Festival. Sprite and OurStage.com should be complimented for their support of the artist community.” “We are truly pleased to have been able to offer Lokz this shot at fame. OurStage.com is committed to continuing to provide opportunities to break the next generation of stars,” said Ben Campbell, CEO of OurStage.
Meanwhile, Megan Sumpton of Port Arthur, TX was selected to appear as the festival’s official Backstage Correspondent, and reported on all the behind-the-scenes action. To win, Sumpton uploaded a video answering, “Why would I make the best backstage correspondent for the Drake concert at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto?” (watch her audition video). The OurStage casting program, where fans selected the best reporters based on the personality and charisma of their video auditions, resulted in her win.
The Drake “Thank Me Later” contest was promoted on Radio-One and CBS radio stations, OurStage.com, MTVN, allthings-fresh.net, Drake’s Facebook page and Twitter feed. The program was also promoted on MTV, with integration into Drake’s music videos and his special “Better Than Good Enough.” Entrants were also able to create Sprite-branded “Vote for Me” widgets for MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter.
ABOUT OURSTAGE:
OurStage.com is an online music destination unlike any other. It’s a meeting space for music lovers, and the place where tomorrow’s stars get discovered. Artists, fans and the entire industry come together here to celebrate and influence new music. Undiscovered artists submit their tracks to monthly music channels, fans rank their material, and industry professionals keep tabs on who’s rising through the charts, rewarding the best of the best with priceless opportunities. Fans and artists are eligible for monthly prizes and life-altering prospects for success, made possible through OurStage’s partnerships with media giants such as MTV; key radio conglomerates like Citadel Media and Radio-One; leading Web outlets like AOL Music; and major music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Noise Pop and CMJ. Founded in 2007, OurStage delivers music and editorial coverage to over 4 million monthly visitors from more than 170 countries, as well as development tools to more than 120,000 artists. For more information on the world’s most authentic online music community, visit www.ourstage.com.
OurStage’s recent star competitions include John Mayer’s “Side Stage Warfare,” “Shout It Out with Hanson,” “Lilith Local Talent Search” and “Bon Jovi’s Wanted: A SuperBAND Tonight!” among others.
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