Menudo Entertainment Partners with Gibson Guitar in International Talent Search "Mvasion"

Press release
Source: Rogers & Cowan

Menudo Entertainment LLC joins forces with musical instrument giant Gibson Guitar in partnership for “Mvasion,” the international talent search to recreate the all-boy mega singing group. In an effort to support and promote musical education during the Menudo talent search, Gibson-Baldwin Music Education (GBME), a division of Gibson Guitar, which provides beginners of all ages with quality musical instruments, will donate a package to high schools in key markets. In addition, Gibson Guitar will sponsor an online sweepstakes to win a Gibson Guitar for any music enthusiast who registers for Mvasion on the official Menudo Web site www.menudo.com, hosted by Yahoo! Telemundo.

“Because of Gibson’s contribution to music as a leading manufacturer and marketer of fine instruments, enhanced by their desire to further musical education, they are a great fit for Menudo Entertainment in our quest for the new Menudo band,” says Jerry Brenner, Menudo Entertainment LLC Principal. “The Gibson brand is synonymous with top talent and we are happy to have them on board as the official Menudo instrument and touring partner.”

“Gibson Guitar is excited to help kick off the international search for the next Menudo,” says Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “As one of the most influential teen musical groups in the history of music, Menudo and the Gibson-Baldwin Music Education division are perfect partners. We look forward to finding some great talent as we visit along the tour stops.”

The original Menudo group, which took the US and Latin America by storm during its run in the late 70s and 80s, produced superstar Ricky Martin, recorded 35 albums and sold more than 40 million records and set concert attendance records worldwide. The new Menudo group will record a contemporary hip urban/Latin rhythmic sound.

The search to discover the teenage boy group, ages 15 – 19, will reach out to potential Menudo members in both English and Spanish languages. Menudo Entertainment will conduct live auditions at targeted markets throughout the US and Puerto Rico. The first audition will be held in New York City on October 14, 2006. Open microphone tryouts held at the 116th Street Festival of the Puerto Rican Day Parade and at Great Adventure have discovered talented young boys who will compete in the formal auditions. More open microphone tryouts will be held throughout the summer at various locations including the Sean Paul concert at Great Adventure in New Jersey on August 26th and the 3rd Avenue Street Fair in New York City on September 10th. Other dates and locations will soon be available at www.menudo.com.

Menudo Entertainment LLC is headquartered in New York with offices in Boston and Miami. For further information, call 1-718-885-0440 or visit the Menudo Entertainment Web site at www.menudo.com.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibson's digital guitar, introduced in 2002, represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.'s family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Maestro, Baldwin, Hamilton, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibson's website at www.gibson.com. For more information on Gibson Baldwin Music Education go to www.gibson.com/press.