Celebuzz, AT&T and Michael Voltaggio Give D.C. Family ‘A Gift Money Can’t Buy’

What did you get your mom for the holidays? Thanks to Buzzmedia’s Celebuzz, AT&T and Celebrity Chef Michael Voltaggio, one lucky daughter was able to give their mother ‘A Gift Money Can’t Buy.’

As part of the special holiday campaign, which celebrated the gift of giving, Bravo’s Top Chef season six winner Michael Voltaggio treated Washington D.C.’s Morgan Sykes, her mother, Shireen Dodson, Morgan’s grandmother and another close friend of Morgan’s mother, to a post-holiday, personally prepared four-course feast at Dodson’s D.C. area home this past Saturday.

“The holidays often become more about giving gifts you can’t afford than giving something meaningful,” said Michael Voltaggio. “Thanks to Buzzmedia, Celebuzz and AT&T, I was happy to be able to able to give something that puts the focus back on the important things: family and food. There’s nothing that gives me greater pleasure than sharing my love of cooking.”

Sykes was chosen as the lucky winner from thousands of entries, and proclaimed that the dinner was one she’ll never forget. “I think this is by far the best gift I’ve ever given my mother. She is definitely a self-proclaimed foodie with years of food experience to back it up,” said Sykes. “I will venture out on a limb and say that hopefully I have provided her one of the best meals she has ever had, especially considering that it was not only cooked in the comfort of her own home. Thank you so much to Celebuzz and AT&T for providing this wonderful experience and allowing us to all come together and have a delicious meal with chef Voltaggio.”

Was there a better Christmas gift that a mother could ever receive? When asked, Dodson couldn’t think of one.

“This was a one in a million, experience of a lifetime, and I love my daughter Morgan for giving this to me as a Christmas present. You could not ask for a better Christmas present than an amazing dinner at your own home with a chef like Michael Voltaggio,” said Dodson. “Every course was unique and interesting — I wish I could keep him as my personal chef.”

Check out Celebuzz’s slideshow on the evening here.

Clorox Fresh Step and BUZZMEDIA Present “8 To Go,” Starring Heather McDonald

By Kadrian Alvarenga

Everybody loves a good cat video – that’s why BUZZMEDIA and Clorox Fresh Step are working paw-in-paw this year to promote Fresh Step Litter’s first annual ‘Catdance Feline Film Festival.’

What is the Catdance Feline Film Festival? Think Sundance for Siamese. But don’t worry… all cat breeds are welcome at this celebration of famous felines and their most memorable viral videos.

As part of the festivities, Fresh Step is conducting a nationwide search for the best cat videos in the country and commissioning ten fresh feline videos of their own. Both the commissioned films and films by five finalists from the nationwide search will be screened at the inaugural Catdance Feline Film Festival presented by Fresh Step at the Fresh Step House during the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2013, in Park City, Utah.

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BUZZMEDIA ALIGNS MUSIC PROPERTIES TO FORM ‘SPIN MUSIC GROUP’

Partners with Sonos to Present ‘Unmuted’, Seven-Part Event Series 

Showcasing SPIN Music Group Sites at the State-of-the-Art Sonos Studio in Los Angeles

BUZZMEDIA, one of the largest and fastest growing digital media companies in the U.S, today launches SPIN Music Group, further aligning its portfolio of diverse music properties to help advertisers increase audience engagement and social interaction with music fans.

Anchored by iconic music brand SPIN, a leading voice in music journalism for more than 27 years, the SPIN Music Group leverages a powerful and engaged readership of more than 7 million unique visitors per month across sites including Stereogum, Buzznet, Idolator, PureVolume, Hype Machine, AbsolutePunk, Gorilla vs. Bear, Brooklyn Vegan XLR8R and Punknews. SPIN Music Group enables advertisers to execute offline events and easily launch digital campaigns across multiple music-focused properties to reach millennials and music fans effectively.

“The new SPIN Music Group is a powerful digital media and publishing platform for advertisers to tap into music fans of many of the most iconic digital music brands and reach their audiences, particularly the hard-to-reach millennial audience,” said Tyler Goldman, CEO of BUZZMEDIA.  “We do not just represent properties, we publish them, which allows us to develop highly customized creative across platforms. With an established events program, SPIN Music Group offers advertisers the opportunity to extend their reach offline for a more holistic program.”

Marking the inaugural partnership, SPIN Music Group and Sonos, the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems, will present ‘Unmuted,’ a seven-part event series at the Sonos Studio in Los Angeles, where editors from various properties in the SPIN Music Group will take turns hosting and booking their own evenings of music. The kick-off event, curated by SPIN, takes place tonight, featuring a live performance from LA’s White Arrows, plus other special musical guests.

“The Sonos Studio has quickly become a key destination for music collaboration,” notes Fiede Schillmoeller, Sonos’ Global Director of PR and Culture Marketing.  “With our partnership with SPIN Music Group, music fans will enjoy seeing the top emerging talent perform in one of the best spaces in Los Angeles.”

The event series will run in tandem with a digital advertising campaign across all SPIN Music Group properties, including high impact ad units, mobile rich media ads, and social promotion and editorial coverage of the brand’s offline events.

About BUZZMEDIA

BUZZMEDIA is defining digital culture; publishing more than 40 leading brands whose original voices define their categories. BUZZMEDIA reaches one in four millennials in the U.S. monthly through its portfolio of award-winning and influential brands including: SPIN, Celebuzz, Stereogum, Videogum, Buzznet, TheSuperficial, Idolator, PureVolume, Hype Machine, AbsolutePunk, What Would Tyler Durden Do?, SocialiteLife, Go Fug Yourself, Just Jared, Pink is the New Blog, Gorilla vs. Bear, RCRD LBL, TheFrisky!, Concrete Loop, Brooklyn Vegan and Punknews. As measured by comScore, BUZZMEDIA is the largest digital publisher of entertainment news and the fourth largest digital publisher of original music content in the U.S. BUZZMEDIA draws on original editorial content, deep audience engagement, and knowledge of the young adult audience to provide customized, innovative marketing and advertising solutions across its branded properties.

About Sonos

Founded in 2002, Sonos® is the leading manufacturer of wireless music systems. The Sonos Wireless HiFi System lets you stream all the music on earth wirelessly in every room of your home with control from your Android® smartphone, iPhone®, or iPad®. In addition to playing your personal digital music collection, Sonos gives you access to millions of songs and thousands of radio stations by partnering with Amazon Cloud Player, AUPEO, Deezer, iheartradio, JUKE, Last.fm, MOG, Napster®, Pandora®, Rdio®, Rhapsody®, SiriusXM Internet Radio, Slacker Radio®, Songza, Spotify, Stitcher SmartRadio™, TuneIn, Wolfgang’s Vault, and more. The award-winning Sonos Wireless HiFi System is available at more than ten thousand retailers in over 65 countries worldwide; or direct from Sonos at www.sonos.com. Sonos, Inc. is a privately held company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hilversum, Netherlands, Shenzen, China, and Penang, Malaysia. Go to sonos.com/studio to sign up and be notified of attending future events.

BUZZMEDIA Acquires Four Leading Punk Properties To Form AbsoluteVoices Publishing Group

Today BUZZMEDIA (www.buzz-media.com), one of the fastest growing digital media companies, announced the acquisition of authentic, go-to punk rock sites Under The Gun Review, Alter The Press! and PropertyOfZack. These three sites will join forces with BUZZMEDIA’s AbsolutePunk (www.absolutepunk.net), the definitive source for punk rock news, and the also-acquired Punknews.org, and roll up under a new suite of online punk music properties titled AbsoluteVoices.

AbsolutePunk will serve as a central hub to the broader AbsoluteVoices publishing group, expanding its robust editorial offerings, while bringing a wider variety of perspectives and in-depth music coverage to its extensive reader base and fan community.

“AbsoluteVoices puts a spotlight on some of the most unique and up-and-coming voices in punk rock reporting and brings them to AbsolutePunk.net, which over the years has become the largest online gathering place for the punk rock fan community,” said Bill Jensen, BUZZMEDIA vice president and general manager of music. “Thirty years later, American youth still passionately identify with the intensity and forward-thinking music and style of punk.”

Each of the AbsoluteVoices properties brings a distinct point of view and reporting style to punk and alternative rock news coverage:

  • Punknews.org, founded in 1998, is one of the pioneers in online music news and fan community-building around punk, ska, hardcore, emo, metal and indie genres;
  • PropertyOfZack is the leading punk destination on Tumblr, and promotes the best known and breaking bands on the pop-punk spectrum through in-depth interviews, reviews and exclusive content;
  • Alter The Press! is an online alternative music publication featuring exclusive video content including acoustic sessions and live recorded features; album and song streams;  and the latest news, interviews and reviews with today’s relevant artists;
  • Under The Gun Review covers entertainment for today’s generation, expanding beyond alternative music to film and standup comedy.

“Through AbsoluteVoices, we’re bringing together four of the most exciting sites in the punk rock scene and helping them do what they do best: report on music in their own unique voices,” said Jason Tate, AbsolutePunk founder. “AbsolutePunk is the largest punk music destination on the Web, with an active community. These sites will now lend their distinct and authoritative voices to the conversation.”

“Punknews.org has always had a great relationship with BUZZMEDIA,” said Punknews.org founder and editor Aubin Paul. “They have worked hard to make sure we have everything we need to build great content and great communities while respecting and encouraging our independence. It couldn’t be a better fit.”

AbsolutePunk continues to be the leader in its category and, since 2000, has reported from the front lines of punk rock music discovery, being among the first to report about then-emerging acts including Blink 182, Yellowcard, Brand New, Something Corporate, Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco.

The acquisitions come on the heels of recent deals announced by BUZZMEDIA including the acquisition of SPIN Media. BUZZMEDIA’s existing suite of leading music properties establish them as the fourth largest digital publisher of original music content in the U.S. in terms of reach, alongside MTV, Yahoo! Music and AOL Music, according to comScore*.

*”Original Music Content” category as custom-defined by BUZZMEDIA. BUZZMEDIA defines an “original music content publisher” as a publisher within the comScore Entertainment-Music category who creates original digital content focused on music reporting and criticism. Ranking is based on May 2012 comScore data release.

About BUZZMEDIA
BUZZMEDIA is the leader in pop culture and millennial audience reach, reaching more than 30 million monthly unique visitors and one in four millennials in the U.S. every month. BUZZMEDIA publishes more than 40 authoritative brands whose voices define categories and culture, including SPIN, Celebuzz, Stereogum, Videogum, Buzznet, TheSuperficial, Idolator, PureVolume, Hype Machine, AbsolutePunk, What Would Tyler Durden Do?, SocialiteLife, Go Fug Yourself, Just Jared, Pink is the New Blog, Gorilla vs. Bear, RCRD LBL, TheFrisky, Concrete Loop, Brooklyn Vegan, Punknews and XLR8R. As measured by comScore, BUZZMEDIA is the largest digital publisher in entertainment news and the fourth largest digital publisher of original music content in the U.S. BUZZMEDIA uses its massive reach, deep audience engagement and understanding of the young adult audience to provide customized, innovative marketing and advertising solutions across its branded properties.

Media Contact:
Julie Nicholson, Weber Shandwick
(212) 445-8371
jnicholson@webershandwick.com

Alabama Shakes to headline free “Dream Show” concert in Chicago for American Family Insurance

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — American Family Insurance is partnering with Alabama Shakes to present an exclusive “Dream Show” for music fans in Chicago on September 11, featuring a full headlining set from the band alongside two up-and-coming acts which were hand-picked by the band to share the bill. American Family (www.amfam.com) made the announcement today in association with BUZZMEDIA (www.buzz-media.com) and BrooklynVegan (www.brooklynvegan.com/chicago/).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120710/NY37397LOGO )

American Family Insurance is offering fans the opportunity to experience the memorable evening. Starting today, music lovers 21 and over can RSVP for the free event by liking the American Family Insurance Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/amfam) to gain exclusive access to the triple-bill concert, taking place at Subterranean music venue in Wicker Park, Chicago.

“Dreams and the pursuit of dreams are an important part of all of our lives. American Family Insurance is dedicated to not only protecting dreams, but to inspiring people to pursue those dreams,” said Telisa Yancy, American Family Insurance’s advertising director. “Seeing a band at this level play for free in an intimate venue, that’s a dream for many music lovers. Alabama Shakes brings together music fans of all genres, and their selection of two of their favorite emerging bands furthers the dreams of other musicians who seek a similar level of achievement.”

Alabama Shakes was invited to personally select two breakout artists to share the stage: Doc Dailey and the Pollies both hail from the Shakes’ home state of Alabama and share a similar Americana sound.

“Doing what we love for a living is already a dream for us, but playing with friends and fellow musicians from Alabama is even better,” said Alabama Shakes front-woman Brittany Howard

The “Dream Show” is supported by BUZZMEDIA’s suite of leading music offerings including BrooklynVegan, Stereogum, and Idolator.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About the Alabama Shakes Dream Show powered by American Family Insurance
Only users who like American Family Insurance are eligible to enter. Space is limited. RSVP does not guarantee admission. This is a 21+ event. Twitter: #dreamshow

About American Family Insurance
Based in Madison, Wis., American Family Insurance offers auto insurance, homeowners insurance, life insurance, health insurance, business and farm/ranch insurance in 19 states. American Family Mutual Insurance Company is the nation’s third-largest mutual property/casualty insurance company. Web: www.amfam.com; Facebook: www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter: www.twitter.com/amfam. YouTube: www.youtube.com/amfam.

About BUZZMEDIA
BUZZMEDIA is the leader in pop culture and millennial audience reach, with more than 120 million monthly unique visitors and one in four millennials in the U.S. every month. BUZZMEDIA publishes more than 40 authoritative brands whose voices define categories and culture, including SPIN, Celebuzz, Stereogum, Videogum, Buzznet, TheSuperficial, Idolator, PureVolume, Hype Machine, AbsolutePunk, What Would Tyler Durden Do?, SocialiteLife, Go Fug Yourself, Just Jared, Pink is the New Blog, Gorilla vs. Bear, RCRD LBL, TheFrisky!, Concrete Loop, Brooklyn Vegan and Punknews. As measured by comScore, BUZZMEDIA is the largest digital publisher in Entertainment News and the fourth largest digital publisher of original music content in the U.S. BUZZMEDIA uses its massive reach, deep audience engagement and understanding of the young adult audience to provide customized, innovative marketing and advertising solutions across its branded properties.

Media contact:
Julia Walker
(212) 231-7407
jwalker@buzz-media.com