Billboard.com and Chevrolet's 'Battle of the Bands' On The Road, Cruze-ing: Finalists Driving Cross-Country for Chance to be on 2012 Billboard Music Awards

NEW YORK, NY, May 15, 2012 (Press-News.org) Six finalists are nearing their destination - and their destiny - as they "Cruze to Vegas" for Billboard.com and Chevrolet's Battle of the Bands competition. They've started their road trip, and are closer to winning the gig of a lifetime: a live performance at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, televised on ABC, 8 p.m. ET, on Sunday, May 20.

Each of the six bands has received keys to an all-new, 2012 Chevrolet Cruze for their road trips, which take them from their home base to Las Vegas. Cruze is Chevrolet's top-selling passenger car around the world, and has been named Best Compact Car for the Money by U.S. News and World Report.

Track the bands' progress as they motor toward Las Vegas via www.Billboard.com/battle.

When the finalists reach Las Vegas, they will prepare for the Friday, May 18 Battle of the Bands competition before a live audience. Fans can watch the 'battle' competition live at 5 p.m. ET Billboard.com/battle. That night, the winner will be selected by a distinguished panel of Billboard and recording industry celebrity judges, and then they'll perform two nights later on the Billboard Music Awards.

The six finalists are:
Northwest: Savannah Outen, pop vocalist, Hillsboro, Ore.
Southwest: Saints of Valory, rock, Austin, Texas
Midwest: Take the Day, pop/rock, Milwaukee, Wis.
Northeast: Patent Pending, pop/punk, Mount Sinai, N.Y.
West: Doe Eye, singer/songwriter, San Francisco, Calif.
Southeast: After the Smoke, rap duo, Tallahassee, Fla.

A camera crew is following the bands' every move as they play gigs along the way and rock out to Cruze's standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio and sophisticated infotainment system. The bands can connect with fans through blogging, Facebook, Tweeting and by creating personalized playlists as they strive to improve their social Heat Score. Fans participate via www.Billboard.com/battle.

At up to 42 mpg highway, the Cruze Eco offers the most fuel-efficient gas engine in America, which means the bands can make fewer stops for gasoline. And the Cruze is designed to be as safe as it is efficient. It received the coveted Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It features 10 standard air bags, including driver's side knee air bags.

Presented in partnership with the Chevrolet Cruze, the Billboard Music Awards is an amazing platform for any artist, let alone a developing act, to showcase their talent. With nearly eight million viewers, the 2011 Billboard Music Awards helped ABC win the 8-11 p.m. timeslot, even beating the season finale of "Celebrity Apprentice" on NBC.

How the contest worked
The contest began in early March, when Billboard editors chose three unsigned bands from six regions of the U.S. Voting throughout the month took place online at www.billboard.com/battle. Finalists from each region were selected by fans who listened and watched videos before casting a vote. Each participant was automatically entered to win two tickets, hotel accommodations and airfare to the Billboard Music Awards.

"We are seeing a level of talent and diversity from the bands this year that is nothing short of amazing," offers Billboard Editorial Director Bill Werde. "Knowing that each of the six contenders chosen by Billboard.com voters will have an opportunity to be seen by a worldwide audience should make the Battle of the Bands competition fierce."

"Chevrolet is thrilled to give emerging artists - the everyday heroes of the music world - a chance to showcase their talent on the national stage," said Kevin Mayer, Chevrolet advertising director. "Many of today's superstars got their start driving from gig to gig. 'Cruze-ing to Las Vegas' helps our six finalists make that journey to stardom in style."

Want to attend in person? Download FREE tickets to the Battle of the Bands using this link:
http://www.showclix.com/event/BillboardBattleoftheBands.

Not in Vegas? Catch all the action via live streaming on Facebook.com/ChevyCruze and join in on conversation on twitter @ChevyLife using #ChevyBOTB.

About Billboard
Billboard is the world's most influential music media brand reaching key executives and tastemakers in and around the music business through Billboard Magazine, Billboard.biz, Billboard Conferences, Billboard Bulletin, and other targeted newsletters, and millions of music fans through Billboard.com and Billboard Events. The Billboard brand is built on its exclusive charts and unrivaled reporting on the latest news, issues and trends across all genres of music. Billboard receives hundreds of millions of brand impressions daily through many strategic relationships with major companies across various industries. These relationships leverage Billboard's brand recognition, proprietary chart data and information resources to develop products, live events and print, television, radio, digital and mobile platforms. In addition to North America, Billboard operates businesses in Brazil, Greece, Japan, Korea and Russia.

Billboard is owned by Prometheus Global Media, a diversified company with leading assets in the media and entertainment arenas, including: Music (Billboard and its related conferences and events, including The Billboard Latin Music Awards), Entertainment (The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, ShowEast, Cineasia, and CineEurope); and Advertising & Marketing (Adweek, Adweek Conferences and The CLIO Awards).

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

CONTACTS:

Chevrolet:
Annalisa Esposito Bluhm
Chevrolet Communications
586-713-5907
annalisa.bluhm@chevrolet.com
@annalisabluhm

Billboard Music Awards:
Maury Rogoff
Maury Rogoff PR & Marketing, Inc.
212-421-8377
Maury@MauryRogoffPR.com