Help VH1 'Save' Music Education by Enrolling in the 'School of Rock' Beginning April 16th With a VOD or PPV Purchase of the Hit Paramount Film

    NEW YORK, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is
 enrolling at the "School of Rock" for a precedent-setting partnership with
 Paramount Pay Television to kick off its seventh year of working with cable
 affiliates to restore music education programs in public schools across the
 country.
     Beginning April 16, Paramount will donate a portion of the proceeds from
 Video On Demand and Pay Per View (VOD/PPV) purchases of its box-office hit
 comedy, "School of Rock" available on all cable systems to the VH1 Save The
 Music Foundation.  VH1's cable affiliate partners on this VH1 Save The Music
 campaign include: Adelphia, Brighthouse Networks, Charter Communications,
 Comcast, Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable.  Many affiliates will also
 donate a portion of their proceeds from each "School of Rock" purchase.  The
 VOD offering will feature a live concert from Def Leppard to serve as an
 added-value element.
     "We're so grateful to Paramount for helping to raise much needed funds for
 The Foundation's efforts with such an entertaining and appropriate film as
 'School of Rock.' It represents perfectly how music education can have such a
 positive impact on children's lives on so many levels," said Christina Norman,
 President, VH1. "We also thank all of our cable affiliate partners who are
 working with us on this groundbreaking promotion and for providing such
 tremendous support for seven years in bringing music education to 500,000
 students across the country.  This year that number will grow as we fully
 restore Milwaukee and enter St. Louis public schools for the first time."
 
     "This precedent-setting partnership between Paramount and VH1 Save The
 Music drives home the importance of music education throughout public schools
 in America," said Jack Waterman, President, Worldwide Pay Television.  "We
 can't think of a better way to raise awareness and funds for music education
 than watching a movie such as 'School of Rock,' that gives parents and
 students a first hand account of how music impacts student's lives."
 
     "Divas" Come Together for an Unforgettable Night to Benefit VH1 Save The
 Music
     Also this spring, the VH1 Save The Music Foundation will enlist the help
 of some "Divas" and partner exclusively with CBS News' THE EARLY SHOW to raise
 awareness about the need to restore music education programs across the
 country.
     Some of music's hottest "Divas" including Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson,
 Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry of Blondie, Joss Stone, Ashanti, Eve and Gladys
 Knight will perform live on-stage at the MGM Grand to support the VH1 Save The
 Music Foundation during an unforgettable "VH1 Divas."  The event will be
 broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 18 at 9:00
 PM.*
     For the third year in a row, The Foundation and CBS News' THE EARLY SHOW
 will partner exclusively during the week of April 12 to raise awareness about
 the challenges facing music education in public schools through appearances by
 artists including Melissa Etheridge and Hanson, who will visit VH1 Save The
 Music schools in cities including Leavenworth, Kansas and New York City.
 
     Throughout 2004 the VH1 Save The Music Foundation along with its 29 cable
 affiliate partners will continue to restore music education programs in public
 schools across the country.  2004 VH1 Save The Music cities include:
 
      Baltimore, MD            Nashville, TN
      Birmingham, AL           New Orleans, LA
      Boston, MA               New York, NY
      Chicago, IL              Oakland, CA
      Cincinnati, OH           Oklahoma City, OK
      Denver, CO               Palm County, FL
      Greenville, SC           Philadelphia, PA
      Portland, OR             Milwaukee, WI
      Houston, TX              Sacramento, CA
      Indianapolis, IN         San Antonio, TX
      Las Vegas, NV            San Diego, CA
      Little Rock, AR          St. Louis, MO
      Los Angeles, CA          Tulsa, OK
      Memphis, TN              Washington, DC
      Leavenworth, KN
 
     Now in its seventh year, the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning VH1 Save The
 Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the
 quality of education in America's public schools by restoring music education
 programs in cities across the U.S. and raising awareness of the importance of
 music participation for our nation's youth.
     Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, more than $25 million worth
 of musical instruments has been donated to 1,000 public schools in 80 cities,
 improving the lives of more than 500,000 children. VH1 Save The Music's many
 honors include the Governors' Award (a special Emmy Award), the George Foster
 Peabody Award for broadcast and cable excellence, and many Beacon Awards.
     VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to
 them most with series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and
 public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in nearly 84 million households
 in the U.S.  VH1 also has an array of digital services including VH1 Classic,
 VH1 Soul, VH Uno, VH1 Mega Hits and VH1 Country.  Connect with VH1 at
 www.VH1.com.
 
     * all times ET/PT
 
      Contact: Maura Corcoran/VH1       Andie Silvers/CBS News
               212-846-7325             212/975-3328
 
 

SOURCE  VH1 Save The Music Foundation