Cricket Announces March Muve First and Muve Headliner Featured Artists

SAN DIEGO, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cricket Communications, a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless services, today announced exclusive Muve Music content with the release of the March Muve Headliner and Muve First artists.  During the month of March, Muve Music from Cricket is pleased to showcase Muve Headliner and Grammy Award winning artist Estelle.  Muve Music in the month of March also features three Muve First Artists to offer exclusive music to its growing subscriber base as part of its ongoing monthly Muve Music artist programs: Machine Gun Kelly, Breathe Carolina and Chiddy Bang.

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Muve First Artist MGK has partnered with Muve Music to release "Lace Up."  Muve Music will have the exclusive release on MGK's new EP titled "Half Naked & Almost Famous" beginning March 20, 2012. MGK knows the darkest moments in everyone's lives and speaks to that despair with resounding optimism.  The authenticity and resilience of Ohio native MC MGK has become a beacon of hope for thousands of kids across America. Penning rhymes about everything from addiction to family issues, MGK has become a symbol of relentless perseverance for his fans and he is about to begin the next chapter of his already successful career.  After many ups and downs in his career, MGK broke through the negativity again with the 2010 release of his latest mixtape, "Lace Up."  The project not only earned the local favorite more fans -- who bare their own "Lace Up" tattoos -- but a national audience. And now, to follow up a stunning come-back year in 2011 with a trip to SXSW where he performed a bevy of shows for brands like VIBE, FADER, Nah Right and The Smoking Section, MGK is partnering with Muve Music to kick off 2012 and to devour the next phase of his life. Check out more information about MGK online at www.mgklaceup.com.

Muve First Artist Breathe Carolina has collaborated with Muve Music in March to offer an exclusive track from their most recent album "Hell Is What You Make It."  Released on Muve Music earlier this month, March 6, 2012, Breathe Carolina's "Blackout (Big Chocolate 2012 Remix)" will only be available to Muve Music subscribers.  Breathe Carolina is currently storming the radio charts with their hit single "Blackout."  Already certified gold and nearing platinum, the single reached #15 on the Top 40 Chart and has catapulted the band into the mainstream.  The new album was dubbed "one of the best pure pop albums of the year" by the New York Times, it earned the band an "On The Verge" feature in USA Today and scored them the cover of this month's Alternative Press.  Breathe Carolina started out in a bedroom in the suburbs of the Mile High City recording their first album "It's Classy, Not Classic" entirely on GarageBand and released it on Rise Records.  After a year of hard touring, the band released their sophomore set "Hello Fascination" on Fearless Records.  The album entered the Billboard Top 200 and #43 and sold over 60,000 copies in the US alone.  The new album "Hell Is What You Make It" was released on Fearless Records in July 2011 and debuted at #42 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Electronic Chart.  Now via their newly inked deal with Columbia Records and months of headlining dates ahead of them, Breathe Carolina will continue their meteoric rise. For more information about these rising stars go to their website at www.breathecarolina.net.

Muve First Artist Chiddy Bang has partnered with Muve Music in March to release an exclusive commentary Muve Sessions album from their new album "Breakfast." This exclusive commentary album released only to Muve Music subscribers earlier this month, March 13, 2012, offers track by track narration from Chiddy Bang about their inspiration for creating "Breakfast."  Technically, "Breakfast," the first full-length disc from Chiddy, a Nigerian who grew up in Newark, NJ, and producer Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin, doesn't mark the first time the world has been introduced to Chiddy Bang. After the duo met freshman year at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Chiddy and Xaphoon began creating and self-releasing music via the Internet, attracting fans with their deft combination of hip-hop, electronic and indie rock styles. Chiddy Bang released their first mixtape, "The Swelly Express," in 2009, generating buzz with a catchy track called "Opposite of Adults," which samples MGMT's "Kids."  Chiddy's influences are varied and include the Fugees, Jay-Z and Kanye West.  The release "Breakfast," which debuted at #8 on the Billboard 200 last month, is a significant moment in Chiddy Bang's career, but it's by no means the group's sole accomplishment. The duo's hit single "Opposite of Adults" was certified gold last August and its video, which won Best Video Woodie Award at the MTV Woodies, has over 16 million views on YouTube. Chiddy Bang's tracks have been featured in commercials for Taco Bell and Jeep as well as numerous video games, including "Madden 12," "Need For Speed" and "Fight Night."  They've also toured extensively, performing at festivals around the world including Glastonbury, Bonnaroo, The Bamboozle, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.  For more information about Chiddy Bang, visit their website online at http://chiddybang.net/.

Follow MGK, Breathe Carolina and Chiddy Bang through a series of social media blasts at www.twitter.com/cricketnation and at www.facebook.com/cricketwireless for updates and information about their exclusive releases on Muve Music.

March Muve Headliner Featured Artist Estelle has partnered with Muve Music to launch an exclusive commentary album on her latest release "All Of Me."  Estelle's exclusive commentary album released earlier this month, March 6, 2012, will only be available to Muve Music subscribers.  In this soulful Muve Sessions commentary album, Estelle evokes her passion for music in every track.  Estelle may be a born-and-raised West London girl, but we'd venture that Estelle Swaray is right at home in the energy of New York, her newly adopted city. The Homeschool/Atlantic recording artist has recently released her highly anticipated new album, "All of Me" – which follows the Grammy Award winning singer's 2008 US debut, "Shine." The new album debuted at No. 9 on Billboard's R&B Chart and features two critically acclaimed singles, "Thank You" and "Break My Heart (Feat. Rick Ross)."  "All Of Me" is available now at the British hip-hop/soul sensation's own official website, www.estellemusic.com.

"Shine" – which marked the premiere release from Grammy Award-winner John Legend's Homeschool Records label, in partnership with Atlantic Records – was without question one of 2008's most compelling releases.  Executive produced by legend and Atlantic Records Chairman/CEO Craig Kallman, the album proved Estelle's global breakthrough, fuelled in part by the phenomenal hit single, "American Boy (Feat. Kanye West)."  In addition to hitting #1 in the UK, "American Boy" topped the European Airplay Chart, along with airplay charts in the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland. In the US, "American Boy" has been certified 2x-platinum by the RIAA for digital sales exceeding 2 million. And in 2009, the track earned Estelle her first-ever Grammy Award, among many other prestigious honors.

Follow Estelle through a series of social media blasts at www.twitter.com/cricketnation and www.facebook.com/cricketwireless.

How to get Muve Music
Muve Music is available on the Samsung Vitality, Huawei Ascend II, and ZTE Score smartphones as well as the ZTE Chorus, and Samsung Suede feature phones at Cricket company-owned stores and online at www.mycricket.com, as well as through select partner retail outlets. Additional accessories are available for purchase including premium headphones, an audio jack and Bluetooth adapter to connect to home and car stereos, either wired or wirelessly.

With the ever-growing Muve Music song catalog, customers can choose from millions of songs featuring the hottest artists from thousands of record labels, which are distributed through Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Music and global rights agency Merlin, as well as independents IODA and INgrooves.

About Cricket
Cricket is the pioneer and leader in delivering innovative value-rich prepaid wireless services with no long-term contracts serving more than 5.9 million customers. Cricket offers wireless voice and mobile data services over the latest, high-quality, all-digital 4G (LTE) and 3G CDMA wireless networks. In 2011, Cricket launched its award-winning Muve Music product, the first music service designed for a wireless phone that now has more than 500,000 customers. Cricket's innovative products and services are available at Cricket branded retail stores, dealers, national retailers and at www.mycricket.com.   For more information about Cricket, please visit www.mycricket.com.  To follow Cricket's latest news and updates online, go to Facebook at www.facebook.com/cricketwireless and Twitter at www.twitter.com/cricketnation. 

SOURCE Cricket Communications