Foreigner's 'Can't Slow Down The Music' Competition Presented by VH1 Save The Music and OurStage

NEW YORK, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- As public schools suffer more than ever before due to the faltering economy, popular rock act Foreigner is partnering with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and OurStage to create a nationwide fundraising campaign to help restore instrumental music education programs.

The partnership is in tandem with the band's "United In Rock" tour this summer, co-headlined with Styx and special guest, Kansas.  Scheduled to kick off in May, the tour brings together three bands that helped shape rock and roll for a generation of music fans by dominating the charts and airwaves for decades.  At each tour stop, Foreigner has pledged to donate a portion of CD sales to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation and will also raffle a guitar to benefit the music charity.

With a long tradition of supporting causes that work to improve conditions for those in need, Foreigner and VH1 Save The Music will also join forces with the premier online community-powered, new music discovery site, OurStage, and local radio partners at each tour stop for the "Can't Slow Down The Music" Competitions. This unique community-based initiative will invite eligible high school choruses, choirs, glee clubs, or vocal groups in each market to upload a video of their group performing "In Pieces" from their latest album or "I Want to Know What Love Is" from Foreigner's massive music catalog at http://www.ourstage.com/go/vh1stm.  The winning group will receive $1000 for their music program and the opportunity to perform "I Want To Know What Love Is" with the band on-stage when they touch down in their city. Eligible high school choruses, choirs, glee clubs, or vocal groups, grades 9 – 12, can enter on a rolling basis beginning April 1, 2010. Competition finalists will be narrowed down through online voting at OurStage, with the winning groups picked by an independent panel of judges from local radio stations.  For more information, to enter, or for a complete set of Competition rules and regulations visit: http://www.ourstage.com/go/vh1stm.

"As far as I'm concerned music is not only the most powerful form of communication between the peoples of the world, it provides a gateway that opens up a fantastic new dimension of feeling and creativity and anything we can do to provide our young ones with the tools to express themselves, through music, is our goal in this partnership," said Foreigner's Mick Jones.

"We are honored that these iconic rock legends are dedicated to fostering the next generation of rock stars, leaders, creative minds by raising essential funds in support of music education in the U.S.," said Paul Cothran, Executive Director for VH1 Save The Music Foundation. "With widespread budget cuts and lack of public funds, more schools across the country depend on our programs and the goodwill of partners like Foreigner and OurStage to provide their students with instruments and music classes."

Foreigner

Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world, racking up scores of smash hits, multi-platinum albums, and sold out concert tours.   From 'Feels Like The First Time and "Cold As Ice" to "Hot Blooded," "Urgent" to "Jukebox Hero," "Waiting For A Girl Like You" to the chart topper "I Want To Know What Love is", Foreigner's thrilling mix of blustery blues and impeccably crafted pop continues to captivate generation after generation of music fans.

Foreigner recently performed the title track form their latest album "Can't Slow Down" to a sell out crowd and a TV audience of over six million NASCAR fans at The Pepsi 500, an event that helped drive the bands catalogue sales to the point where they currently outsell those of the Eagles, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and most of their rock peers. Today, over 70 million albums later, Foreigner is an ensemble of talented musicians with credentials that make the band stronger and more powerful than ever. For additional information on Foreigner, visit foreigneronline.com.

VH1 Save the Music Foundation

The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. To date, VH1 Save The Music has provided more than $45 million in new musical instruments to 1,700 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of over 1.4 million children. With the support of people across the country and the 2010-2011 Ambassador Class including: OneRepublic, Chrisette Michele, Nick Lachey, Mandy Moore, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Mraz, Fall Out Boy, Colbie Caillat, it is The Foundation's renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade. Get involved and learn more at www.vh1savethemusic.com.

About OurStage

OurStage is an online music destination unlike any other.  It's a meeting space for music lovers, and the place where tomorrow's stars get discovered.  Artists, fans and the entire industry come together here to celebrate and influence new music. Undiscovered artists submit their tracks to monthly music channels, fans rank their material, and industry professionals keep tabs on who's rising through the charts, rewarding the best of the best with priceless opportunities. Fans and artists are eligible for monthly prizes and life-altering prospects for success, made possible through OurStage's partnerships with media giants such as MTV; key radio conglomerates like Citadel and Radio One; leading Web outlets like AOL Music; and major music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Noise Pop and CMJ.  Founded in 2007, OurStage delivers music and editorial coverage to more than 4 million monthly visitors from more than 170 countries, as well as development tools to more than 120,000 artists. For more information on the world's most authentic online music community, visit www.ourstage.com.

SOURCE VH1 Save the Music Foundation