KIDZ BOP Announces Grand Prize Winner In Its First Annual KIDZ Star USA Talent Search

NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- KIDZ BOP, the #1 kids' music brand in the U.S., today announced that Hunter Pecunia is the Grand Prize Winner of its first annual KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, America's biggest national talent competition for kids ages 15 and under. As part of the major prize package, the 15-year-old Dallas, TX native receives a recording contract and will fly out to Los Angeles next week where she will film a guest starring role in the upcoming KIDZ BOP 19 TV commercial and new KIDZ BOP music video.  

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More than 35,000 kids nationwide entered the contest. There were nearly half a million fan votes for the uploaded short performance videos during the competition on the KidzStarUSA.com website.  Earlier this week, KIDZ BOP flew to Hunter's hometown to surprise her with the Grand Prize. More than 600 kids, fans and family members were on hand to support Hunter, including local Mayor Scott McDearmont and American Idol finalist, Jason Castro, who taped a special message to congratulate her.  To check out Hunter's big win and surprise video, click here http://www.kidzbop.com/kidzstarusa/winner.

Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam, Co-Founders of KIDZ BOP said, "KIDZ Star USA is the only talent search America designed to showcase and find talented young performers. We are thrilled to congratulate Hunter Pecunia on winning the first annual KIDZ Star USA and welcome her to the KIDZ BOP family. She is a phenomenal talent with true vocal range and stage presence, and we believe this is just the beginning of an amazing career."  

A panel of celebrity judges, including Jason Castro, American Idol semi-finalist and Atlantic recording artist, and Sherry Kondor, award-winning pop music producer and manager of artists such as Jesse McCartney, mentored the contestants during the competition.  

About KIDZBOP.com

KIDZBOP.com is a leading social network and video sharing site for kids and tweens that provides a completely safe and moderated environment where kids can express themselves, as themselves, through unique online applications.  At KIDZBOP.com, kids can safely communicate with friends, create their own Webshows, run their own Super Contests, upload Videos and Photos, play games and make music. The popular website achieved on average 1 million visits and nearly 600,000 unique visitors in Q3 2010 according to ComScore, and the site is quickly approaching 1 million registered users.    

ABOUT KIDZ BOP LLC

KIDZ BOP is the most popular and recognized music product in the U.S. for kids aged 5-12, featuring today's most popular songs, sung by kids for kids.  KIDZ BOP celebrates the unique, authentic voice of kids across the entire brand -- through music, videos, live appearances, licensed merchandise and its popular social networking and content sharing website, KIDZBOP.com. KIDZ BOP CD titles have earned one Platinum^® and nine Gold^® certifications since their debut in 2001. This past summer, KIDZ BOP partnered with Macy's for a national back-to-school promotion where the KIDZ BOP Kids star in the retailer's national TV ad campaign. Macy's promotional details can be found at www.macys.com/kidzbop. The company is also home to the national KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, where talented kids can upload videos of themselves singing to KidzStarUSA.com to compete for a chance to win a recording contract. KIDZ BOP LLC is a division of New York-based independent entertainment company Razor & Tie Entertainment, a vertically-integrated company that encompasses a music company with major label distribution, a home video company, a media buying company, a music publishing business, a direct marketing operation and a growing database of entertainment consumers.  For more information, please visit www.kidzbop.com.

SOURCE KIDZ BOP