TGI Fridays(SM) Sets the Stage for a Red Hot Summer of Music

CARROLLTON, Texas, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This week, TGI Fridays is launching the Red Hot Summer of Music, a summer-long celebration featuring an online contest in search of the best undiscovered musical artists, with three-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Creative Director for Malibu® Red NE-YO, and some of YouTube's top artists. To kick off the celebration, Fridays will be hosting launch events on June 6^th in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, Washington, DC and Chicago. All events will feature exciting promotions, well-renowned DJs, local celebrities and entertainment.

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To enter the Red Hot Summer of Music contest, contestants will simply upload a video of themselves covering a popular song to www.RedHotSummerOfMusic.com and fans will vote for the top three videos. NE-YO and his team of YouTube apprentices, musicians who became famous through YouTube, will then select one lucky winner who will win the ultimate prize – a recording session coached by NE-YO and a $1,000 Fridays gift card.

"Our Red Hot Summer of Music campaign is the perfect opportunity to influence the life of an aspiring artist," said Brian Gies, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, TGI Fridays USA. "Music has long been part of the Fridays experience as it's the perfect backdrop to a great time out with food, fun and friends. We're excited to leverage music in a way that showcases emerging talent and promotes fun and excitement for our guests all summer long."

There are also plenty of chances for non-artists to get involved with the contest. From June 3^rd – July 7^th, Fridays guests can enter for a chance to win prizes, including free Fridays food and music downloads. One grand prize winner will win a trip to the One Last Summer Bash to meet NE-YO, and a trip to Malibu, Calif.

While enjoying the music, the best bartenders in the business will be serving up new, hand-crafted cocktails made with Malibu Red, a vibrant fusion of Caribbean Rum, Silver Tequila and coconut liqueur. Leveraging its 48-year heritage of beverage innovation and drink quality, Fridays is shaking up the classics with two cocktails featuring Malibu Red: the new Coconut Colada Rita, which is a coconut twist on a classic margarita, and the Tropical Margarita, which is a fruity infused remix of the favorite summer cocktail.

For more information about Fridays and the Red Hot Summer of Music visit www.RedHotSummerOfMusic.com.

About TGI Fridays
TGI Fridays restaurants offer authentic American food and exciting drinks in an atmosphere that provides an energizing Friday feeling – any day of the week. Fridays guest recognition program, Give Me More Stripes®, rewards loyal guests with great deals and fun events year-round, creating an engaging customer experience. As the original casual dining restaurant, TGI Fridays differentiates itself with a unique point of view which promises to exhilarate its guests with the feeling of Friday. TGI Fridays, which operates more than 900 restaurants in more than 60 countries, is also famous for its knowledgeable and charismatic bartenders, approximately 8,000 of whom compete annually for the title of the "Greatest TGI Fridays Bartender in the World." TGI Fridays believes in the importance of acting responsibly, and as a result its Responsible Business Program is focused on positively impacting the economic and environmental well-being of the communities and neighborhoods in which it operates. For more information, visit www.fridays.com.

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SOURCE TGI Fridays