The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, the GRAMMY Foundation® and MusiCares® Announce 2014 Teens Make Music Contest

NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today marks the launch of the fifth annual GRAMMY Foundation^® and MusiCares^® Teens Make Music Contest, in conjunction with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids as part of its Above the Influence (ATI) campaign. The contest asks young musicians, ages 14 - 18, to compose or create an original song and/or music video that celebrates life above the influence or brings attention to the consequences of substance abuse.

"We are thrilled to once again collaborate with the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares to provide a unique outlet for teens to share their perspectives on substance abuse and addiction," said Steve Pasierb, President and CEO of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. "Our Above the Influence campaign is all about youth empowerment, individual expression and positive choices, and the Teens Make Music Contest is a wonderful opportunity for teens to uniquely express their individual reasons for living above the influence."

"This marks the fifth year of our participation in the Teens Make Music Contest," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Foundation, MusiCares and The Recording Academy^®. "We value this opportunity to work with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to provide a platform for young people to tell their stories about the toll of substance abuse in their lives, and the enormous benefits of a healthy lifestyle."

The first-place winner of the contest will receive two tickets to the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards^® at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, as well as a cash award of $500 and the opportunity to perform a set at the Acoustic Tent on the 2015 Vans Warped Tour in the city closest to their hometown. The second- and third-place winners will receive cash prizes of $250 and $100, respectively, and all three winners will have the opportunity to attend the 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards backstage experience during rehearsals. Other prizes include two tickets to any Vans Warped Tour stop, gift bags and more.

Original music compositions or compositions with accompanying videos must be sent to the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares postmarked no later than Monday, Dec. 1, 2014. Entries must be no more than four minutes long. For more information and to enter the contest, please visit www.abovetheinfluence.com/GRAMMYS.

About the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids is dedicated to reducing teen substance abuse and supporting families impacted by addiction. We develop public education campaigns that drive awareness of teen substance abuse, and lead teen-targeted efforts that inspire young people to make positive decisions to stay healthy and avoid drugs and alcohol.

On our website, drugfree.org, and through our toll-free helpline (1-855-DRUGFREE), we provide families with direct support and guidance to help them address teen substance abuse. Finally, we build healthy communities, advocating for greater access to adolescent treatment and funding for youth prevention programs. As a national nonprofit, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and the public sector and are thankful to SAG-AFTRA and the advertising and media industries for their ongoing generosity.

About the "Above the Influence" Campaign:
Above the Influence (ATI) is a national program led by the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids that challenges youth, ages 12 - 17, to think critically about the adverse effects of drug and alcohol use and the potential negative influences surrounding them in their social and media environment. ATI connects directly with teens and local youth-serving organizations to deliver messages, activities and support to help teens stay "above the influence" of drugs, alcohol and risky behaviors. Multiple scientific findings indicate that teens who have increased exposure to and engagement with ATI have stronger anti-drug beliefs than teens with low exposure to the campaign.

About the GRAMMY Foundation:
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1988 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students' musical experiences, The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Foundation partnered to present the first Music Educator Award^™ in 2014. Open to current U.S. music teachers in kindergarten through college, the second Music Educator Award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony & Nominees Reception during GRAMMY^® Week 2015. For more information about the Music Educator Award, please visit GRAMMYMusicTeacher.com. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "GRAMMY in the Schools" on Facebook, follow the GRAMMY Foundation on Twitter (@GRAMMYFdn) and join us on Instagram (@GRAMMYFdn).

About MusiCares:
MusiCares was established in 1989 by The Recording Academy to provide a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, please like "MusiCares" on Facebook at and follow @MusiCares on Twitter and Instagram.

SOURCE The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids