Bon Jovi Set to Rock Viewers with Historic Concert on HDTV

[Gregg Lengling]

Source: IDJ / UME
Nov 15, 2004, 17:55


SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2004--
Band Honored at the 2004 American Music Awards "For Being the Embodiment of Rock Music for the Last 20 Years"

After winning the prestigious Award of Merit at the American Music Awards last night, Bon Jovi, one of the most popular rock artists in history, kicks off a massive promotional effort for the November 16th release of the band's groundbreaking "think outside the box" box set 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong... (Island Records) with two major performances.

On Sunday, November 21st, Bon Jovi who regularly sell out stadiums around the globe will perform at Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City in a more intimate setting in front of just 3000 fans. But upwards of 1.5 million more viewers will also experience Bon Jovi as the concert airs live at 8 p.m. on INHD/INHD2, the world's most widely distributed all High-Definition network (available on Adelphia, Bright House, Cablevision, Comcast, Cox, and Time Warner cable systems). The innovative event, showcasing the visual excitement of HD and the unparalleled sonic experience of music in 5.1 surround, premieres "INHD's Center Stage" series, sponsored by Samsung. In addition, the concert will be fed onto the Samsung screen in Times Square, simulcast on the Web (//www.samsungusa.com/bonjovi) and replayed on INHD2 for viewers on the west coast immediately following the live show.

The concert series will be promoted by Samsung, the cable industry's OnlyCableCan initiative and INHD with a multimillion-dollar TV, print, radio, Internet and outdoor advertising campaign featuring Bon Jovi. The extraordinary push includes advertising and placement on Samsung's extensive network of 380 key Internet sites reaching 1.6 billion consumers per month.

Another cornerstone of the 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong first-week promotion will be a band performance on Tuesday, November 23rd for the "Today" show. For that appearance, Bon Jovi will play three songs in the outdoor plaza of the NBC morning program, including one song to be chosen via a Viewers Choice Poll at The Today Show's website (//www.nbc.com).

"Our ongoing celebration of Bon Jovi's 20 years at the very top of rock's pantheon continues to reverberate around the world this month," said Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. "The band's ability to connect with their audience at every level - from album listeners and hard-working concert-goers to next week's global population of broadcast viewers - underscores the title of their historic box set: 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong."

Since 1984, Bon Jovi has performed more than 2,500 concerts in 50 countries before more than 32 million people--and sold more than 100,000,000 records. That monumental career milestone is celebrated with the release of 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong.... The mammoth four-CD, 50-song collection features 38 previously unreleased tracks and a dozen rarities as well as a bonus DVD filled with never-before-seen interview footage with the band and personal home movies.

Bon Jovi was named the 31st winner of the Award of Merit on the 32nd annual "American Music Awards" telecast on ABC on Sunday, November 14th. The band also performed on the show from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

The Award of Merit is presented to a member of the musical community in recognition of "outstanding contributions to the musical entertainment of the American public." The inscription on the trophy to Bon Jovi reads: "For being the embodiment of rock music for the last 20 years, for inspiring countless musicians to follow in their footsteps and for elevating all of us with their musicianship and artistry."

Previous winners range from Bing Crosby, Johnny Cash, Ella Fitzgerald, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to Loretta Lynn, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, James Brown, Prince, Little Richard, Frank Sinatra and Garth Brooks.

//www.bonjovi.com