LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MySpace, the world’s most popular social network, in cooperation with the Department of Defense’s Armed Forces Entertainment and America Supports You program, today announced the launch of Operation MySpace, a landmark concert event designed to bring troops serving in Kuwait a taste of home and enable the MySpace community to show their support for troops serving overseas.
On March 10, MySpace Co-Founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe, along with some of today’s most popular musical acts, will participate in a 3-hour plus MySpaceLive! concert in Kuwait that will be streamed in high definition flash video using Kulabyte’s XStream Live Solutions exclusively on the official Operation MySpace profile: http://myspace.com/operationmyspace. The MySpace community can watch the entire concert webcast starting at 11a.m. PT/ 2 p.m. ET.
“For years troops stationed all over the world have utilized MySpace as a lifeline to communicate with their loved ones back home. Many of them have been generous enough to share their unique experiences with me through messages on MySpace,” Anderson said. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to thank them in person and bring along the entire MySpace community.”
Operation MySpace will be the largest MySpaceLive! concert to date with performances by the Pussycat Dolls (http://www.myspace.com/pussycatdolls), Jessica Simpson (http://myspace.com/jessicasimpson), Disturbed (http://myspace.com/disturbed), Filter (http://myspace.com/filter1), DJ Z-Trip (http://myspace.com/djztrip) and the comedic genius of Carlos Mencia (http://myspace.com/carlosmencia).
“We’re incredibly proud to host this one of a kind concert,” added DeWolfe. “Unlike past variety shows or concerts of this nature, Operation MySpace will connect people, content, and culture a world apart through the live webcast of the show and interaction on the Operation MySpace profile.”
Starting today, the Operation MySpace profile (http://myspace.com/operationmyspace) will serve as a communication hub where troops’ families and friends, along with the entire MySpace community, can post videos and messages of support via a video blog section. The profile will also feature a scrolling ticker of goodwill messages uploaded to the community during the live stream. A condensed 1-hour version of the show, featuring the best and most stirring moments, will be nationally broadcast on FX on April 12.
The Pussycat Dolls commented, “We’re so excited to be performing for the troops and supporting our Armed Forces overseas. They’d better get ready...the desert’s about to get a lot hotter!”
“It’s truly an honor to perform for the troops,” said Jessica Simpson. “Through Operation MySpace, I get to serve my country by doing what I love to do in front of thousands of brave men in uniform. It’s every girl’s dream!”
In addition to hosting this one-time event, MySpace announced its support of the America Supports You program as part of its ongoing commitment to recognize the dedication of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. MySpace joins businesses, hundreds of homefront groups and thousands of citizens across America who have worked with America Supports You to support the military and their families. MySpace previously worked with America Supports You this past November in an initiative called “Giving Thanks” which created an opportunity for Americans to send troops a message of support via text.
“This MySpaceLive! concert is an exciting event because it communicates to our troops that people from all walks of life and from all types of companies support their service to our country,” said Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. “MySpace is a great medium to connect our military members and their families, who serve in 177 countries, to the folks back home. We are so glad to have MySpace as part of the team working with both America Supports You and Armed Forces Entertainment.”
As one of the most popular and most trafficked music platforms in the world, MySpace Music has evolved into an offline experience by connecting bands and fans around the world through various concert series and live events including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE, and The List. MySpaceLive! brings live concerts to the MySpace community via streaming online video and gives MySpace users watching at home the opportunity to submit real-time messages through an on-site message ticker. Past MySpaceLive! concerts have featured the Projekt Revolution Tour with Linkin Park, Grammy award winning rapper T.I. and DJ Paul Oakenfold. Millions of MySpace fans have logged on to MySpaceLive! webcasts to watch their favorite artists. To date, MySpace has more than six million bands using the site.
B-roll and photos from Operation MySpace will be available upon request.
About America Supports You America Supports You is an ongoing, nationwide program organized by the Department of Defense to showcase Americans’ support for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families. Since its launch in November of 2004, America Supports You has welcomed more than 350 homefront organizations and more than 35 corporations to the program. Many America Supports You homefront groups demonstrate their support for the troops through letter writing, care packages, helping the wounded when they return home, assisting military families, sending an email or kind gesture. Learn more about supporting military personnel at http://www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
About Armed Forces Entertainment Armed Forces Entertainment, founded in 1951, is the lead Department of Defense agency for providing entertainment to U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and remote and isolated locations. The Department of the Air Force is the executive agent of Armed Forces Entertainment. Visit http://www.armedforcesentertainment.com for more information.
About MySpace MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the first ranked web domain in terms of page views (a), MySpace is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind and is committed to providing the highest quality member experience. MySpace will continue to innovate with new features that allow its members to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off. MySpace’s international network includes localized community sites in the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, Sweden, Latin America, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Brazil and the United Kingdom. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS) (NYSE:NWS.A) (ASX:NWS) (ASX:NWSLV).
(a) Among the top 2000 domains comScore Media Metrix, January 2007. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to http://www.comscore.com.
OPERATION MYSPACE: TALENT QUOTE SHEET “It’s truly an honor to perform for the troops. Through Operation MySpace, I get to serve my country by doing what I love to do in front of thousands of brave men in uniform. It’s every girl’s dream!” --Jessica Simpson
“We are proud to bring strength and support to those who support us with their strength.” --David Draiman of DISTURBED
“We look forward to play for the troops to show them our support for the sacrifices they make to keep us safe.” --Mike Wengren of DISTURBED
“We’ve been talking about wanting to perform for the troops for a long time, and feel there’s no better way to pay our respects than to bring the show to them!” --Dan Donegan of DISTURBED
“We have waited a long time for the honor to play for the people who safeguard our freedom.” --John Moyer of Disturbed
“I’m honored to have the opportunity to go over there and perform for the troops,” states Z-Trip about his show for Operation MySpace. “I’m hoping to bring them a little piece of home through the music. They’ll be plenty of hip-hop, rock, some turntable tricks and some thought-provoking stuff. Playing for a crowd this diverse is actually a good thing--it allows me to go all over the place musically.” --DJ Z-Trip
“I am so glad to be returning to Kuwait, and bring some laughter to our service men and women. ... And growing up with 17 brothers and sisters, the mess hall reminds me of my Sunday family dinner.” --Carlos Mencia
“It is an honor and a privilege for me and the whole band to be given the chance to perform for the troops. Based on personal experiences and relationships, I feel going to Kuwait and playing for the men and women who put their lives in harm’s way every day is the least I can do. Hopefully these performances bring enjoyment and alleviate some stress while these soldiers are serving overseas.” --Richard Patrick of FILTER