MUMBAI: Giving ‘coolness’ a complete new dimension, MTV, the leading youth iconic brand in association with Soundlogic – makers of state-of-the-art technology products – together launched an uber cool range of gadgets for the youth – MTV Fashiontronix by Soundlogic.

Speaking about this new range, Viacom 18 business head – consumer products Saugato Bhowmik said in a release: “We are extremely delighted to launch this exciting new gadget range with Soundlogic. Through this partnership we are focused to empower the youth with their favourite Music on the Go… It is the perfect mix of style, design and price. So, no more compromise between funk and affordability!”

The range is available exclusively on www.cromaretail.com and across 40 plus Croma stores for the first 60 days. Apart from this, it is available at 300 plus traditional retail outlets across the country.

Soundlogic director Sagar Gwallani added: “We are thrilled to partner with MTV for the launch of MTV Fashiontronix range of gadgets. The entire range is designed keeping in mind the needs of the youth. It’s not only, very cool and stylish but also state-of-the-art technology. Partnering with Croma, the most preferred electronic destination for today’s youth, we are confident of the range doing very well.”

MTV Fashiontronix by Soundlogic brings together the channel’s unique creative edge and Soundlogic’s technical bandwidth to deliver unmatched sound experience. The range is available in trendy colours that exude the youth channels’ attributes making it just as stylish as the youth today!   The range comprises earphones; headphones and Bluetooth enabled speakers priced between Rs 899 and Rs 3,999.

Infiniti Retail CEO and MD Ajit Joshi said: “At Croma, you’ll always find the latest and the best electronics being launched first. And this time again, we are excited to be the exclusive retail partner for MTV Fashiontronix by Soundlogic. The range is funky and cool, something the youth will like instantly.”

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MUMBAI: Anil Ambani, Rahul Dravid and Shahrukh Khan. What do these three have in common? Well, apart from being in the spotlight as a successful businessman, sportsman and actor respectively, these three have also been voted as the MTV Youth Icon over the last three years.

Now, the hunt for India’s ‘Youth Icon’ has begun yet again. This time, Pepsi’s brand ambassador Priyanka Chopra will be promoting the Pepsi and MTV Youth Icon 2006 along with Dravid. The duo will be announcing the final six nominees of the hunt.

The finalists for this year’s Youth Icon are from varied fields like films, sports, politics, television, music and business. M S Dhoni (sports), Navjot Singh Siddhu (television), Dr. Vijay Mallya (business), President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (science), John Abraham (films) and Abhijeet Sawant (music) are the final contenders who will be vying for the ultimate title. These final nominations have been arrived at after a 10-city study conducted by research agency IMRB.
This year, as the title sponsor, Pepsi will also push and promote the event. Specially branded Pepsi 600 ml Pet bottles, with Pepsi & MTV Youth Icon labels carrying the SMS voting codes will be launched. These will initially hit the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Kanpur and Hyderabad.

Also, Pepsi truck backs/sides will carry the Youth Icon logo and the voting communication in these cities along with posters across 13,000 key Pepsi outlets nationwide.

What’s more, Pepsi and MTV will give five lucky contest winners a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet his/her icon on MTV. Apart from this, MTV has also tied up with various media like Red FM, Headlines Today, Aaj Tak and Outlook for voting details and winner announcements. Also, promotions will be on at Baskin Robbins and Music World outlets.

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MTV Networks India vice president marcom and digital Vikram Raizada said, “The big difference this year is in the marketing might, which we have put into this event. There will be a huge on-air promo push, be it on television, print or radio.”

MTV has further planned youth-connect initiatives through mall activation across Delhi, Kolkata and Ahmedabad, wherein MTV VJs will visit select malls in these cities and engage audiences in interesting thematic games and activities.

The associate sponsors on the event include Weekender, Castrol, HP and Ford Ikon. The latter will give away a Ford Ikon ‘Flair’ to one lucky winner who votes for his/her icon. Every mobile voter is a winner, as each valid SMS vote will entitle the voter to win a guaranteed MTV ringtone of the Youth Icon signature tune.

The number of public votes acquired by each one of the six nominees will decide the ultimate Youth Icon for the year. The voting process has already begun and will end on 22 May, 2006. Viewers can log onto www.mtvindia.com to vote or can SMS “ICON” to 6882 or 8243 to vote for their choice. Additionally, they can also call 1250-122 (BSNL) or 1250-111-122 (MTNL) and cast their votes.

“The Youth Icon is a property that honors men and women of substance, who have positively influenced youth. Youth empowerment is a credo that brand Pepsi has always lived by, and we are proud to partner MTV is this highly youth relevant endeavor, that empowers them to vote for their Youth Icon,” said Pepsi Foods Pvt. Ltd executive director marketing Punita Lal.

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Raizada added, “The Youth Icon is a unique, one-of-a-kind platform created expressly for the youth to identify their new-age role-models. In its fourth year the Youth Icon will reach newer heights in terms of on-air engagements and on-ground activation to further empower the youth to vote for the one person who’s fired their imagination through the year.”

The Pepsi & MTV Youth Icon 2006 will be announced in June.

MUMBAI: MTV Networks and Microsoft Corp. have collaborated on the design and development of MTV Networks’ new digital music service called ‘Urge’. Set to debut domestically in 2006, Urge will provide an immersive music experience and will be integrated into a forthcoming version of Microsoft Windows Media Player.

The collaboration unites MTV Networks’ music DNA and MTV, VH1 and CMT brands with the technology leadership and consumer reach of Microsoft.

Upon its debut next year, Urge will be promoted through multiple venues, including the MTV, VH1 and CMT channels, which on average collectively reach more than 165 million viewers US, as well as through the respective brands’ websites and Urge.com. Additional details of the new service will be unveiled in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Urge will offer rich entertainment programming and innovative tools designed to guide musical discovery and connect fans to the artists and music they love. Offering more than two million songs from the major labels and thousands of independents, Urge will encompass all musical genres.

In addition to a broad catalogue of music choices, Urge will deliver a deep well of exclusive MTV Networks programming and original, hand-crafted content.

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Urge has garnered early support from BMG US chairman and CEO Clive Davis, Warner Music Group chairman and CEO US Recorded Music Lyor Cohen and musical superstars Alicia Keys, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Gretchen Wilson.

“We live to connect artists and fans in the most imaginative ways possible. With our new service, we will be able to satisfy music lovers’ Urges for all things music. In many ways, Urge will serve as a ‘psychic concierge,’ introducing fans to new artists and helping them to develop a deeper connection to old favourites,” said MTV Networks Music Group president Van Toffler.

“By combining our expertise in digital media with the music leadership and marketing savvy of MTV Networks, we have created a powerful and unique way to experience music. This landmark collaboration will bring innovative new experiences to millions of music fans,” said Microsoft corporate vice president media technology and convergence Blair Westlake.

“As with everything we do at MTV Networks, every element of Urge is being developed with our audience in mind. Beyond providing a simple transactional service, Urge will provide a musical playground where fans can explore, customise, discover and download new music,” said MTV Networks chief digital officer Jason Hirschhorn.

“With Urge, MTV Networks is again at the forefront of revolutionising where and how our combined audiences across the globe can connect with the music and the artists they love. Urge will join the array of powerful new platforms that provide Warner Music Group with an innovative way to launch new artists and celebrate established favorites. With MTV Networks’ expertise and global reach, it promises to be the ultimate full service music experience,” said Cohen.

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