Variety's Power of Youth

Variety and Target announce the 2008 Target Presents Variety's Power of Youth to benefit St. Jude


Memphis, TN – July 31, 2008 – Target Presents Variety's Power of Youth was announced earlier this week by Power of Youth Ambassadors Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas, Miranda Cosgrove and Angus T. Jones at a special gathering at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the exclusive beneficiary of the event. Target Presents Variety's Power of Youth will take place in Los Angeles, at L.A. LIVE on Saturday, October 4, 2008. The afternoon festivities will feature more than 100 of the entertainment industry’s most recognizable young talent, including Power of Youth Ambassadors The Jonas Brothers, Hilary Duff, Miranda Cosgrove, Miley Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, Angus T. Jones, Demi Lovato, Corbin Bleu, Elle Fanning, Eliza Dushku, Olivia Thirlby, Ashley Tisdale and Emma Roberts. A public online charity auction, featuring an assortment of offerings including once-in-a-lifetime experience packages donated from the entertainment community, will run leading up to and after the October 4 event, to help raise money for St. Jude.

Target Presents Variety’s Power of Youth is an opportunity to harness the enthusiasm and activism of the young Hollywood community in a focused effort to encourage their peers and audiences to get involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes. The mission, structure and execution of the Power of Youth celebration brings together the depth and reach of three highly respected brands: Variety, Target and St. Jude – all of whom share the deep connection to the entertainment industry’s tradition of giving back to the community. Patients from St. Jude and their families will join invited guests for an afternoon including live performances, food stations, interactive games and activities, and a special visit by Bullseye, the Target dog. A limited number of benefit tickets will be available to the public.

"Target Presents Variety’s Power of Youth campaign is a powerful one; one that harnesses the energy of more than 150 young performers who are in a position to influence their peers and fans. With the support of Target and our other sponsors, the Power of Youth effort has the opportunity to generate millions of dollars to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and create a bedrock of social awareness within the next generation of entertainment," said Brian Gott, associate publisher of Variety.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is the nation’s leading children’s cancer research and treatment hospital, and the only one that covers all of the costs for medicine, treatment, food, travel and lodging. Children come to St. Jude from across the country, and 85 cents of every dollar received supports research and treatment. Today Danny’s legacy continues to thrive through the commitment of his children Marlo, Terre and Tony Thomas, who work tirelessly to honor their father's promise that no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay.

"Our partnership educates and encourages young individuals to take action in their community," said Laysha Ward, vice president, community relations, Target. "This event is important to Target because of our long-standing relationship with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the meaningful work they do."

Target House is an innovative approach to long-term housing for families whose children are receiving lifesaving treatment at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. This unique facility, funded by Target and its vendor and celebrity partner contributions, features 96 apartment suites that are free of charge to families of children whose treatments require that they be in Memphis for at least 90 days.

“My father opened the doors of St. Jude through the generosity of the entertainment community,” said Marlo Thomas. “Target and Variety continue the tradition of entertainers giving back to people in need. The dedication and enthusiasm of young Hollywood and partners like Variety and Target enables us to carry on my father’s vision that no child should die in the dawn of life."


Target Presents Variety’s Power of Youth
The original Variety’s Power of Youth initiative was launched in 2007 in conjunction with the Youth Impact Report, an editorial look at the top young talent in Hollywood today. This year, Variety is pleased to have Target on board presenting the Power of Youth event, which encourages the next generation of entertainers to become involved with philanthropic and humanitarian causes, using their positions in popular culture to motivate others to do the same. To date, Variety’s Power of Youth has raised more than $600,000 in support of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

About Variety
Variety is the leading publication for entertainment news, recognized and respected throughout the world of show business. The Variety Group – Daily Variety, Daily Variety Gotham, Weekly Variety and Variety.com – are all owned by Reed Business Information (RBI), the largest business publisher in the U.S. RBI is a member of the Reed Elsevier Group plc (NYSE: RUK and ENL)

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,648 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives more than $3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit http://www.stjude.org.


For more on the charity or the companies involved please visit: http://www.stjude.org

Laugh 'til You Cry! Wanda Sykes At Spotlight 29 Casino

COACHELLA, Calif., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Get ready to laugh 'til
your funny bone hurts when comedian Wanda Sykes takes over the microphone
at Spotlight 29 Casino on October 18. The Emmy-winner has been called one
of the funniest stand-up comics, and Entertainment Weekly calls her one of
the "25 Funniest People in America." Sykes is starring along with special
guest Keith Robinson.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050203/LATH047LOGO)

Sykes first began working in stand up in 1987, and since then has had a
successful career as a comic, a writer and an actor. In addition to her TV
work, including "The New Adventures of Old Christine," she has appeared in
more than a dozen movies, including "Evan Almighty," "Monster-in-Law" and
"My Super Ex-Girlfriend," and has been heard in such animated features as
"Barnyard" and "Over the Hedge."

She has been nominated as a performer and writer for three Emmys and
won as a writer in 1999. In 2001, she won the American Comedy Award for
Outstanding Female Stand-up Comic.

Her standup act is as timely as it is hilarious. Famously outspoken on
just about every topic, Sykes recently said, "If you don't believe in
same-sex marriage, then don't marry someone of the same sex!"

This concert is rated R, which is not at all unusual for Skyes. In
fact, in August 2006, she told Entertainment Weekly, "People ask me to
leave a phone message for their boyfriend and curse them out. I'm like,
'Get the f--- out of here, what's wrong with you? I'm not doing that.' And
even then, they go, 'Ha-ha! She told me to get the f--- outta here, she's
so funny!' I can't win."

This is a return visit to the Palm Springs area for Sykes. Her 2004
trip was called one of the five most memorable of the year by the Desert
Sun newspaper. It could have been her act or her riding a Cessna down a
downtown street that made it memorable. Either way, Sykes firmly
established herself as a must-see performer in the Coachella Valley.

Tickets for Wanda Sykes and special guest Keith Robinson are $55 and
$45 and are available now at Spotlight29.com, at the Spotlight 29 Casino
Gift Shop or by calling Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737. Show time is 8 p.m.
R Rated: Content May Not Be Suitable for all audiences. Must be 18 Years
and accompanied by Adult 21+.

Put the spotlight on fun at Spotlight 29 Casino, the Coachella Valley's
most exciting place to play. Spotlight 29 Casino is a business venture of
the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians. Turn it on at
http://www.Spotlight29.com.


News release from: PRNewswire.com

VH1 Hip-Hop Honors UPDATE!!!

HIP HOP PIONEERS, Cypress Hill, DE LA SOUL, SLICK RICK, NAUGHTY BY NATURE AND TOO $HORT WILL BE HONORED AT THE FIFTH ANNUAL "VH1 HIP HOP HONORS"
Tracy Morgan Returns As Host of The 2008 "VH1 Hip Hop Honors"

Which Premieres On VH1 and VH1 Soul on Tuesday, October 7 at 10PM*

NEW YORK, August 13, 2008 – VH1 has announced the five honorees for their fifth annual "VH1 Hip Hop Honors," Cypress Hill, De La Soul, Slick Rick, Naughty By Nature and Too $hort. Hosted once again by Tracy Morgan, this year's musical celebration will give viewers a chance to step back and reminisce on a time when hip hop music began to make its greatest impact on American pop culture.

Premiering on Tuesday, October 7 at 10PM*, generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked a revolution and continues to fuel an evolution around the world. Additional performances and appearances will be announced shortly.

"Now in its fifth year, the 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' has come to represent the pinnacle of innovation and achievement in hip hop music," said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1. "This year's five honorees are no different and are being recognized for their significant contributions to hip hop culture and for helping to elevate hip hop into a truly global phenomenon."

Introducing this year's honorees:

Cypress Hill: With a driving rhyme style and brutally infectious production, this L.A. based collective brought a welcomed Latino perspective to hip hop storytelling, creating records like "Insane in the Brain" that crossed all barriers and gave Cypress Hill fans in the rock, as well as, rap world.

De La Soul: This Long Island trio brought a playful, smart, and off-center style to hip hop, while pushing their suburban and bohemian sensibility to the fore. Their innovative sound has influenced not only other MCs, but helped inspire the entire underground movement in the culture.

Naughty By Nature: Led by the strident style of lead MC Treach, Naughty By Nature brought New Jersey hip hop into the mainstream by creating hit singles than became anthems for a generation. "OPP" and "Hip Hop Hooray" are two of the most popular records in rap history.

Slick Rick: With vivid storytelling and unique rhyme style Slick Rick has always been one of the most unique and influential figures in the culture's history. When you combine Rick's MC gifts with his gold chains, eye patch and regal clothing the result is a figure who embodies the fun, the danger and the flavor that is hip hop.

Too $hort: Too $hort started his career in the '80s selling 12-inch singles full of freaky tales on his own indie label in Oakland and has remained true to his raw style, in the process becoming a legend in the game while staying true to his hard core values.

Additionally, on September 16 VH1.com will launch its dedicated "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" Web site with honoree profiles, exclusive online programming, show information and more at HipHop.VH1.com. Additional VH1.com and VH1 Mobile efforts around "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" will be announced in the coming weeks.

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is executive produced by Lee Rolontz for VH1 and Jac Benson for Blackjac Entertainment. Louis J. Horvitz will direct. Nelson George and Fab Five Freddie are co-executive producers.

*All times ET/PT

"VH1 Hip Hop Honors" is sponsored by T-Mobile USA and Taco Bell Corp.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1 Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

VH1 Hip-Hop Honors!!

VH1’s “Hip-Hop Honors” 2008 Set for October Premiere

VH1 has announced the upcoming date for its next A-List tentpole event the “VH1 Hip Hop Honors.” Now in its fifth year, “VH1 Hip Hop Honors” will once again pay tribute to the hip hop luminaries who broke new ground and propelled the genre into a truly global news phenomenon.

VH1 will fete this year’s honorees at a high-energy event at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York taping Thursday, October 2, 2008 and premiering on VH1 on Tuesday, October 7.

The music and influence of each of the honorees, to be named later this summer, will be recognized through performances in collaboration with some of today’s hottest talent. Generations of hip hop will bridge the gap for one exceptional night to set it off with the original style and flavor that sparked and inspired the evolution of the music.

Last year’s show was hosted by Tracy Morgan and honored A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, WHODINI, Missy Elliott, the film Wild Style and Teddy Riley and Andre Harrell for New Jack Swing. The star-studded 2007 edition also featured performances by the honorees, along with appearances by Ciara, Eve, Pharrell Williams, The Game, T.I., Timbaland, Bow Wow, Busta Rhymes, Common, T-Pain, Keyshia Cole and Nick Cannon as well as Chris Rock, Harvey Keitel, LL Cool J, Kerry Washington and Diddy. Salt -N- Pepa, Nelly Furtado, Ne-Yo, KRS-One The Teacha, Jermaine Dupri, Grandmaster Caz, Nelly, Mos Def, Kool Moe Dee, Grand Wizzard Theodore and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee.

“As we’ll remind viewers with our upcoming ‘VH1 Rock Honors’ show saluting The Who, VH1’s on-air tentpole events represent the best of music and pop culture entertainment. We work tirelessly and passionately to attract the biggest stars in the industry, create must-see buzz and engage record numbers of viewers,” said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President and General Manager, VH1.

“Our ‘VH1 Hip Hop Honors’ has grown into one of the most anticipated events in the hip hop community, drawing legends from back-in-the-day to the hottest stars of the genre today. This fifth edition will reflect the true power of hip hop while promising to deliver our best Hip Hop Honors show yet,” he added.

Story pulled from: http://www.hiphoplinguistics.com/

LINKIN PARK CHARITY CONCERTS IN CHINA!!!

August 11, 2008

Rockers Linkin Park are set to play two charity concerts in China in October.

The shows will take place on October 12 at the 80,000-seat Shanghai Stadium and on October 19 at the 72,000-seat Beijing Workers’ Stadium, and will feature top Taiwanese rock group Mayday. Each band will perform for about 90 minutes to – according to organizers – make it the “first ever East meets West rock concert” in China.

Proceeds from the concerts will be donated to Linkin Park’s Music for Relief – a charity they established in 2005 to provide aid to victims of natural disasters around the world – to help with reconstruction of China’s quake-devastated Sichuan Province. Lead vocalist Chester Bennington said the band hopes the concerts will call more attention to the ongoing efforts in the quake-affected areas and that they are proud to be helping the people in need.

Tickets, from 100 yuan (US$14) to 1,600 yuan (US$230), are available from www.ticketmaster.cn.