Verizon and Keith Urban Team Up for the Verizon VIP Tour to Give Fans a Special "No Frills" Performance

Verizon and Keith Urban Team Up for the Verizon VIP Tour to Give Fans a Special "No Frills" Performance

Intimate Performances Precede Urban's Forthcoming March 31st Release "Defying Gravity"

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Keith Urban fans are walking on air in anticipation of the March 31 release of "Defying Gravity," the two-time GRAMMY(R) award-winner's new album, which has already spawned Urban's 18th top 5 hit "Sweet Thing." Urban is teaming with Verizon to give fans a series of exclusive, "No Frills" performances with his band on the Verizon VIP Tour. These concerts will precede the May launch of Urban's "Escape Together World Tour."

The Verizon VIP Tour Featuring Keith Urban "No Frills" will not only deliver exclusive intimate performances but will reward customers that interact with Urban's music on mobile, broadband and TV with access to the shows. Keith Urban video content, information and entertainment will be offered to Verizon FiOS customers, and Verizon Wireless customers can download Keith Urban music to their handsets using Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service.

"Clubs are where it all began," said Urban. "There's just something about the way the band grooves and how the audience gets right up there close and personal, and I love it. So for me there's a nostalgic cool factor in doing this with Verizon."

Exclusive Keith Urban Music on V CAST Music

Prior to the March 31 release of "Defying Gravity," Verizon Wireless customers will have exclusive access to three new Keith Urban songs, "Hit the Ground Runnin'," "Standing Right In Front of You," and "If Ever I Could Love." These songs will be available in ringtones, ringback tones and full-song over the air downloads according to the following schedule:

   "Hit the Ground Runnin'"   --  March 6 -- Available in ringtones and ringback tones   --  March 10 -- Available in full-song downloads over the air    "Standing Right In Front of You"   --  March 13 -- Available in ringtones and ringback tones   --  March 17 -- Available in full-song downloads over the air    "If Ever I Could Love"   --  March 20 -- Available in ringtones and ringback tones   --  March 24 -- Available in full-song downloads over the air     Mobile Tickets  

Fans have an opportunity to get tickets to the Verizon VIP Tour Featuring Keith Urban "No Frills" by downloading his music or videos from Verizon Wireless' V CAST Music service. Select fans will be sent mobile tickets over the air, directly to their Verizon Wireless phones for entry to the event. Upon arrival to the show, customers can flash their digital tickets over a scanner for VIP access.

"We're thrilled to continue our relationship with Keith Urban for the Verizon VIP Tour 'No Frills' and help bring his music to his fans -- while they're on-the-go or at home," said Ed Ruth, director of digital music for Verizon. "Fans will be able to access Keith Urban's new album through our V CAST Music service."

Customers can download Urban's songs, including "Sweet Thing" as ringback tones, ringtones and full-song downloads via V CAST Music. Customers are charged $1.99 per megabyte for data usage when downloading ringtones or ringback tones. However, megabyte pricing is not charged for downloading music, or text, picture and video messaging.

For more information on mobile music from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or visit www.verizonwireless.com/music. For more information on Keith Urban, go to www.keithurban.net or go to www.kuconcerts.com.

   Verizon VIP Tour Featuring Keith Urban "No Frills" dates:    Date        City                    Venue   3/18        Dallas                  House of Blues   3/24        San Francisco           The Fillmore   3/27        Los Angeles             House of Blues   3/30        Chicago                 Joe's Bar on Weed Street   4/1         New York City           Webster Hall   4/3         Philadelphia            Theater of the Living Arts    About Verizon Wireless  

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable and largest wireless voice and data network, serving more than 80 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with more than 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Verizon Wireless

CONTACT: Brenda Boyd Raney, Verizon Wireless, +1-908-559-7518,
Brenda.Raney@verizonwireless.com; Paul Freundlich for Keith Urban,
+1-212-334-6116, paulf@pfamedia.net

Web Site: http://www.verizonwireless.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/094251.html

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Profile: International Entertainment