WOWIO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP TO EXPAND CROSS-GENRE GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES “HIP HOP CHRONICLES”
“Hip Hop Chronicles” to Blend Graphic Novel Artistry with Lyrical Poetry from Hip Hop Icons Tupac, DMX, Eric B. and More
LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2010 – WOWIO, Inc., an entertainment company specializing in the creation, distribution and monetization of rich digital media content developed from books and original published material, announced today the creation of a partnership with Universal Music Publishing Group. The first project to be developed between the two companies will be the newly expanded property “Hip Hop Chronicles,” a cross-media, cross-genre graphic novel that offers a window into urban life as seen through the eyes of modern poets and lyrical legends Tupac, DMX, Eric B. and Rakim with stories derived directly from the iconic verses of these great artists.
“Hip Hop Chronicles” has been brewing for quite some time but we feel like this new partnership is fueling the effort with incredible zeal and momentum,” said Tom Sturges, Executive Vice President and head of creative affairs for Universal Music Publishing Group and one of the co-creators of the project. “In today’s media-rich culture, we are seeing the artistry of the graphic novel and the lyrical poetry of hip hop as two of the most impactful forms of storytelling. We believe that this will be the first of many successful titles that will be developed through the mining of Universal’s deep and vast musical library.”
The graphic novel will be released in a digital format in August, with the print version slated to be released at the end of summer. In addition, plans are currently in the works for a full-scale concert tour and a number of branded video games.
“I love the idea of developing deep, rich story concepts from non-traditional sources such as music, and the creation of graphic novels based on the lyrics of some of music’s most dynamic and iconic lyricists provides a vibrant canvas for blending these two storytelling mediums,” said Brian Altounian, CEO of WOWIO, Inc. “WOWIO is building an online destination that will give storytellers the ability to reach a broader audience of readers, viewers and listeners by expanding distribution paths that had not previously been exploited. In this specific case, we are creating a platform for Universal’s artists to turn their words into actual stories that can be viewed and experienced by fans in a truly meaningful way through a variety of cross-media platforms. We hope to do many more of these projects.”
In support of the venture, one of Universal Music’s newest rap artists Shawn Chrystopher will perform at the WOWIO “Comic Cruise” party on Friday, July 23, 2010. In addition, fans will have a chance to view “Hip Hop Chronicles” in its entirety on WOWIO’s WEvolt site (www.wevolt.com) in August, before it’s available for download at www.wowio.com in early September.
About WOWIO
WOWIO is an online destination that provides users with the opportunity to share and consume digital media content, such as eComics and eBooks, while providing revenue generating opportunities for creators and publishers through advertising and merchandising programs. WOWIO’s online media distribution reach now includes WEvolt.com, DrunkDuck.com and the recently-launched WowioTV.com, offering storytellers multiple avenues to distribute their content to a global audience.
About Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is the world’s largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 75 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry’s largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Music Group, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Geffen Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor Records, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division, and Universal Music Mobile.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.
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For more information contact:
Jennie Bragalone / Allison & Partners for WOWIO, Inc. / wowio@allisonpr.com / (310) 496-4442
Or contact:
Kelly Lind / WOWIO, Inc. / klind@wowio.com / (310) 807-8111
For Investor Relations, contact:
Tom Becker / ir@wowio.com / (702) 445-7038