VH1 & Republic Records Announce 24 Finalists for MAKE A BAND FAMOUS

After nearly half a million votes, VH1 and Republic Records are proud to announce the 24 finalists for the 24-hour livestream competition "Make A Band Famous." The unprecedented event, hosted by The All-American Rejects frontman Tyson Ritter, will be livestreamed from Brooklyn, New York starting June 11 at 8PM ET/5PM PT at MakeABandFamous.VH1.com and in the VH1 App. Fans in the New York City area can attend the live finale in Red Hook, Brooklyn on Thursday, July 12th. For more information, visit 1iota.com.

On May 1, VH1 and Republic Records invited unsigned music acts to upload a 15-second clip of one of their original, unpublished songs to Instagram with the hashtag #MABF. Fans then had the chance to cast their votes via social media and push their favorite acts closer to Brooklyn, a live showcase at Brooklyn's Northside Festival, the support of an extended multi-platform "VH1 You Oughta Know" program and signing with Republic Records. After an overwhelming number of submissions, the final field has been whittled down to 24 bands.

The Final 24:

· An Old Friend: Alternative, Medford, NY

· Aquile & The Orbit Group: Neo-Soul, San Diego, CA

· Bro 5: Pop/Rock, Ridgefield Park, NJ

· Cheezy and the Crackers: Easy-Listening, Philadelphia, PA

· Chris Ayer: Singer/Songwriter, Los Angeles, CA

· David Paige: Pop/Rock, Chicago, IL

· Dead 27s: Roots Rock, Charleston, SC

· Dirty Du: Contemporary R&B, Silver Spring, MD

· fancy reagan: Pop/Rock, NY, NY

· Good Night Alive: Indie Rock, Macon, GA

· John and Luke: Alternative, Indianapolis, IN

· Malado Music: Hip-Hop, Springfield, MA

· Pastele: Pop, Livingston, NJ

· RAHBI: Pop/Rock, Atlanta, GA

· Rainbow Kitten Surprise: Alternative, Boone, NC

· Ratham Stone Pop/Rock, Orlando, FL

· Spectators: Indie Rock, Chicago, IL

· The Assembly Line: Alternative, NY, NY

· The One Seven Four: American Trad Rock, Stillwater, OK

· The Serotones: Rock, Miller Place, NY

· The Silent Scene: Pop, Fairfield, CT

· Tonny Memmel: Singer/Songwriter, Nashville, TN

· Two Worlds: Pop, Aurora, CO

· Tyke T: Hip-Hop, Memphis, TN

The finalists will compete in a series of challenges over the 24 hours, such as learning a cover song in an hour, reimagining a classic hit with toy instruments, busking for money and fans in Williamsburg and much more. At the end of the competition, one band will Reign supreme and seize the opportunity of a lifetime with Republic Records - the label that enjoyed Nielsen Soundscan's #1 Market Share in 2014 and continues to grow rapidly - and VH1.

"Make a Band Famous" also offers a unique viewing experience to its audience, where viewers will be exposed to an uncensored, uncut livestream from multiple cameras that will stream simultaneously. The viewer will have access to performances, interviews, the green room, the judges' opinions and the groups' anxiety as they compete for their big break. In addition to the livestream, "Make A Band Famous" will be heavily pumped out throughout the day on VH1's television lineup and its social platforms. All 24 hours will be raw, uncut and uncensored on VH1.com and the VH1 App starting Wednesday, June 11th at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT.

For more information on "Make A Band Famous," visit MakeABandFamous.VH1.com

About VH1:

VH1 delivers the ultimate mash-up of music, pop culture and nostalgia for adults who still want to have fun. VH1 is available in 99 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1.com and @VH1, the HUB for all things music and pop culture. Fans amy also access current and retro VH1 programming via the authenticated VH1 App, the network's three-in-one video, new format content and co-viewing app, available for download free on iPhone, iPad and Android. VH1 is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.

About Republic Records:

A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as 3 Doors Down, Amy Winehouse, Black Sabbath, Colbie Callait, Eddie Vedder, Enrique Iglesias, Florence + the Machine, Godsmack, Owl City, The Voice (NBC-TV), Gotye, Of Monsters & Men, Mayer Hawthorne, among many others.

It is comprised of innovative imprints and digital business ventures including Republic Nashville (The Band Perry), Cash Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj), Indie Pop (The Cataracs), Lava Records (Jessie J, Black Veil Brides), Brushfire (Jack Johnson, G. Love), XO (The Weeknd), Loma Vista (Soundgarden, Damian Marley) among others.

For more information, go to www.republicrecords.com or visit the Republic Records Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter @RepublicRecords.

About VH1's "You Oughta Know"

Since its launch in 2005, VH1's "You Oughta Know" franchise has introduced promising new artists on the rise and served as a barometer for what and who's hot in music today. Many "You Oughta Know" artists have gone on to win industry awards and accolades including "Best New Artist" Grammy Awards and nominations. This highly acclaimed franchise has helped break artists such as Adele, Ed Sheeran, Foster the People, Gotye, The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, The Civil Wars and many, many more.

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