ADDING MULTIMEDIA Honda Battle of the Bands Announces Showcase Line-Up for 2010

Eight HBCU Bands Emerge As Winners with the Promise to Deliver Best-Ever
Invitational Showcase
LOS ANGELES--(Business Wire)--
Three months ago, 45 marching bands from the nation`s Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) began the journey down the "Road to the
Honda," all competing for a spot in the 2010 Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB)
Invitational Showcase. Today eight bands emerged victorious, earning their spot
among the top HBCU Bands in the country. On January 30, 2010 they will perform
for an excited crowd of 60,000 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and prove why they
are the best of the best. Representing varied music and performance styles
ranging from precision to high-stepping, the eight headlining bands are:

Albany State University "Marching Rams" (Albany, Georgia)

Clark Atlanta University "Mighty Marching Panthers" (Atlanta, Georgia)

Florida A&M University "Marching 100" (Tallahassee, Florida)

North Carolina Central University "Marching Sound Machine" (Durham, North
Carolina)

Prairie View A&M University "Marching Storm" (Prairie View, Texas)

Southern University "Human Jukebox Marching Band" (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Tuskegee University "Marching Crimson Pipers" (Tuskegee, Alabama)

Virginia State University "Trojan Explosion Marching Band" (Petersburg,
Virginia)

This year`s showcase will feature seven-time Invitational Showcase veteran
Tuskegee University, as well as first-time showcase participant Southern
University. Band sizes range from the small but powerful 120-member ensemble of
Clark Atlanta University, to the 400-member goliath of Florida A&M University.
The Honda Battle of the Bands is the only event where the HBCU marching bands
act as the show headliners. Each band will have the opportunity to perform for
12 minutes and showcase their musical skills, dancing talents and creativity.

"The Honda Battle of the Bands is designed to showcase the amazing talents of
student musicians and celebrate the musical prowess represented at our nation`s
HBCUs," said Marc Burt, Senior Manager, Office of Inclusion and Diversity for
American Honda. "This event is not only about entertainment, it`s also about
highlighting the importance of music education and shining a spotlight on vital
skills which are learned through band participation like effective communication
and teamwork. Honda is proud and honored to be able to bring this enriching
experience to every marcher on the field and every band fan in the stands."

Marking its eighth year, the Honda Battle of the Bands is the only national
scholarship program that showcases an important facet of HBCU heritage and
culture - music education. The eight winning band programs chosen to participate
in this year`s Invitational Showcase will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda
for their music programs in addition to the $1,000 grant they received for
participation in the pre-qualifying fall campus event tour. Through this program
Honda is awarding a total of $205,000 in scholarships to HBCU music programs for
the 2009-10 academic year, and since the beginning of the program, has awarded
grants in excess of $1 million.

The Selection Process

Fondly referred to as "the Super Bowl for Black College Bands," the Honda Battle
of the Bands will welcome close to 2,000 of the nation`s finest
student-musicians to the Georgia Dome in January. Judged by HBCU presidents,
band directors and fans on their showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction,
the eight bands were chosen from a group of 45 bands and competition was stiff.
On-Line fan votes accounted for one third (1/3) of the selection criteria, with
band directors` and school presidents` votes accounting for the remaining
thirds. Band directors and school presidents were not allowed to vote for their
own institutions.

The Fox Music Experience

The Fox Music Experience is returning for the third year in a row. Designed as a
unique music internship and immersion program, the Fox Music Experience works in
conjunction with the Honda Battle of the Bands to help expose HBCU student
musicians to the broader world of music and entertainment. The program, which
launched three years ago, offers one lucky Invitational Showcase student
musician the opportunity to spend a few weeks in the summer working on the
Twentieth Century Fox studio lot in Los Angeles learning film and television
music production first-hand. Students are selected by popular online vote. Band
fans can go to www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com now through January 8th to vote for
their favorite prospective intern.

The Honda Battle of the Bands web site (www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com) is the
official online destination for all HBOB information including, Invitational
Showcase updates, biographical information on the eight Showcase bands,
information on the FOX MUSIC EXPERIENCE summer internship program, footage from
2009 performances and downloadable broadcast video and high resolution photos
for media use and distribution.

Group and individual tickets to this highly anticipated family event are on sale
now, and can be purchased for $10-to-$12 by visiting
www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com, through Ticketmaster or via the Georgia Dome
box-office.

For more information about the program please visit
www.HondaBattleoftheBands.com.

About American Honda

Honda has a long-standing commitment to the support and success of the nation`s
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that began more than 20 years ago
with the establishment of the Honda Campus All-Star Challenge, a program
designed to showcase the academic gifts and prowess of HBCU students. American
Honda established Honda Battle of the Bands eight years ago as an effort to
support HBCU music programs.

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http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6094880&lang=en.

For American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Ronald E. Childs, 312-986-1260
or
Erika Braxton-White, 310-783-3549

Copyright Business Wire 2009