Toyota Yaris and Urban Outfitters Announce the Second Year of Free Yr Radio to Further Support and Celebrate Independent Radio
Simian Mobile Disco, Yeasayer and Times New Viking to kick off
Free Yr Radio with performances at March 12 launch party at SXSW
AUSTIN, Texas--(Business Wire)--
Building upon the success of its inaugural year, the Free Yr Radio
campaign, created by Yaris and Urban Outfitters, is returning in March
to continue generating awareness and funds for independent radio
stations and to elevate the cause of independent radio nationally.
During the 2007 Free Yr Radio campaign, partner stations co-hosted
free in-store concerts by bands including Sonic Youth, Klaxons and Man
Man and awarded Yaris vehicles to listeners during fundraising and
awareness drives. Stations will also receive funds from a benefit
compilation, currently available for purchase at Urban Outfitters.
The 2008 Free Yr Radio campaign will kick off at South by
Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, TX, from March 12-16. Free Yr Radio
activities at SXSW 2008 include:
-- A launch party on March 12 at La Zona Rosa, co-hosted by
Austin's independent radio station KVRX. Indie dance duo
Simian Mobile Disco will headline the party, following opening
sets by the bands Times New Viking and Yeasayer. Before the
live music begins, DJ Dave Pianka will spin records for party
VIPs.
-- Each day from March 13-15, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.,
Minnesota's popular independent radio station, The Current,
will broadcast live from SXSW at the Free Yr Radio Broadcast
Corner, located at Red River Street and 7th Street. Billy
Bragg, Darondo, Carbon/Silicon, DeVotchKa, Dizzee Rascal, She
& Him and the Raveonettes are among the long list of artists
scheduled to perform.
-- During the day, complimentary Free Yr Radio Yaris shuttles
will be available at Hotel San Jose (1316 S. Congress Ave.) to
transport festival-goers to and from the Free Yr Radio
Broadcast Corner, in the center of all the SXSW festivities.
In the evenings, Yaris shuttles will also be on hand to pick
up people from parties and concerts around town.
Each aspect of the Free Yr Radio campaign is designed to give the
stations tools to build awareness and raise additional funds from
their listener communities. Partner stations co-host in-store concerts
as a means to increase exposure, introduce themselves to new listeners
and ask for support. This year's Free Yr Radio concert series will run
from April through October. More details about the concerts --
including some of the participating bands and cities -- will be
announced at the end of March. Another campaign initiative -- the
vehicle sweepstakes -- enables stations to award a brand new Yaris to
a listener during their fundraising or awareness-boosting activities.
A final component of the Free Yr Radio campaign is the benefit
compilation. Slated for release in late summer, this year's
compilation will feature tracks donated by participating bands and
other artists interested in the mission to support independent radio.
"We're proud to partner with Urban Outfitters to champion
independent radio through this unique campaign," said Keith Dahl,
National Marketing Manager for Toyota. "We hope that by providing
music fans with unforgettable experiences at the free concerts, in
combination with other aspects of the campaign like the Yaris
sweepstakes, we're helping generate even more buzz and listener
support during the radio stations' fundraising efforts."
This is the second year Yaris and Urban Outfitters are working
together to support a common cause.
"We're thrilled to join forces again with Yaris to create even
more excitement surrounding the great tradition of independent radio,"
said Kevin Lyons, Creative Director at Urban Outfitters. "Providing a
forum for the unsung and the unusual, independent radio has long
introduced our customer to incredible music that might otherwise go
unheard. Through the Free Yr Radio campaign, Yaris and Urban
Outfitters turn the spotlight on independent stations, helping them
increase exposure, gain new listeners, and actively solicit support in
a non-traditional, creative environment."
This year, SXSW attendees can visit www.FreeYrRadio.com to create
a personalized festival itinerary, reserve a complimentary Yaris
shuttle for an airport pick-up, and view the Free Yr Radio Broadcast
Corner's three-day lineup. The Free Yr Radio site will be updated
throughout the coming months with further information on this year's
partner independent radio stations and concert series.
ABOUT FREE YR RADIO:
Now in its second year, the Free Yr Radio campaign helps generate
awareness and funds for independent radio through a series of
promotional activities including free station-sponsored in-store
concerts by top indie artists, vehicle sweepstakes to augment station
fund-raising drives and a benefit compilation. Yaris and Urban
Outfitters joined forces to create Free Yr Radio in 2007 to start a
conversation with their customers about the importance of independent
radio and to encourage people to talk about, listen to and support
their favorite stations. To learn more about the program, you can
visit www.FreeYrRadio.com.
ABOUT TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, INC.:
Toyota established operations in the United States in 1957 and
currently operates 10 manufacturing plants, including one under
construction. There are more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion
dealerships in the U.S. which sell more than two million vehicles a
year. Toyota directly employs more than 32,000 people in the U.S. and
its investment here is currently valued at more than $13 billion,
including sales and manufacturing operations, research and
development, financial services and design.
ABOUT URBAN OUTFITTERS:
Urban Outfitters, (NASDAQ:URBN) owns and operates three retail
clothing brands: Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People. The
first store opened in 1970 in Philadelphia, focusing on an eclectic
mix of fashion and household products. Today, the Urban Outfitters
line has expanded from vintage, bohemian, retro, ironically humorous,
kitschy, and oddly designed apparel and furniture to include many
luxury brands such as Lacoste, Cheap Monday, Charlotte Ronson and
Frye. Currently headquartered in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Urban
operates more than 140 shops in the United States, Canada, Ireland,
and the United Kingdom.
Free Yr Radio
Corey Anderson, 206-501-2455
corey@206inc.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
