WHAT’S TRENDING AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY TEAM UP WITH THE BIGGEST SOCIAL INFLUENCERS
TO SEE WHO CAN TOP THE SOCIAL LEADERBOARD AND “ESCAPE TO BONNAROO”
Social stars include King Bach, Shira Lazar, Chester See,
Glozell Green and Kandee Johnson
LOS ANGELES, May 14, 2014 – What’s Trending and the Ford Escape have created ‘Escape to Bonnaroo’ – an online contest offering independent artists the chance of a lifetime to perform live on stage at Bonnaroo. Beginning today, artists can upload links to their performances via whatstrending.com/escapetobonnaroo.Online fans will then vote on submission videos by liking and sharing them through social media. The Top 5 artists with the most social activity will compete for the winning stage spot during a live stream special from YouTube Space LA. The special will be judged by a panel of the biggest online stars including King Bach, Glozell Green, Chester See, Kandee Johnson, and What’s Trending Co-Founder/Host Shira Lazar. The winner will be recognized as an official artist in the Bonnaroo line-up and given the opportunity to play their music for thousands of fans.
‘Escape to Bonnaroo’ will culminate at the 2014 Bonnaroo Music Festival in The Garage by Ford. Here, festival-goers can relax and take advantage of the air-conditioned lounge space, charge their cell phones and screen print their own custom Ford inspired t-shirts. The Garage by Ford will host the ‘Escape to Bonnaroo’ winner in addition to highly anticipated, intimate musical performances from other up and coming Bonnaroo artists. Select artists will plug into a 2014 C-MAX Hybrid to amplify the sounds of their acoustic set and the road trip ready 2014 Escape will also be parked onsite for Bonnaroovians to check out.
“We are excited to continue our relationship with Ford by launching this unprecedented contest,” said Shira Lazar, founder of What’s Trending. “‘Escape to Bonnaroo’ gives independent artists the once-in-a-lifetime chance via social media to play at one of the premier music festivals in the country.”
‘Escape to Bonnaroo’ will continue to leverage the power of social media at the festival like no other contest before, and will include viral content created by some of the biggest names in social media who reach millions of fans a month across YouTube, Vine, Instagram and Twitter.
“The Ford Escape is the perfect vehicle for those with an active lifestyle and it’s top choice for buyers seeking the latest technology. Escape is also ready to rock at Bonnaroo with its 355-watt, 10-speaker high-quality Sony(r) audio system,” said Imran Jalal, Escape Marketing Manager, Ford Motor Company.
ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 183,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
ABOUT WHAT’S TRENDING
What’s Trending is a multiplatform media company that brings audiences the stories behind the hottest trending topics and personalities online. Reaching over 20,000,000 impressions per month across partners like YouTube, Virgin America, and iHeartRadio, the Primetime Emmy nominated What’s Trending is a recognized leader in the online content space.
www.facebook.com/whatstrending
www.plus.google.com/+WhatsTrending
ABOUT BONNAROO
Set on 700 acres in Manchester, TN, Bonnaroo is a four-day festival that draws 80,000 fans every summer. Featuring over 120 musical performances, along with comedy, cinema, sustainability workshops and more, the grounds are converted into a virtual city of music and art. The legendary event began in 2002 as a remarkable idea to serve a passionate fanbase, and ended up becoming the premier multi-day concert destination of the summer which dynamic and eclectic programming paved the way for the age of the great American music festival. Bonnaroo has now evolved into becoming much more than just a concert destination; it has become a cultural touchstone and, for two generations of music fans, a rite of passage. Each year, the lineup cements Bonnaroo as a force in music discovery, exposing its fans to legendary artists, current favorites, as well as breaking acts.
