NEW YORK, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc.
today announced the Round One Contenders of its Avon Voices program
– the company's first-ever global online singing talent search.
The Contenders, featured now on AvonVoices.com, were selected
from a group of more than 6,000 from 62 countries who took the
challenge to showcase their singing talent, tell their story, and
share their dreams. Later this Fall, two women – one an
Avon Representative – will receive
an opportunity to record a professionally-produced album. The
finalists will be selected by a combination of online public voting
and renowned judging panel of music industry leaders from around
the world, including: Fergie, six-time Grammy award winner;
Diane Warren, legendary songwriter;
Natasha Bedingfield, Grammy
nominated singer/songwriter; Lea
Salonga, Filipina singer and actress; Valeriya, Russian
sensation; Delta Goodrem, Australian Artist of the Decade; Sheila
E., breakthrough, Grammy-nominated female percussionist;
David Pack, Grammy award-winning
singer/composer and music producer; Diego
Torres, Grammy nominated singer/composer; Ivete Sangalo,
Brazil's biggest pop star; and
Maia, Colombian singing star.
To view the multimedia assets associated with this release,
please click:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45814-avon-voices/
Since December 1, 2010, Avon
Voices has invited women from around the world to join a global
movement through music in celebration of the company's 125th
Anniversary. This announcement of the global Contenders on
the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day, is a testament
to a day in which every corner of the globe celebrates the special
achievements of women.
"We'd like to thank the nearly one million people from around
the world who have visited Avon Voices," said Joe Billone, Vice President, Global
Communications for Avon Products, Inc. "It is thrilling to see this
global community connecting women from around the world - from
Brazil to Beijing, London to Los
Angeles – to engage with one another around their common
passion for music. We are overwhelmed by the level of talent
showcased in the submission phase and congratulate our Round One
Contenders."
Starting in late March, Avon Voices will fly these Round One
Contenders to one of four destinations around the world -
Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Nashville - to record their professional
performance videos that will be featured in subsequent rounds of
voting. All contenders will also receive Avon makeovers by a team of professional
makeup artists.
Register Now
The program's official website – AvonVoices.com – is live
and open for registration, and features information about the
year-long program. Features of the community:
- View and Vote: Watch Contender videos, as well as
all global submission videos from around the world. Beginning
April 22, 2011, watch the Round 1
professionally produced videos and vote for your favorite to help
choose the winner. From April through October, the search will be
narrowed down four times by a combination of online public voting
and judges' scores.
- Write: Women and men may enter the Songwriting
Competition. Write an original song that inspires or shares hope
and optimism with the world. Simply submit a digital file and lyric
sheet at AvonVoices.com (between May 20,
2011 and July 1, 2011).
- Discover Exclusive Music: Released today, "Shoot
for the Stars," is a song written and sung by Natasha Bedingfield, exclusively available
through AvonVoices.com. Other songs such as previously
released exclusive "Until You Love You," written by Diane Warren, produced by David Pack and sung by Valeriya, and other
recordings by our Avon Voices Judges and additional artists are
also currently available for purchase. A percentage of the purchase
price of all recordings will help advance the Avon Foundation for
Women's global campaign to end violence against women and girls.
To date, Avon global
philanthropy has raised and awarded more than $30 million directed to domestic and gender
violence awareness, education, direct services and prevention
programs. To learn more about how to purchase this music, go
to AvonVoices.com.
Avon Voices is being produced in partnership with, and powered
by, Intero, a company committed to connecting, artists, brands and
communities with meaningful content delivered through live events
and online channels.
To learn more about Avon Voices, go to www.avonvoices.com, or
visit
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/45814-avon-voices.
Follow Avon Voices on Facebook
(http://www.facebook.com/avonvoices) and Twitter
(http://www.twitter.com/avonvoices).
About Avon Products, Inc.
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty
company, with over $10 billion in
annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller,
Avon markets to women in more than
100 countries through approximately 6.5 million active independent
Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes
beauty products, as well as fashion and home products, and features
such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew,
Skin-So-Soft, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, and
Mark. Learn more about Avon and its products at
www.avoncompany.com
About Avon Foundation for Women
The Avon Foundation for Women, the world's largest
corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter
most to women, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women.
Through 2010, Avon global
philanthropy has donated more than $800
million in more than 50 countries for causes most important
to women. Today, Avon philanthropy
focuses its funding on breast cancer research and access to care
through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and efforts to reduce
domestic and gender violence through its Speak Out Against Domestic
Violence program. Avon also
responds generously to provide support for relief and recovery
efforts in times of major natural disasters and emergencies.
SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.