John Lennon Songwriting Contest Winners Announced

BUENA PARK, CA (April 2, 2004) — The John Lennon Songwriting Contest (JLSC) recently selected Grand Prize Winners for its 2003 competition. The international contest, presented by DAS Ventures Ltd. since 1997, is open to amateurs and professionals who submit entries in 12 categories. Songs are judged on originality, melody, composition and lyrics (when applicable). Winners are selected by songwriting members of the Songwriters Guild of America, with final decisions made by members of the JLSC Executive Committee of noted singer/songwriters.

The 2003 Grand Prize Winners include Gail Lou of Englewood, NJ (Children's); Jeannie Lurie and Holly Mathis of Los Angeles, CA (Country); Darren Wilsey of Irvine, CA (Electronic); Arthur Godfrey of Prunedale, CA (Folk); TA-TA, Mekel Bennet and Seth Alexander of South Plainfield, NJ (Hip Hop); James Day and Darren Polite of Boston, MA (Gospel/Inspirational); Jim Pierce of Tucker, GA (Jazz); Jorge C. Quintana of Clermont, FL (Latin); Amy Fairchild of Wakefield, MA (Pop); Isaac Underwood and Mark "King" Penn of Atlanta, GA (Rhythm & Blues); Kristi Krings and Aric Johnson of Bellevue, CO (World); and Dexter Freebish of Austin, TX (Rock). Each will receive $5,000 in cash, $5,000 worth of Yamaha project studio equipment, a $5,000 advance on an EMI Music Publishing contract, 1,000 CDs from Disc Makers and gift certificates from Musiciansfriend.com. In addition, the Grand Prize Winners will now compete for the $20,000 Maxell Song of the Year, which will be announced at the Summer NAMM show in July.

An offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, The John Lennon Tour Bus, a mobile recording studio, continues to bring educational programs to high schools, colleges, music festivals, concerts and conventions. The bus is currently touring with Black Eyed Peas, and will join the Warped Tour this summer as well as visiting select high schools and Boys and Girls Clubs. At each stop, it will welcome undiscovered artists who can record their work on board and enter the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Founding sponsors Maxell and Yamaha continue their commitment to the bus and its goal of providing students with free hands-on opportunities to learn how to write songs and produce videos using traditional musical instruments as well as current technological advances.

"Yamaha Corporation of America has been instrumental in making both the songwriting contest and the bus a reality from the beginning," states JLSC executive director, Brian Rothschild. "Their generous contributions and technical assistance demonstrate a real understanding of the importance of music education."

Earlier this year, the bus recently underwent a $300,000 renovation with Maxell's DVD products, 2.0 GHz G5s and a full complement of Powerbooks from Apple Computer, 23" Cinema Displays, Final Cut Pro 4, Logic, and DVD Studio Pro software, Yamaha pro audio, guitars and keyboards, JVC video cameras, Aphex preamps, Neutrik connectors and patch panels, Furman headphone systems, Disc Makers' ReflexPro7 DVD±R replicator, Planet Waves' cables and a Stanton DJ station. Under the guidance of three accredited onboard engineers, all students will record and mix using Yamaha's 02R96, and leave with Maxell DVD's of their work. The bus recently stopped at Yamaha's Buena Park headquarters to be retrofitted with two new 01X, Motif ES synthesizers and mLAN expansion cards.

Additional information on the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest and Bus is available by visiting www.jlsc.com.

For more information on Yamaha products, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Pro Audio & Combo Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.