FameCast and C3 Announce Eric Michael Hopper As “Big State Big Star” Winner
FAMECAST AND C3 PRESENTS ANNOUNCE COUNTRY ARTIST ERIC MICHAEL HOPPER AS WINNER OF BIG STATE BIG STAR ONLINE TALENT COMPETITION
Fans and Celebrity Judge Eli Young Band Choose Buford, GA Act
to Join Lineup of Tim McGraw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lyle Lovett and Other Stars
at Inaugural Big State Festival
COLLEGE STATION, TX (October 3, 2007) – After winning over more than one million visitors to FameCast.com and the ears of celebrity judges The Eli Young Band, up-and-coming country artist Eric Michael Hopper has earned a spot on the lineup of the inaugural Big State Festival. The self-made, rising Internet star from Buford, GA will catch his biggest live performance break yet as he joins Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson and 50 other acts heading to College Station, TX to entertain more than 50,000 fans.
The user-generated Big State Big Star contest is a collaboration between leading online talent competition FameCast and respected concert creator C3 Presents, which produces the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza along with the Big State Festival. The two-day country music extravaganza will take place Oct. 13-14 at the World Speedway in College Station, TX. Eric Michael Hopper will perform Oct. 14.
Big State Big Star put FameCast’s Top 20 country artists from its first two seasons of competition in a head-to-head contest for fan voting (Hopper took first place on the Country Stage in Season One). From September 11-25, music lovers logged on to www.famecast.com, utilized their social networking pages and voted Hopper into the Top 5 along with Candy Coburn, Devin Claycomb, Rustie Blue and Breckley and Shepherd. The members of the Eli Young Band then served as celebrity judges, choosing Hopper as the ultimate winner.
FameCast and C3 Presents recruited The Eli Young band for judging because – as an act that has been cited as having “the fastest growing fanbase of all emerging acts in the Southeast and Southwest,” turning heads with their high-energy performances and a string of sold-out shows – the band has a pulse for what will engage a large crowd.
Hopper has displayed a similar ability to amass a loyal following, and this amazing career opportunity is only the latest that Hopper has received through FameCast. FameCast’s community of online voters named him the winner of Season One’s Country competition, earning him $10,000, international recognition and the title of “FameCast Fenom.” Shortly thereafter, the singer rocketed rocketed to #1 on Clear Channel Radio’s New Music Country Chart, an impressive feat for a self-made, unsigned artist who is paving his own way to stardom using online venues like FameCast as a launching pad.
“I’m so grateful to FameCast and C3 for offering such a huge opportunity for exposure, and am honored to have been chosen,” said Hopper. “I’ve really enjoyed watching my fan base grow online and am excited to share my music with even more folks at the festival.”
With the looks and confidence to match his voice, lyrics and stage presence, Hopper’s recently released solo album Cross Over continues to be embraced with worldwide public support, which has been bolstered by appearances on the CBS Early Show, NBC’s Daytime and FOX’s Good Day, who referred to Hopper as "a working stiff become cyberspace superstar." Eric’s video for the song “Love at First Sight,” aired in 11 million Comcast digital cable subscriber homes in one month alone this year, and is now available to watch on CMT Loaded, while the follow-up video for “The One” is currently catching fire through the online world.
Despite being a true independent artist, Eric's success has earned him sponsorships with musical equipment heavyweights PRS Guitars, Takamine Guitars, CAD Professional Microphones and Dean Markley Strings.
“Eric is a guy who has what it takes and is making his own breaks,” said FameCast CEO Kent Savage. “From the very beginning, we noticed not only his immense musical talent, but his remarkable dedication, drive and savvy for the industry’s online-based media. We’re thrilled that Big State Big Star is providing him with another opportunity to make it big--that’s what FameCast is all about.”
Besides getting the chance to play his music before a massive audience at the Big State Festival, Hopper will also enjoy the vast promotional opportunities that come with his association with FameCast and the Big State Festival. Short promo videos and news tickers on FameCast.com’s specially-created Big State Big Star contest stage will provide him further buzz.
The impressive lineup of the two-day Big State Festival is set to including McGraw, Nelson, Lovett and His Large Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, The Wreckers, Los Lonely Boys and more. In addition to the musical acts, fans at the Big State Festival will be treated to real stock car racing, one of the biggest prize purse Barbecue Showdowns in the nation, weekend camping spots, a sports bar, the Little State kids space, food and celebrity chefs, cold beverages, green lawns and many more highlights for music fans and their families.
For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.bigstatefestival.com.
About FameCast
FameCast has been hailed as an innovative platform for artists to gain exposure in the new Internet-driven marketplace, combining the self-sufficiency, economic potential and networking capabilities of sites like MySpace, iTunes and YouTube, all under one exciting, fan-generated contest. FameCast reached a milestone during Season Two when it hit the 1 million mark for unique visitors in the month of June. FameCast’s success was further bolstered when they recently secured $4.5 million in funding from Austin Ventures to support FameCast management’s strategy of future growth.
FameCast was founded by Kent Savage, a 20-year veteran entrepreneur in the internet and digital media space. He leads a seasoned management team consisting of CMO Matt Hovis, COO Dave Hampton, CTO Wes Schiesz and CSO Erik Smith. FameCast’s Advisory Board includes a stellar lineup of industry heavyweights including Charles Attal of Charles Attal Presents and C3 Management and Promotions; Paul Korzilius, manager of superstar rock group Bon Jovi; and Randy Phillips, President & CEO of AEG Live.
FameCast’s recently launched Season Three offers even more opportunities for up-and-coming performers, including a panel of A-list entertainment industry experts. Artists participating in Season Three are competing for the grand prize of $10,000 per stage and the international exposure that comes with being crowned a FameCast Fēnom on one of 12 “virtual stages.” FameCast has added new Electronic, Spiritual and Latin stages for Season Three – other choices are Rock, Pop, Country, Hip-Hop/R&B, Singer-Songwriter, Spoken Word, Film & Animation, Comedy and Dance. FameCast will give away $120,000 to deserving artists this season, and is on track to bestow over $350,000 within its first year of inception.
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