YOKOHAMA, Japan (March 23, 2010) – Infiniti today announced that it has partnered with the world-renowned Montreal-based entertainment group, Cirque du Soleil®, to become an Official Sponsor and exclusive Automotive Partner. The sponsorship marks a first for both Infiniti and Cirque du Soleil.

“Our new sponsorship with Cirque du Soleil will show that Infiniti is much more than exciting machines that move you from one place to another. Infiniti has an emotional, inspirational appeal, offering a very personal style of modern luxury and respectful treatment for the world’s most discerning luxury customers,” says Toru Saito, corporate vice president and leader, Global Infiniti Business Unit.

Building on previous Infiniti / Cirque du Soleil sponsorships in Canada, Russia, Korea, and the Middle East, the new global partnership gives Infiniti brand exposure through 180 Big Top and Arena touring show markets in the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, and Russia – as well as three theatre shows in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Combined, these shows will bring in over 5.4 million attendees offering Infiniti an unparalleled exposure to the affluent customer base of Cirque du Soleil.

“The partnership between Cirque du Soleil and Infiniti is a natural fit for these two perfectly aligned brands as both embody Inspired Performance,” says Jon Brancheau, director global marketing, Global Infiniti Business Unit. “At Infiniti, our intention is to move people emotionally as well as physically. We believe that this partnership will personify our brand’s desire to invoke graceful strength, vibrancy, craftsmanship and exhilaration in consumers.”

“As a company committed to partnering with only like-minded brands, Cirque du Soleil is excited about the opportunity to expand our relationship with Infiniti,” adds Ryan Sandilands, senior director of corporate alliances, Cirque du Soleil. “After several successful years working with Infiniti Canada, we look forward to connecting with Infiniti’s passionate customers around the world, inspiring creativity and powerful emotions in everyone.”

The first partnered shows begin in April 2010 in Portland (Oregon), New York, and Montréal.

Infiniti joins a host of top tier Official Sponsors, including American Express, CGI, Sun Life Financial, and W Hotels.

Source: Infiniti

British MOBO-award winning hip-hop group N-Dubz has just released the third single from the platinum-selling album “Against All Odds” and when the London-based band was looking for a futuristic car to feature in the video for “Say It’s Over”, Renault was happy to help.

The stunning Mégane Coupe-Concept, with its dramatic ‘dragonfly-wing’ double doors, fitted the role perfectly as a car set in a future. The collaboration between Renault and N-Dubz led to the striking two-door starring alongside Dappy, Tulisa and Fazer in the video, filmed at a secret location in the capital.

The first two videos from the “Against All Odds” album have already racked up over 10 million viewings on YouTube and the new film, featuring the Mégane Coupé-Concept, has had almost 200,000 hits in the week since it’s release.

The video can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgPt_QD23zk

Source: Renault

SUPERSTAR HIP-HOP ARTIST RELEASES HIS CHART-TOPPING ALBUM RELAPSE WITH FIVE UNRELEASED TRACKS TO TIDE FANS OVER TILL RELAPSE 2

Multi-platinum hip-hop artist Eminem will release Relapse: Refill on December 21st, 2009, on Aftermath/Interscope Records. This re-release of Eminem’s chart-topping fifth studio album includes seven bonus tracks, including the single “Forever,” also featuring Drake, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne (previously found on the More Than A Game soundtrack), “Taking My Ball” (also released only with the DJ Hero video game), and five never-before-heard tracks.

“I want to deliver more material for the fans this year like I originally planned,” Eminem says. “Hopefully these tracks on The Refill will tide the fans over until we put out Relapse 2 next year.” Eminem has been busy in the studio creating even more new material since Relapse was released. “I got back in with Dre and then a few more producers, including Just Blaze, and went in a completely different direction which made me start from scratch. The new tracks started to sound very different than the tracks I originally intended to be on Relapse 2, but I still want the other stuff to be heard.”

One of the most anticipated albums of the year, the platinum-selling Relapse entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart at No. 1 in May 2009 and sold more than 618,000 domestic copies in the U.S. in its first week. Relapse is also the top selling hip-hop album of 2009. The first song to debut from the album, “Crack a Bottle,” was released in February and set a first-week record for digital sales at the time, while the first official single and video, “We Made You,” debuted in April. The best-selling hip-hop artist of the SoundScan era, Eminem has sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. His previous studio album, Encore, reached No. 1 and dominated the charts in late 2004. The Grammy-nominated disc was certified quadruple-platinum, generated four Top 40 Hot 100 hits, and has sold more than 11 million copies. In October 2008, Eminem published Eminem: The Way I Am, a compilation of thoughts, stories and memorabilia that entered the New York Times bestseller list at No. 11.

SOURCE: Interscope Records

Volvo is launching a new online challenge in conjunction with the cinema release of Summit Entertainment’s The Twilight Saga: New Moon to give Twilight fans the chance to win a shiny new Volvo XC60 exactly like the one Edward drives in the new film.

Starting 2 November 2009, people can log onto www.whatdrivesedward.com where their Twilight knowledge will be put to the test in an interactive game. Fans can also visit their local authorized Volvo dealership to collect an exclusive complimentary poster of Edward and his shiny new Volvo while stocks last.

Players can register at www.whatdrivesedward.com from 2 November 2009 and will receive clues to help solve a series of puzzles. Since the puzzles increase in difficulty, players are encouraged to exchange hints through Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. The game runs for three weeks from 2 November through to 23 November 2009.

In addition to the game, the website also features trailers from the film, photo galleries and downloadable New Moon-themed desktop wallpapers.

“Volvo is central to Edward’s character in the Twilight saga,” said Anita Fox, Head of Marketing Communications at Volvo Car UK. “One lucky fan who solves all of the puzzles in Volvo’s What Drives Edward contest will win a new XC60. While the XC60 doesn’t come equipped with a vampire, the winner will experience the power, beauty and protection that is Volvo and it will transport them to all of their great moments in life.”

Fans that don’t win the online contest and want their own shiny new Volvo XC60, just like the one Edward drives, can visit a local Volvo dealership or go to www.volvocars.co.uk to build their own. Edward drives a Volvo XC60 that features the Saville Grey metallic exterior, a sandstone beige/espresso interior, a cream leather steering wheel, 19-inch Achilles diamond cut wheels and exterior accessories such as side scuff plates, front bumper bar and rear skid plates.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon will premiere in the UK on 20 November 2009. In the film directed by Chris Weitz and starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, the romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of-only to find herself in greater peril than ever before. Following Edward Cullen’s (Pattinson) departure from Forks, Washington, Bella discovers his image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. In time Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob Black (Lautner) who has a supernatural secret of his own.

Source: Volvo

Audi gives the ups and downs of the LeMans series. Also a historical look into Audi’s victorious achievements for 7 of the past 8 years it has been involved.

Source: Audi.tv, Audi

Well the performance was really good and it’s on youtube right now. Let’s see how long before fuse makes a copyright infringement claim and takes it down. For now, here’s the show….

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

Part 13

Source: Fuse.tv, youtube

Fuse presents Jay-Z live from Madison Square Garden with the “Answer The Call” Concert. Be sure to go grab the Blueprint 3 album, it’s hot!!

The Blueprint 3

Blueprint 3 Vidz:

Run This Town

D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)

Source: MTVmusic, Imeem, Fuse

Haven’t heard a good Ghostface classic in a while? Well this track is definitely a banger!

Chris Brown has given his first television interview since his February arrest for assaulting Rihanna. In a sitdown with CNN’s Larry King airing Wednesday (Sept., 2), the 20-year-old singer says he has no memory of the incident and that he is still in love with his ex-girlfriend.

Brown also describes his reaction to the police reports detailing what occurred between him and Rihanna that night.

“I’m in shock because first of all, that’s not who I am as a person and that’s not who I pride myself on being,” says Brown, dressed in a light blue sweater and bowtie and flanked by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, and attorney, Mark Geragos. “So when I look at the police reports or I hear about the police reports, I don’t know what to think…I just don’t know what to think. It’s just like, wow.”

“He came and he actually spoke to me about what happened, and I was totally shocked,” says Hawkins. “I know that Chris has never, ever been a violent person, ever.”

After pleading guilty to felony assault on June 22, Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labor, and a protective order requires that Brown stay at least 100 yards from Rihanna (10 during career-related events) for the next five years.

“I made a mistake, and I — and it was just something I have to live up and own,” says Brown.

Source: Billboard.com