1 July 2012: The Pixel Project, the award-nominated global volunteer-led virtual non-profit social enterprise working to end Violence Against Women (VAW) worldwide, is proud to announce the first YouTube Music Ambassador and two new partnerships that will take the Music For Pixels campaign (http://music4pixels.thepixelproject.net) from strength to strength.

YouTube’s Number One most popular R&B group AHMIR, the campaign’s first ‘Artiste of the Month’ who kicked off Music For Pixels in April 2012 has been appointed as The Pixel Project’s first YouTube Music Ambassador due to their commitment to the cause. In addition to donating the proceeds raised from download sales of The Rose to The Pixel Project for life, AHMIR will be working with the Music For Pixels team on various aspects of the campaign including the YouTube Cover Carnival, speaking out about VAW as male role models and recruiting other YouTube artistes to the campaign.

AHMIR said: “We feel very blessed and honoured to be working alongside The Pixel Project team as the first YouTube Music Ambassadors in raising awareness to end violence against women. We are excited about the many opportunities to use our social platform to help this important campaign.”

The Pixel Project also welcomes two music companies on board as campaign partners. The first is Horus Music in the UK with whom The Pixel Project has signed a 3-year pro bono agreement to distribute all Music For Pixels music to major digital channels for downloading including iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. Horus Music will also be handling the licensing/royalty payment processes for any cover music used by the campaign, thanks to their membership with The Harry Fox Agency, the premier mechanical licensing agent and provider of rights administration services and the largest aggregator in the U.S. 100% of the net proceeds of all campaign music distributed via Horus Music will be donated to The Pixel Project.

Nick Dunn, Founder and CEO of Horus Music said: “We are very excited to be working with The Pixel Project, a nonprofit that does so much good work around the globe for those in society who still have to struggle daily with sexism, inequality and medieval attitudes.  Music is one language that can unite the world and bring joy to all so we’re especially proud to be able to help ensure the artistes working with The Pixel Project can have their music heard around the world and make a difference to many lives, those who discover the artistes and to those who will benefit from the work of The Pixel Project.”

The second is San Francisco, California-based Lost Monkey Studio which handles up-and-coming independent U.S. West Coast artistes and brings with them more than 20 years of recording and music management experience. As part of their partnership with The Pixel Project for the Music For Pixels campaign, Lost Monkey will be donating a range of music-related prizes such as Music Production, Mixing, Mastering and TV/Film Licensing Submission for YouTube Cover Carnival winners to inspire musicians all over the world to take part in the campaign to use their musical talent to say NO to VAW. Lost Monkey artiste, Pete Ahonen, will also be collaborating in an upcoming Music For Pixels online fundraiser, details of which will be announced later this year.

Mike and Michelle Stevens, Co-founders of Lost Monkey Studio said: “We are pleased to be collaborating with The Pixel Project and deeply believe in what they are working towards. Music is something that feeds the soul. We all have our own personal soundtracks to life, and they help us, heal us and make us stronger. Lost Monkey is deeply honoured to be a part of the mission to end Violence Against Women.”

Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project, said: “The Pixel Project and our Music For Pixels team is looking forward to working closely with AHMIR, Horus Music and Lost Monkey Studio over the next 12 months and beyond. We are pleased that all three share our strong belief that music is a powerful and positive tool that gets people aware of the importance of stopping VAW while promoting healthy non-violent relationships and personal empowerment, particularly when it is easily shareable through social media and other online channels. Together, these collaborations will strengthen the Music For Pixels campaign and its mission to encourage hope and courage in survivors while inspiring men, women and youth to work together to end violence against women in whatever capacity they can, wherever they are in the world.”

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For further information, please contact:

General Inquiries:

• Eliska Hahn, Music Campaigns Co-Coordinator – eliska@thepixelproject.net  
• Gia Ibarra, Music Campaigns Co-Coordinator – gia@globalfreedomconcerts.com  

Media Inquiries:

• Ben Matthews – ben@brightone.org.uk

About the Music For Pixels Campaign (http://music4pixels.thepixelproject.net)

Music For Pixels, a campaign by The Pixel Project, is the first music-based social media campaign to exclusively collaborate with YouTube artistes speaking up to prevent and stop VAW through music video PSAs while raising funds for the cause via digital music downloads. All funds raised from the portion of the song’s proceeds donated by artistes in 2012 will go towards the Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign in benefit of the USA’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other anti-Violence Against Women nonprofits.

About The Pixel Project (www.thepixelproject.net)

The Pixel Project is a completely virtual, volunteer-led global 501(c)3 nonprofit organisation whose mission is to raise awareness, funds and volunteer power for the cause to end violence against women through innovative, powerful viral campaigns across various online and virtual channels including social media. Their first project is to turbo-charge global awareness about VAW using social media while raising US$1 million for the U.S.A.’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other anti-Violence Against Women nonprofits by getting a global audience to collectively unveil a million-pixel mystery collage of Celebrity Male Role Models at US$1 per pixel.

About AHMIR (www.ahmirmusic.com)

AHMIR is the #1 MOST POPULAR R&B GROUP on YouTube with over 60 million video views and comments by celebrities such as Ryan Seacrest, Ashton Kutcher, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Perez Hilton, Pink, and more. The group has used their success to bring awareness to several charity organizations including Lucy’s Love Bus, Haiti Relief Fund, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Words Matter, YMCA, Kevin Youkilis Hits for Kids, and The Pixel Project. Their cover video of Pink’s “Perfect” was named one of the top Anti-Bullying PSA’s by The Huffington Post. AHMIR is now signed to Robbins Entertainment (distributed by RED / Sony Music).

About Horus Music (www.horusmusic.co.uk)

Horus Music is a 360 degree music company based in Leicester, UK, specialising in music distribution, publishing and management.  They are a one stop shop for getting your music on sale in online stores and subscription services worldwide, including: iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify, Deezer, Nokia, Napster, eMusic, Google Music, YouTube, Vevo, Myspace Music, HMV Digital, Zvooq, Simfy, 7Digital, Rhapsody and many more. They can also provide physical distribution throughout the UK.

About Lost Monkey Studio (www.lostmoneystudio.com)

Lost Monkey is a 16-track Pro Tools studio in Hayward serving artists and bands seeking a comfortable environment in which to produce broadcast-quality sounds. The studio is owned and operated by Bay Area drummer Mike Stevens, who drew upon his experiences working in the area’s most venerable studios to open Lost Monkey in 2010. Lost Monkey is currently also building a solid roster of immensely talented West Coast artists who are working hard towards becoming some of the most seminal musicians in the world.