John Legend

NEW YORK and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- In an exclusive premier, Verizon Wireless is introducing the multi-Grammy Award(R) winning artist John Legend's much anticipated album, "Once Again," through Verizon Wireless' V CAST service. The album will be introduced tonight in New York City when Legend appears at a private performance that will also debut the first music video "Save Room" from the "Once Again" album. The event, hosted by Verizon Wireless and Rolling Stone Magazine, will have video clips available for Verizon Wireless V CAST customers to stream and view on their V CAST-capable phones tonight.

Verizon Wireless V CAST Music will feature several of John Legend's new songs as exclusive offers for customers to download as full length songs, ring tones and Ringback Tones for the next two months. John Legend's new album, "Once Again," will not hit stores or Web music retailers until October 24, so the only place to hear or view John Legend's new music is through Verizon Wireless.

"Verizon Wireless is pleased that our artist partners recognize that mobile phones are such a powerful way to reach their fans and that they are introducing their new music on V CAST before their albums are even released," said John Harrobin, vice president of digital media and marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Verizon Wireless partnered with John Legend on his first album and we are proud to reunite and to take his new music to his fans digitally through mobile phones."

Legend's debut album, "Get Lifted," has sold more than three million copies worldwide and has also been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. John Legend's 2004 debut album, "Get Lifted," earned him eight 2005 Grammy nominations and three wins, including Best New Artist. In 2003, Legend became the first artist signed to Kanye West's Kon Man Entertainment (later renamed Getting Out Our Dreams), and a deal with Columbia Records followed in May 2004.

Even more so than he did on "Get Lifted," John went boldly in his own creative direction on "Once Again," opting to write not from a marketing standpoint, but from his heart and soul and personal experience. "Once Again" will be released from G.O.O.D./Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records on October 24.

Fans can also relive the music of their favorite John Legend songs directly on their Verizon Wireless phones. Customers with Get It Now(R)- enabled phones can download chart-topping John Legend singles like "Ordinary People" or "Used To Love U" as their ring tone. John Legend wallpaper and screensavers are also available so customers can carry their favorite artist with them wherever they go.

For more information Verizon Wireless' video and music multimedia services, visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/vcast.

About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 54.8 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.