Island/Def Jam To create Pre-Fabricated Pop Star Based on Young Adult Novel Series
In an enormous victory for folks who like their music pre-fabricated and gloriously, almost surreally artificial, Island Def Jam has announced its intention to create an average-tween-by-day-pop-star-by night named Mackenzie "Zee" Blue to promote an upcoming line of young adult novels based on the character.
Island/Def Jam talent scouts will scour playgrounds, middle-school locker rooms, public restrooms and other popular pedophile hangouts in their tireless search to find a charismatic actor-singer to play the role of twelve-year-old Blue in public, tour as Blue and release an EP to coincide with the May release of the first book in the series.
The character, originally named Schmanna Schmontana before Disney's copyright lawyers got involved, is the creation of Tina Wells of Buzz Marketing. If you can't trust the integrity of the good people over at Buzz Marketing, then what can you trust?
Here, for your edification, is the press release announcing this scary new step in synergy, maximizing ancillary revenue streams and many other creepy business buzzwords:
ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP FORMS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH AUTHOR TINA WELLS TO LAUNCHMACKENZIE BLUE!
FIRST HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN’S BOOK IN THE SERIES ARRIVES MAY 5th
IDJ announces talent search to discover the REAL Mackenzie Blue
Mackenzie Blue series created and written by Tina Wells of Buzz Marketing
(Jan. 28, 2009 – New York, NY) Tweens everywhere will discover a new heroine this spring with the May 5th appearance of Mackenzie Blue, the first in the series of HarperCollins Children’s Books about the many adventures of seventh-grader and aspiring pop star Mackenzie Blue.
Island Def Jam Music Group and author Tina Wells have formed a strategic partnership to launch a major talent search and discover the REAL Mackenzie Blue, it was announced today by Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid, Chairman, Island Def Jam Music Group. This forward-looking ‘360’ arrangement will bring the fictional Mackenzie Blue to life as the leader of her own recording and touring pop band. The talent search will be the prelude to Mackenzie Blue’s first EP release on Island Def Jam coinciding with the publication of the debut book in May.
“I am thrilled with the opportunities that are presented by this partnership with Island Def Jam and L.A. Reid,” said Ms. Wells. “The company truly understands the world of Mackenzie Blue and the potential of following her young character’s aspirations to become a music star as the books develop. The sky is the limit for IDJ and Mackenzie Blue as other new and exciting branding options arise in the future.”
12-year old seventh grader Mackenzie Blue (‘Zee’) is the charismatic, fashionable, pop culture savvy, and down-to-earth star of the new series of books that chronicle the adventures of a diverse crew of friends trying to survive middle school at prestigious Brookdale Academy. Mackenzie Blue is upbeat and promotes positive messages to tweens about making good choices. Dynamic black-and-white illustrations, diary entries, instant messages, and emails make Zee’s world and friends come alive.
Mackenzie Blue marks the writing debut of youth expert Tina Wells, CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group (BuzzMG), and its newly formed division, Buzz Publishing Group. BuzzMG is America’s premiere by-youth-for-youth marketing and communications agency. It has created innovative marketing strategies for numerous clients within the music, beauty, entertain ment, fashion, financial, and lifestyle sectors, along them Sony BMG, Sesame Work shop, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon Wireless, and Procter + Gamble.