Creed's Scott Stapp to Release Long-Awaited Solo Album; Gets His Motor Running With NASCAR; "The Great Divide" to Be Released on November 22nd

Multi platinum recording artist Scott Stapp will release his long-awaited solo album, "The Great Divide," on November 22nd on Wind-up Records. Also announced today is a joint venture between Wind-up Records and NASCAR, who are joining forces with an integrated marketing and image campaign set to launch in early to mid October in support of the release of the highly anticipated album. Stapp and his first single, "The Great Divide," (click here to listen) will be featured in a NASCAR Image Campaign that will air during the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup. Stapp joins a growing list of major entertainment stars to appear in NASCAR campaigns including Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Marie Presley and Three Doors Down.

As a founder and the voice of Creed, Stapp's success is virtually unparalleled, having won the Grammy® Award for Best Rock Song in 2000, 9 Billboard Awards, 2 American Music Awards, and a People's Choice Award. He has sold over 30 millions units worldwide with just three albums, and had 7 consecutive #1 Rock Radio singles.

Stapp, one of the most recognizable voices in music, will be featured in a variety of NASCAR marketing platforms. The campaign will culminate with Stapp performing the national anthem at the Ford 400 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20th, 2005. The Ford 400, the final race of the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, will determine the Cup Champion and will be televised on NBC (3pm EST, check local listings).

"Scott Stapp's emotional intensity and powerful performance make him the perfect artist to represent the NASCAR experience," said Sarah Nettinga, director, film, television and music entertainment for NASCAR Digital Entertainment. "We are also thrilled that Scott will be on hand to kick off the Miami Ford 400 event and bring his music directly to the NASCAR fans."

"I'm a huge NASCAR fan," comments Stapp. "I loved performing at the NASCAR awards banquet last year and I can't wait to sing the national anthem in November at the championship race in Homestead. It's a real honor to partner with NASCAR in promoting the cup challenge."

Details of the program include a co-branded television campaign featuring a montage of NASCAR footage interwoven with excerpts from Stapp's new music video and single "The Great Divide", also the album's title track. The image campaign will air through the fall. Other program elements include exclusive web content from the Image Campaign on Stapp's web site (www.scottstapp.com).

"Based on NASCAR's passionate audience, broad reach, and powerful branding, the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup is an ideal marketing platform to launch Scott's solo album 'The Great Divide,'" says Ed Vetri, Wind-up's chief operating officer. "As the country's largest independent label, Wind-up is always pursuing marketing partnerships that will have synergy and impact for our artists. We know that Scott's fans (and Scott himself) love NASCAR. Scott's music really captures the excitement and spirit of NASCAR which is why we're so excited about this partnership -- Scott Stapp and NASCAR are a great fit."

About Wind-up Records

Wind-up Entertainment Inc. is a privately owned company that was founded in March 1997. Wind-up Records, a division of Wind-up Entertainment, is currently the largest independently owned and operated label in the United States and is distributed by Sony / BMG Entertainment worldwide, excluding Canada where the company operates Wind-up Entertainment Canada Inc. and is distributed by the Warner Music Group. The roster features Evanescence (the band success story of 2003/2004 with worldwide sales of more than thirteen million copies), Seether, Finger Eleven, Scott Stapp, Alter Bridge, the entire Creed repertoire, Drowning Pool, and approximately a dozen developing artists. Wind-up Entertainment also houses the publishing concerns Dwight Frye Music, Renfield Music Publishing, Wallachi Music Publishing, Jessop Music Publishing and Viovodes Music Publishing, in addition to Pronto Merch, a full-scale retail, on-line and touring merchandising company.

About NASCAR Digital Entertainment

Based in Los Angeles, NASCAR Digital Entertainment (NDE) manages, directs and creates new business opportunities for NASCAR's broadcasting, new media, and entertainment programming ventures. NDE creates new and enhanced entertainment experiences for NASCAR fans, drivers, teams, tracks, and sponsors through television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital cable, new media, and original motion picture programming.

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