Entertainment

New York NY and Miami, FL--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--June 8, 2006 – Menudo Entertainment LLC today announced that it has joined forces with Yahoo! as its official Internet partner for “Mvasion,” the international talent search to recreate the all-boy mega singing group. The official Menudo Web site http://www.menudo.com, will be hosted by Yahoo! Telemundo and allow fans and Menudo hopefuls to access, in English and Spanish, exclusive information pertaining to audition schedules, mall tours, registration and voting procedures. The site will also include up-to-the-minute live updates on developments during the international talent search along with videos and photos of the entire process.

The original Menudo group, which took the U.S. and Latin America by storm during its run in the late 70’s and 80’s, produced superstar Ricky Martin, recorded 35 albums and sold more than 40 million records worldwide. To date, the original group, which grew to 34 boys, still holds the record for selling out 13 consecutive performances at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and played to sold-out audiences of 200,000 in Rio de Janeiro and 500,000 in Mexico City. The new Menudo group will record a contemporary hip urban/Latin crossover album in both English and Spanish.

“Our intent is to create real excitement and fanfare in the music industry with a new sound and revival of ‘Mvasion’ – a newer, hipper Menudo sensation that transcends generations and cultures throughout the world,” says Jerry Brenner, Menudo Entertainment LLC Principal. “The new Menudo will be greater than ever, fueled by the Internet’s ability to promote music and the new infusion of Latin content into the mainstream marketplace.”

“Menudo was without a doubt one of the music business’s great success stories, and this new incarnation has the potential to be met by its young fans with the same excitement and passion the band’s original fans were known for,” adds Jose Rivera Font, general manager, Yahoo! North Latin America. “Yahoo! Telemundo is proud to provide the online gathering place for new Menudo fans, designed to take them front and center to auditions and main events, giving them exclusive access to the entire search process, from start to finish.”

The search to discover the boy group, ages 14 to 18, will reach out to potential Menudo members in both Spanish and English languages. Menudo Entertainment will conduct live auditions at targeted markets throughout the US and Latin America. The first audition will be held in New York City on October 14, 2006. The company is presently licensing talent searches in Central and South America. The final contestants will be nationally televised and judged by a panel of celebrities with worldwide viewer voting.

Features available exclusively on the Menudo site hosted by Yahoo! Telemundo include:

-- Updated news on the Menudo search
-- Newsletter
-- Audition registration information
-- Calendar of castings
-- Calendar of mall tours
-- Menudo history (photos, interview, trivia, etc.)
-- Background on finalists
-- Community areas to vote on and debate fan favorites.
-- Footage of the grand event, interviews, behind the scenes and more

Hispanics under the age of 19 account for more than 37% of the total Hispanic population in the U.S. These same kids, tweens and teens also account for 28% of the total U.S. population. According to comScore Media Metrix (May 2006) Yahoo! reaches more than 12 million U.S. Hispanics (75% reach).

Menudo Entertainment LLC
Menudo Entertainment LLC is headquartered in New York with offices in Boston and Miami. For further information, call 1-718-885-0440 or visit the Menudo Entertainment Web site at http://www.menudo.com.

About Yahoo! Telemundo
Yahoo! Telemundo is a leading online media and services community for Hispanic consumers in the U.S. The venture between Yahoo! and Telemundo combines the strengths of Yahoo!’s technology and global reach with Telemundo’s original content and marketing capabilities to help businesses interact with this community.