Bank One, Sony Card Offer Consumers Experience "Like No Other"
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Bank One, Sony Card Offer Consumers Experience "Like No Other" John Mayer, Dido, Ari Hest to Perform in New York City's Bryant Park Five For Fighting, Butch Walker To Give Lunchtime Concert In Union Square NEW YORK CITY / WILMINGTON, Del. - May 27, 2004 - This summer, concertgoers will be "carded" in a whole new way. Bank One [NYSE: ONE] and Sony Corporation of America today announced that recording artists John Mayer, Dido and Ari Hest will be performing a free concert that begins at 5:15 p.m. in New York City's Bryant Park Thursday, June 17, 2004. The concert will be the culmination of the Sony Card Entertainment and Technology Experience Like No Other, a two-day event presented by Bank One and the Sony Card. The Experience will showcase what the Sony Card can provide cardmembers - an exclusive all-access pass into a total experience that includes the latest Sony entertainment and technology innovations. The Experience will commence Wednesday, June 16 and provide consumers the opportunity to explore the "Live Better, Go Digital" interactive tour sponsored by Sony Electronics and Intel, which features VAIO® PCs that go far beyond computing; as well as The Tech Pit - a multimedia exhibit filled with WEGA® TVs and DVD Dream® Systems. Visitors can also sample a variety of Walkman® digital music players and enjoy downloads powered by the Sony Connect music store, or capture the excitement of concerts and movies in the Sony XPLOD® demo car. They can even create their own entertainment using the latest Cyber-shot® digital cameras and Sony Ericsson mobile phones. The Experience will continue June 17 and include a free lunchtime concert at noon in New York's Union Square. This concert will feature Five For Fighting, best known for their Grammy nominated anthem "Superman," as well as their new hit "100 Years" from their current album "The Battle For Everything," and rock & roll, singer-songwriter Butch Walker, whose upcoming album, "Letters," will be released this summer. Consumers who apply for the Sony CardSM by visiting www.sonycardexperience.com from June 4-17 or by attending the Experience event June 16-17 at Union Square, will receive access to a premiere seating section for the June 17 concert in Bryant Park. Current Sony Cardmembers will also receive special invitations to attend the concert. Aware/Columbia/Sony Grammy-winning, singer-songwriter and guitarist John Mayer is currently supporting his platinum sophomore disc, "Heavier Things," which debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts. Mayer will return to the road this summer on a 42-date headlining tour that kicks off July 2. Platinum-selling artist Dido's most recent album "Life For Rent" set a record for first week sales by a female artist. They will each play a full set in Bryant Park. Ari Hest, whose Columbia Records debut "Someone to Tell" will be released late this summer, will open the show. "The Sony Card provides a gateway into the world of entertainment and technology," said John Briesch, president, Sony Card Marketing and Services Company. "This special event underscores our commitment to making the Sony Card as exciting and innovative as our products." "We began working with Sony to create a 'must have' Visa card for our cardmembers that goes beyond rewards," said Carter Franke, chief marketing officer for Bank One's card services division. "The power of the Sony brand, combined with Bank One's co-branding leadership, allows us to deliver innovative rewards to consumers in a way that more naturally fits their lifestyle." The Sony Card - Access & Experiences As part of the Experience, an advertising campaign in Rolling Stone, US Weekly and Men's Journal will launch June 11. The campaign will feature emerging Sony artists Gretchen Wilson, Switchfoot, Los Lonely Boys and Five For Fighting's John Ondrasik. The campaign will demonstrate how the Sony Card from Bank One enables Sony enthusiasts to transform their everyday purchases into new and exciting entertainment and technology experiences. The campaign will include a sweepstakes that gives entrants over 21 years of age the opportunity to win one of three themed weekends. There is no purchase necessary to enter the sweepstakes. To enter and for complete details, consumers may visit www.sonycardexperience.com. "The Ultimate Rock N' Roll Weekend" will include round-trip airfare and accommodations for two for four days/three nights in Las Vegas, two VIP tickets to a concert at The Hard Rock Hotel, limousine service for the evening of the concert, up to $200 for dinner and drinks at a Las Vegas restaurant and $500 in spending money. "The Ultimate Hollywood Weekend" will include round-trip airfare and accommodations for two for four days/three nights in Los Angeles, two VIP tickets to a world movie premiere, up to $200 for dinner and drinks at a Hollywood restaurant and limousine service for the evening of the premiere. "The Ultimate Adventure Weekend" will include round-trip airfare and accommodations for two for eight days/seven nights in Costa Rica; activities include cycling through exotic rain forests, descending volcanoes, hiking remote jungles or exploring vibrant ocean reefs. Scoring Rewards The Sony Card, a versatile rewards credit card that gives consumers numerous opportunities to earn Sony entertainment and technology products with everyday purchases, was introduced in February. Cardmembers may earn a variety of rewards with purchases: Triple points for every dollar in card purchases spent on Sony products (including Sony CDs, DVDs and games) purchased directly from Sony (both online at sonystyle.com and at Sony Style® store retail outlets) and from Sony authorized retailers. Eight points for every dollar spent on the card for purchases at www.sony.com/mysony. One point for every dollar spent in other card purchases including everyday purchases and recurring payments. Cardmembers may choose to redeem their rewards online, via phone or through purchase credits. For additional information about the Sony Card, visit www.sonycardexperience.com or call 877-717-SONY (7669). Sony Corporation of America, based in New York City, is the U.S. subsidiary of Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. Sony is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications, and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal U.S. businesses include Sony Electronics Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Music Entertainment Inc., and Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of over $72 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, and it employs 162,000 people worldwide. Sony's consolidated sales in the U.S. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2004, was $20.4 billion. Sony Corporation of America's homepage is: http://www.sony.com/SCA/index.shtml Bank One Corporation is the nation's sixth-largest bank holding company, with assets of $320 billion. Bank One currently has more than 51 million credit cards issued, making it the largest Visa card issuer in the world. Bank One offers a full range of financial services to large corporate and middle market commercial customers and retail consumers. This press release and additional information can be found at www.bankone.com..