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Verizon, Universal partner for Black History Month

In honor Black History Month and to celebrate Motown's 50th anniversary, Verizon Wireless and Universal Music Enterprises will provide V Cast customers with classic songs by iconic Motown artists throughout February.

V Cast Music will highlight exclusive sets of Motown hits each week, beginning with Motown Icons. Motown for Lovers will be available in line with Valentine's Day, followed by Motown Number Ones and then the Ladies of Motown.

"We've worked with Universal Music on many fronts, and offer music from many of their artists through V Cast Music with Rhapsody," said Debra Lewis, spokeswoman at Verizon, Basking Ridge, NJ. "It's always our goal to work with top-notch content providers and Universal is clearly in that space on the music front.

A sampling of the full-track songs coming to V Cast Music during Black History Month are familiar favorites such as "Shop Around," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Please Mr. Postman," "ABC" and "I Second that Emotion."

More full-track songs from artists, including The Supremes, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, The Commodores, The Four Tops and The Temptations from Motown's early years to songs from other hit makers such as Boyz II Men and the Jackson 5, will be available for download and purchase through V Cast Music.

Verizon Wireless customers can also download and buy ringtones and ringback tones of exclusive remixes and special edits of Motown classics.

Customers who want callers to hear a Motown song when they call, can buy special Motown-themed ringback tone Jukeboxes with classic and more recent hits.

"The Motown songs we're offering to customers are classic any time you listen to them, but given the history of the label and its impact on not only American culture, but American music," Ms. Lewis said.'

"Verizon is proud of this partnership and thrilled to be able to offer these iconic songs to our customers, highlighted this month."

Throughout February, customers who use V Cast Song ID to identify any Motown recording will be entered for a chance to win a fly-away trip to see The Temptations in Las Vegas.

Participants can also enter for a chance to win via text messaging or for free online.

"Mobile music continues to grow -- Verizon currently offers more than 5 million full-track songs in our catalog," Ms. Lewis said. "We're excited about the possibilities of mobile music."