Tuesday, April 3, 2012

JASON MRAZ SLATES “TOUR IS A FOUR LETTER WORD”
WORLDWIDE CONCERT TOUR;
DATES CELEBRATE HUGELY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM;
“LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” ARRIVES ON APRIL 17TH
ST. LOUIS SHOW DATE – SEPT. 11 LIVE AT VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATER! 
TICKETS ON SALE SATURDAY, APRIL 14 AT 10AM

Atlantic recording artist Jason Mraz has announced plans for a major worldwide tour, dubbed “TOUR IS A FOUR LETTER WORD.” The newly announced dates will celebrate the upcoming release of his hugely anticipated new album, “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD.”  The album – which features the hit single, “I Won’t Give Up” – arrives in U.S. stores and at all online retailers on April 17th,  while “simultaneously” being released worldwide on dates ranging from April 14 (Germany/Australia) and April 16 (UK and most of Europe).The global trek, which sees Atlantic Records labelmate Christina Perri opening on the North American leg, will get underway in early June with a series of Asian dates that includes shows in South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.  From there, Mraz will return home for his biggest North American tour to date, kicking off August 9th at New Orleans ’ Lakefront Arena.  Further highlights include stops at Denver ’s world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater (slated for September 24th) and Los Angeles ’ one-and-only Hollywood Bowl (on October 5th).  The global journey closes out in Europe with stops that include France , Germany , and the famed O2 Arena in London . Tickets will be on-sale beginning April 13th.  There will be presale ticket opportunities in many U.S. markets.  For complete details, please visit http://jasonmraz.com/tour.   In North America , Jason has worked closely with Ticketmaster to implement their “paperless ticketing” system in most venues, in order to attempt to get the tickets in the hands of “our real fans, without the inflated pricing we’ve seen in so many recent tours.  I know we could be charging more for the best seats in the house, but I want all our fans to get an equal chance to afford and buy our tickets.”
In addition to the imminent tour, Mraz has scheduled a number of high profile TV appearances to herald the release of “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD.”  Among the highlights are visits to PBS’ Tavis Smiley and the nationally syndicated Ellen DeGeneres Show (both on April 17th), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! on April 18th, and E!’s Chelsea Lately on April 24th.  This spring, Mraz will appear on VH1’s Storytellers, and, later this year, he’ll perform on the popular webcast, Live From Daryl’s House.  The appearances follow Mraz’s recent performances on NBC’s Today and CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman, as well as an additional installment of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.  Mraz and Christina Perri recently performed Perri’s “Distance,” creating a special moment during the German Echo Awards.  This was followed by Mraz’s many other international television performances that include Taratata in France and Numero 1 in Spain .
Produced by multiple GRAMMY® Award-winner Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, Christina Perri, My Morning Jacket), “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” marks Mraz’s finest, most fully realized collection to date.  Fueled by magnificently textured arrangements and distinctive vocal landscapes, the album – Mraz’s fourth studio release and first new collection since 2008’s epochal “WE SING. WE DANCE. WE STEAL THINGS.” – fully confirms the San Diego-based singer/songwriter as one of modern pop’s most vibrant and inventive artists.
“LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” is available now for pre-order via http://jasonmraz.com/preorder.  A variety of unique packages offer fans the opportunity for first access to ticket pre-sales for Jason’s upcoming tour--available only to people who pre-order through jasonmraz.com. Packages include exciting extras such as a limited edition t-shirt featuring Jason’s own Instagram photos, a hand-numbered lithographed poster, a bumper sticker, a tote bag, a magnet set, an instant download of the recently released “LIVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” EP, and an array of additional album content such as demos, videos, and special bonus tracks.  All pre-order packages will also include an exclusive track, entitled “Collapsible Plans,” which is not available anywhere else.
Meanwhile, “I Won’t Give Up” is proving another pop smash for Mraz, having arrived as the week’s #1 most added track at Hot AC radio outlets nationwide upon its February impact date.  The track is currently bulleting its way towards the top 10 at Hot AC, while also earning major airplay at Triple A outlets across the country. 
With worldwide sales nearing 1 million, “I Won’t Give Up” debuted in the #1 slot on Billboard’s “Digital Songs” chart one week before its January release – the first #1 “Digital Songs” debut since Lil’ Wayne’s “She Will (Feat. Drake)” topped the chart in August 2011.
The song also quickly ascended to #1 on iTunes’ “Top Songs” and “Top Pop Songs” charts, while simultaneously topping digital retailer charts around the world.
The “I Won’t Give Up” companion video – directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mark Pellington (Bruce Springsteen, U2, Pearl Jam) – has just been added at VH1, where it is currently #7 on the channel’s Top 20 Music Video Countdown. The clip has further drawn more than 2 million individual views at Mraz’ official YouTube channel, located at www.youtube.com/user/OfficialJasonMraz.  In addition, the “I Won’t Give Up” lyric video has seen over 13 million individual views since its surprise arrival earlier this year. 
Three tracks from “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” will be unveiled in the weeks leading up to the album’s release, beginning with “The Freedom Song,” which is available now exclusively via iTunes.  Penned by Seattle-based singer/songwriter Luc Reynaud – whom Jason hails as “a kindred spirit in a time of healing”– the track marks the first cover version to be included on a Mraz studio release.  An official lyric video for “The Freedom Song” is streaming now at both YouTube and http://jasonmraz.com.  Last week, Mraz released the second preview track titled “93 Million Miles.”  The track is currently available on iTunes and also is accompanied by a lyric video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5WiqJFq2-o.  A third track and lyric video, “Everything is Sound,” will be unveiled on April 10.
In February, Mraz released an iTunes exclusive EP, entitled “LIVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD.”  The four track collection – featuring live acoustic renditions of two songs from “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD” alongside longtime favorites, “I Never Knew You” and “You Fckn Did It” – was an instant sensation, reaching #2 on the iTunes “Top Pop Albums” chart as well as #5 on the overall “Top Albums” ranking.
Furthermore, a very special Tangrams online game has just launched on Mraz’s official website, offering fans a weekly puzzle based upon the striking artwork featured on “LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD.”  Upon solving each week’s puzzle, fans will receive an exclusive track or acoustic video featuring songs from the new album.  For more, please see http://jasonmraz.com/puzzle.
One of the modern era’s most gifted pop troubadours, Jason Mraz’s extraordinary musical journey has taken him from coffee houses to stadiums all over the world, with two GRAMMY® Awards and six nominations already to his credit.  His 2008 third album, “WE SING. WE DANCE. WE STEAL THINGS.” was an indelible global blockbuster, earning gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications in 21 countries around the world.  The album’s lead single, “I’m Yours” was ASCAP’s 2010 “Song of the Year” and also holds the record for being the longest-running song in the history of the Billboard “Hot 100” chart.  A prolific songwriter, Mraz has been feted with a number of honors, including the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s esteemed “Hal David Starlight Award,” presented to gifted songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs. 
Mraz spent much of 2011 road-testing the songs from his as-yet-untitled new album touring alongside his longtime friend, percussionist Noel “Toca” Rivera.  The worldwide trek – which included performances in North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia – saw Mraz celebrating music’s lasting power to inspire change and help others through global citizenship.  Among the journey’s many highlights were multiple sold out shows at such iconic venues as Australia’s Sydney Opera House, New York City’s Carnegie Hall, and Spreckels Theatre in Mraz’s adopted hometown of San Diego.
Long known for his many philanthropic activities, Mraz recently announced the establishment of the Jason Mraz Foundation (http://jasonmraz.com/foundation/), devoted to supporting a number of charities for which he has been a dedicated and impassioned advocate.

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