Superstar Beyonce Launches Search for an All-Female Band

  Who:    Music World Music/Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records superstar
          Beyonce

  What:   Open auditions for an all-female band for Beyonce's upcoming tour

  Where:  Various locations nationwide

  When:   Monday, June 12, 2006, Noon to 9 P.M.

  Superstar Beyonce Knowles has announced her search for an all-female band.

The musicians chosen will become the artist's touring ensemble in support of her second solo album, "B'Day," slated for September release.

Auditions will be held before Beyonce's creative team and the superstar will make the final selections.

Musicians should be at least 18 years and older and prepared to play Beyonce's hit song, "Work It Out," as performed on the "Beyonce: Live At Wembley" DVD.

Positions to be filled include drums, keys, bass, guitar, horns (alto, tenor, sax, trumpet) and percussion.

In addition to having a "look," musicians auditioning for Beyonce's touring ensemble must be able to play by ear (reading music is optional).

  Musicians auditioning must be able to play one minute (minimum) solo.
  Musicians must bring a headshot and resume to the audition.

Finalists chosen at local auditions must be available to fly to New York to perform a final audition for Beyonce and her creative team the week of June 12 and must be available to begin working on the road by June 20.

  The locations for the open auditions follow:

  New York/New Jersey Area:

  SST
  1806 Park Ave
  Weehawken, NJ.  07086
  201-864-5666
  http://www.sstrentals.com/

  Southeast/Atlanta Area:

  Crossover Entertainment Studios
  1310 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd
  Atlanta, GA.  30318
  404-352-3716
  http://www.crossover-studios.com/

  Southern California/Los Angeles Area:

  Center Staging
  3407 Winona Ave.
  Burbank, CA.  91504
  818-559-4333
  http://www.centerstaging.com/
  http://www.rehearsals.com/

  Midwest/Chicago Area:

  Pressure Point Recording Studios
  2239 South Michigan Ave.
  Chicago, IL. 60616
  312-842-8099
  http://www.pprecs.com/

  West/Houston Area:

  VT2 Studios
  2401 West Bellfort
  Houston, TX 77054
  p 713.877.1877
  http://www.vt2.com/

Music World Music/Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records will release "B'Day," the much-anticipated new solo album from Beyonce, on Tuesday, September 5.

"B'Day" will be released worldwide on September 4, Beyonce's 25th birthday.

The pop music superstar's sophomore studio album premieres all new music produced, written and arranged by Beyonce. "Deja Vu," the album's first single, features guest artist Jay-Z with production by Rodney Jerkins. Beyonce's producers on B'Day include Rich Harrison, Sean Garrett, The Neptunes, and Swizz Beatz. B'Day is executive produced by Beyonce and Mathew Knowles.

Beyonce's new album is the artist's first full-length solo work since her #1 multi-platinum 2003 solo debut, "Dangerously In Love," which earned her five 2004 Grammy Awards including Best Contemporary R&B Album and Best R&B Song ("Crazy In Love"). With her five-in-one-year Grammy win, Beyonce tied the record for the most Grammys to be won in a single year by a female artist. "Dangerously In Love" and "Crazy In Love" made chart history when both album and single simultaneously hit #1 in the U.S. and the UK (which hadn't happened since 1983). Beyonce toured for the first time as a solo artist in 2003 in support of "Dangerously In Love," which has sold more than 11 million records worldwide.

  Fan club:  http://www.welovebeyonce.com/
             http://www.beyonceonline.com/
             http://www.houseofdereon.com/
             http://www.columbiarecords.com/

SOURCE: Music World Music/Sony Urban Music/Columbia Records

CONTACT: Yvette Noel-Schure of Sony Urban Music Media, New York,
+1-212-833-4483, Yvette.Noel-Schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.welovebeyonce.com/
http://www.beyonceonline.com/
http://www.houseofdereon.com/