For Immediate Release:
November 17, 2003

Contact:
Jodi Burack (jburack@giles.com)
Giles Communications
(914) 798-7132

Kristin Kavanagh (kristin_kavanagh@liz.com)
DKNY//JEANS
(212) 626-3902

Celebrities Join Fight to Save Music Education

CARLSBAD, CA, November 17, 2003—Teens are at the epicenter of music advocacy - they are extremely passionate about music and unfortunately stand to lose the most if their school music programs are cut. That's why DKNY//JEANS, TEEN PEOPLE magazine, the American Music Conference (AMC), have joined forces to give teens a voice to let the world know they want music in their lives and in their schools.

On November 16, TEEN PEOPLE hosted the second annual 2003 Artist of the Year party, honoring the hottest recording artists on the charts after the American Music Awards. The party, held at the Avalon Hollywood, offered something unique this year by giving celebrities and attendees the opportunity to sign a petition to Congress to ensure that America's youth get the music education they deserve. The petition is the second tier of a petition drive started last year by AMC and the Justin Timberlake Foundation. The celebrities also had the opportunity to pledge their donation of a signed musical instrument to the cause at a later date.

DKNY//JEANS partnered with TEEN PEOPLE and AMC to sponsor a "Velvet Rope Access" Contest, in which entrants submitted their photographs for a chance to become DKNY//JEANS' Red Carpet Correspondent at the TEEN PEOPLE Artist of the Year Party. Lauren McBride was chosen for her interest and focus on music and music education, and was on hand to interview celebrities and ask them to sign the petition.

Numerous celebrities lent their support to music education by signing their names to the petition, including Nick Lachey, Ashley Simpson, JC Chasez, Run DMC, 3LW, Clay Aiken, Pauly Shore, cast members of the hit shows The O.C. and Everwood, Amber Tamblyn of Joan of Arcadia, and Teen People's Artist of the Year Sean Paul. For images, go to www.wireimage.com and click on "DKNY Jeans Sponsors Celebrity Petition Drive."

"DKNY//JEANS, as a brand, is always focused on representing and cultivating teen spirit, energy and creativity" says Susan Davidson, President of DKNY//JEANS. "It shows in our ads, our clothes, and the types of issues and organizations we support. We are thrilled to have been able to create a forum to support AMC at TEEN PEOPLE's coolest event of the year."

Teens across America are able to sign the same petition to Congress that stars signed at the Artist of the Year party. The petition will be delivered to Capitol Hill in March, as a part of AMC's activities surrounding Music in Our Schools Month.

"By aligning ourselves with great partners like TEEN PEOPLE and DKNY//JEANS, the American Music Conference are able to reach millions of teens nationwide and give them access to music and the making of it," states Laura Johnson, Associate Executive Director of AMC. "The celebrity signatures obtained at the Artist of the Year Party and the ongoing petition for music education will help us draw much-needed attention to the music education crisis we now face and the millions of teens it is affecting. It is our hope that with the help and support of those in the music world, AMC, TEEN PEOPLE and DKNY//JEANS will be able to create awareness of music education in schools and ultimately, impact music program funding through the petition drive."

About AMC
Founded in 1947, The American Music Conference is a national non-profit educational association dedicated to promoting the importance of music, music making and music education to the general public. For more information on the American Music Conference, go to www.amc-music.org.

About TEEN PEOPLE
TEEN PEOPLE, a National Magazine Award winner for General Excellence, is the definitive voice of youth culture. Launched in January 1998, TEEN PEOPLE became the first pop culture magazine for teens that focuses on stars, style and substance. With an editorial mix covering celebrities and entertainment, fashion and beauty, and real teens and their accomplishments, TEEN PEOPLE keeps its readers clued in to what's now, what's next and what matters. Published ten times a year with two newsstand special editions, TEEN PEOPLE's guaranteed circulation is 1.6 million.

About DKNY//JEANS
Donna Karan International is one of the world's leading fashion design houses. The Company designs, markets and distributes "designer" and "bridge" collections of women's and men's apparel and sportswear, accessories and shoes under the Donna Karan New York and DKNY brand names, respectively. The DKNY Jeans and DKNY Jeans Juniors divisions are licensed categories for Donna Karan International that fall under the DKNY family of products.