"Hometown News" Sets Off On Minivan PromotionalTour''

    NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Feb. 21, 2002--VFR Records recording artists Hometown News have launched a nine week radio promotion tour scheduled to travel to 90 radio stations in 70 of the top 150 U.S. markets in support of their lead single, "Minivan."
    The "Windstar Minivan Tour" is sponsored in part by the Ford Motor Company. Officials at VFR and Ford felt that there was a natural tie-in based on the single, which promotes the virtues of Minivan life for a growing family. The song recounts a familiar change in lifestyle that is instantly identifiable for many music listeners in their thirties.
    Hometown News is a refreshing new duo comprised of Ron Kingery and Scott Whitehead, whose music features a rare blend of two voices in a true dual melody. Their debut album will be released this spring.
    VFR has "wrapped" the minivan in custom removable artwork featuring photos of Hometown News as well as VFR and Ford logos. The tour began on February 4th with the duo touring the South for three weeks before returning to Nashville to attend Country Radio Seminar. They've already visited stations in Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston, Savannah, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Miami, Fort Myers, Sarasota, and Tampa. As previously reported, after hearing the single "Minivan," WSM Radio's program director Kevin O'Neal immediately added the song in heavy rotation even though VFR's targeted add date is April 1. "Minivan is a hit song that's fresh, exciting and hits the demo right between the eyes," said Kevin O'Neal PD WSM FM.
    This week (Feb. 18-22), Hometown News will cruise the minivan through New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, Jackson, Birmingham, and Huntsville before returning to Nashville to participate in Country Radio Seminar, which is the largest annual convention of country radio station programmers in the country.
    But the Windstar Minivan Tour won't be over yet! Once Country Radio Seminar concludes, Hometown News will climb back in the minivan for another six weeks of travels before returning home to Nashville.
    VFR Records is a division of Spark Entertainment and distributed by RED Distribution. The record label is also the home of country singer/songwriter Mark McGuinn, who broke many Independent radio airplay and sales chart barriers last year with the overwhelming success of his debut single "Mrs. Steven Rudy."
    For more information, contact Scott Stem Publicity at (615) 399-1796 or swsdcs1@comcast.net.