ACROSS THE COUNTRY, February 14, 2007 - This month, Chicago car fans are experiencing karaoke like never before, thanks to Mediascape - a partner company of Universal Images dedicated to providing alternative marketing and technology solutions in the experiential marketplace. Developed for Presentation Works, Exhibit Works, and VW, this in-car Caraoke system allows visitors to hop into an auto show car on the 2007 international circuit and share their "Caraoke" skills with the crowd. Afterward, they can email a Web video link of the performance for instant viewing. Last month, "Caraoke" hit Detroit, prior to that, LA...and in April, the system comes to the Big Apple.

"Our client, Presentation Works, asked us to find a way to send lyrics and music to visitors in a VW Beetle, and record them while they sang along," explained Mediascape President Howard Luby. "After exploring and budgeting a range of agency-supplied ideas, as well as some of our own, we found the best fit."

Mediascape devised a custom system including a large, two-sided screen that details the menu of songs which aspiring stars can launch with the in-dash radio. After selecting a track, the audio plays both in and outside the car, with the lyrics scrolling on the display. Beside it, a view from an interior camera with mic captures and plays back everything the visitors and their friends belt out. By the time they exit the car, the performance, encoded in real time, replays on a preview station across the booth. If so inclined, one can enter a name and email address, not only to receive credit, but also to get a link to the VW branded site constructed by Mediascape. There, all performances are available and categorized by venue, time and song, enabling audiences to relive their moments of fame. Visitors can also vote for favorites and share the YouTube link with others.

Building on the initial karaoke idea, conceived by Volkswagen's ad agency, Crispin Porter Bogusky, VW Account Manager Greg Gilpin collaborated with Presentation Works Creative Director/Senior Producer Rebecca Melville to take it to the next level by introducing video to the mix. "With technical support from Mediascape, we ended up with the perfect recipe for fun," said Melville. "A branded, video karaoke experience that audience members could share with friends and family via the Web."

Seeking to simulate a real ‘sing-and-drive' experience, Presentation Works presented Mediascape the idea and let them go to work. Mediascape excluded all the underlying equipment from view. To accomplish this, both the menu controls and the audio playback system were embedded into the existing car radio, while motion sensors were placed inside the dash board and a small, wide angle camera and mic hidden against the front window. The assortment of controls and power supplies were all wired under the car to a cabinet containing a host of computer and video equipment. Completing the package, Presentation Works provided a range of licensed music, for which Mediascape composed animations of the lyrics that would scroll on the display.

Thus far, Los Angeles, Detroit, and now the Chicago show-goers have expressed high praise for "VW Caraoke."

"Many of the tens of thousands of visitors to the video site have contributed their cheering comments, while others have proudly linked their websites to their own, or their friends', performances," Luby related. New York is last stop on this tour, but Luby said Mediascape is confident of the many other potential applications of the live experience bridged to a branded, on-demand video channel.