Date:	Friday January 16th 2004
Time:	10.30am (TV crews set-up: 10am)
Place:	The Hard Rock Café - 221 West 57th Street - NYC
What:	Details of TEN major Beatles anniversary events & products

Monday February 9th sees the 40th anniversary of one of the most significant events in pop-culture history. The Beatles' American debut on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in front of a then world-record TV audience of 73 MILLION viewers. (That was 40% of the US population in 1964. The present-day equivalent of an audience of 116 MILLION!)

To mark this major anniversary - many of America's leading cultural institutions (including Lincoln Center, The American Film Institute, The Smithsonian, The Museum of TV & Radio, Kodak's George Eastman Museum) have organized celebratory events.

There are many new products on the market - including a DVD containing the first-ever availability of all TWENTY of the Beatles' live performances on "The Ed Sullivan Show." (Eleven of the performances have not been seen unedited for 40 years.)

There is also a brand-new illustrated history of the entire phenomenon of the Beatles' American breakthrough by one of the world's leading Beatles historians - Bruce Spizer - with an introduction by Walter Cronkite. (The book is published on Jan. 16th)

A major party geared to Beatle-loving celebrities is to be held at The Hard Rock Café in New York on the exact anniversary of the historic first Ed Sullivan Show - Feb. 9th. It is to be hosted by "The Fab 40!" - an honorary committee of friends, family members and associates of the Beatles who were with them on that historic night and first US tour.

There will also be the launch of a special campaign with a great media-friendly 'human interest' angle - the nationwide search to find the teenage girl whose simple request to her local DC radio station - quite literally jump-started Beatlemania 40 years ago.

Details of all the above will be announced at the press conference. Representatives of many of the events and projects will be on hand. And respected Beatles historians.

All media will receive:

• 30-minute EPK with ultra-rare Beatles footage
• The new history book - "The Beatles Are Coming!"

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS - "BEATLES 101" FOR MEDIA COVERING THE 40th ANNIVERSARY

The press conference will provide an excellent source of material for all media preparing stories to run in late January - early February.

The press conference is followed by a public event (12 noon-2pm) with an illustrated talk about the Beatles Invasion of America by Beatles historian Bruce Spizer. (1pm) There will be fans to interview.

Three of the world's most respected Beatles scholars will be on hand during and after both events - to advise and assist members of the media who will be covering the 40th anniversary in February. They will be able to answer all questions. And suggest story angles and interviewees.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

o PRESS CONFERENCE ITSELF TAKES PLACE ON MAJOR ANNIVERSARY DATE

The press conference is being held on Friday January 16th - the exact 40th anniversary of the day the Beatles' "I Want To Hold Your Hand" was certified #1 in the USA - a key factor in propelling the Beatles to mega-stardom.

o COVERAGE OF PRESS CONFERENCE CAN LINK TO THE MICHAEL JACKSON STORY!

There is a natural connection to another showbiz story which the media will be covering later the same day (on the West Coast) - which would provide a natural segue to this story.

Friday January 16th is the day when Michael Jackson is due to be arraigned in Santa Barbara. Michael Jackson's very expensive defense team is of course being paid out of the vast profits from Jackson's ownership of the Beatles' song catalog. The value of which is about to soar again with all the Beatles 40th anniversary celebrations! More lawyers for Michael!

INTERVIEWEES AVAILABLE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE

* BRUCE SPIZER - Respected Beatles historian & author of definitive new illustrated history of the Beatles US breakthrough. "THE BEATLES ARE COMING! The Birth Of Beatlemania In America"

* MARK LAPIDOS - Founder/producer of America's premier Beatles fan conventions - set up in 1974 with the blessing of John Lennon. 500,000 admissions in 30 years. Now preparing 100th convention.

* Dr. JOYCE BROTHERS - Famed psychologist & broadcaster - who met the Beatles on that first visit and interviewed them for her celebrated newspaper column. (Photo of the Dr. & Beatles avail.)

* SID BERNSTEIN - Promoter of the Beatles' February 1964 Carnegie Hall concert. He subsequently promoted their record-breaking concerts at Shea Stadium in 1965 and 1966.

* "COUSIN BRUCIE" MORROW - Top disc jockey on New York's influential WABC in 1964 who gave extensive airplay to the Beatles. He will emcee the Beatles 40th Anniversary party.

* MARTIN LEWIS - Beatles scholar. Produced DVD of "A Hard Day's Night" & Associate Producer of "Ed Sullivan-Beatles" DVD. Consultant on "Anthology." Organizer of "The Fab 40!" celebrations.

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