The Belmont Vision

ISSUE: 01/2/08 > NEWS > Landonaustin

Though only in his second semester at Belmont, Landon Austin’s name is already well known on campus and in the cyber world – ¬¬ he is one of the three finalists in the “Crash the Super Bowl” contest presented by Doritos.

He’s vying for votes with two other finalists, and fans can go to www.myspace.com/doritoscrashthesuperbowl to vote once every day through Jan. 27. The only requirement is that you have a Myspace account, and it’s free. Just what will the winner of Crash the Super Bowl receive? Sixty seconds of air time for their own music video on aired on national television when the nearly 100 million people see the New York Giants and the New England Patriots battle in the Feb 3 Super Bowl. And to top that off, they get a contract from Interscope Records.

"The fans have spoken and we are thrilled to take Kina, Landon and Nivla one step closer to the opportunity of a lifetime," said Ann Mukherjee, group vice president of marketing for Frito-Lay. "This was never about finding the next Doritos jingle. From day one, we were on a quest to discover new talent and open doors to help launch careers."
Opportunities like these are what some people could only dream of. And it seems that Austin feels the same if he wins. “I do not even know what to say about that. If I win, it is a dream come true.”

He was driving when he found out he was a finalist. “It was unbelievable,” he said. After he found out, he had to wait a few days to share the news.

Austin entered last October after his dad found out about the contest and told him. “I finally did it because of him,” he said. He submitted a video and audio track recorded in his dorm room as he sang his song, “Waitin’.

Although he is studying finance, Austin said he has always had a passion for music. He found out about Belmont through a friend who graduated from his high school and still goes here. He hopes to have a successful career whether in music or finance. “Music is a passion – if it works out it would be a blessing,” he said.

The experience of being a finalist has sent Austin to Los Angeles where he filmed a music video for his song.

“It was one of the best experiences ever,” he said, and it’s an experience he would like to repeat. And if he wins, his music video will be broadcast for millions of people to see. According to Neilson Media Research, 90.7 million viewers in America watched the Super Bowl in 2006.

“That is the part that gets to me, I can’t buy that time. It is unbelievable,” he said.

But he’s also getting recognition in Nashville, where he moved from Dallas to attend Belmont, “It’s cool to see Nashville supporting me,” he said.

To date, Nashville press including The Tennessean, Channel Four News-WSMV and News Channel 5-WTVF has featured him. He has also been mentioned in MOViN 107.5 radio website in Dallas. “It is beneficial to have two cities I can call home,” he said.

But even with all the media attention, he is reluctant to embrace the hype. “I do not know if I am any more popular,” Austin said explaining that he has never done media like this before. But a lot of his support is also coming from college students including the 939 student members of his Facebook group. If he wins, it will be Belmont, Texas and everyone in his life that will have helped him reach the Super Bowl and win a record deal.

“I would not have made it this far without them,” Austin said.

Belmont freshman Daniel Fernandez is one of those supporters. Living just one door down from him, he considers Austin a close friend.

“I think it is a well deserved honor for Landon Austin because he is an amazing guitarist and writer as well as a humble generous man,” Fernandez said.

How does all this encouragement make Austin feel?

“It is great. I love the support,” he said.

The finalists need the public to vote on Myspace. Even though voting ends Jan. 27, the winner will not be revealed until Feb. 3 during this year’s Super Bowl commercials. At that time, the three finalists (Austin, Kina Grannis and Nivla) will also find out who won. The future for one of these three finalists can change in just a few weeks.


		Belmont Bruin Landon Austin wants your vote for his chance to shine By Jeanette ceja Staff Writer	Photos&Videos

		ISSUE: 01/2/08 > NEWS > Landonaustin Though only in his second semester at Belmont, Landon Austin’s name is already well known on campus and in the cyber world – ¬¬ he is one of the three finalists in the “Crash the Super Bowl” contest presented by Doritos. He’s vying for votes with two other finalists, and fans can go to www.myspace.com/doritoscrashthesuperbowl to vote once every day through Jan. 27. The only requirement is that you have a Myspace account, and it’s free. Just what will the winner of Crash the Super Bowl receive? Sixty seconds of air time for their own music video on aired on national television when the nearly 100 million people see the New York Giants and the New England Patriots battle in the Feb 3 Super Bowl. And to top that off, they get a contract from Interscope Records. "The fans have spoken and we are thrilled to take Kina, Landon and Nivla one step closer to the opportunity of a lifetime," said Ann Mukherjee, group vice president of marketing for Frito-Lay. "This was never about finding the next Doritos jingle. From day one, we were on a quest to discover new talent and open doors to help launch careers." Opportunities like these are what some people could only dream of. And it seems that Austin feels the same if he wins. “I do not even know what to say about that. If I win, it is a dream come true.” He was driving when he found out he was a finalist. “It was unbelievable,” he said. After he found out, he had to wait a few days to share the news. Austin entered last October after his dad found out about the contest and told him. “I finally did it because of him,” he said. He submitted a video and audio track recorded in his dorm room as he sang his song, “Waitin’. Although he is studying finance, Austin said he has always had a passion for music. He found out about Belmont through a friend who graduated from his high school and still goes here. He hopes to have a successful career whether in music or finance. “Music is a passion – if it works out it would be a blessing,” he said. The experience of being a finalist has sent Austin to Los Angeles where he filmed a music video for his song. “It was one of the best experiences ever,” he said, and it’s an experience he would like to repeat. And if he wins, his music video will be broadcast for millions of people to see. According to Neilson Media Research, 90.7 million viewers in America watched the Super Bowl in 2006. “That is the part that gets to me, I can’t buy that time. It is unbelievable,” he said. But he’s also getting recognition in Nashville, where he moved from Dallas to attend Belmont, “It’s cool to see Nashville supporting me,” he said. To date, Nashville press including The Tennessean, Channel Four News-WSMV and News Channel 5-WTVF has featured him. He has also been mentioned in MOViN 107.5 radio website in Dallas. “It is beneficial to have two cities I can call home,” he said. But even with all the media attention, he is reluctant to embrace the hype. “I do not know if I am any more popular,” Austin said explaining that he has never done media like this before. But a lot of his support is also coming from college students including the 939 student members of his Facebook group. If he wins, it will be Belmont, Texas and everyone in his life that will have helped him reach the Super Bowl and win a record deal. “I would not have made it this far without them,” Austin said. Belmont freshman Daniel Fernandez is one of those supporters. Living just one door down from him, he considers Austin a close friend. “I think it is a well deserved honor for Landon Austin because he is an amazing guitarist and writer as well as a humble generous man,” Fernandez said. How does all this encouragement make Austin feel? “It is great. I love the support,” he said. The finalists need the public to vote on Myspace. Even though voting ends Jan. 27, the winner will not be revealed until Feb. 3 during this year’s Super Bowl commercials. At that time, the three finalists (Austin, Kina Grannis and Nivla) will also find out who won. The future for one of these three finalists can change in just a few weeks.