For Immediate Release
October 05, 2009
Contact Information

Rick Maynard
502-874-8100
Rick.Maynard@kfc.com
David Rudd
312-988-2032
drudd@webershandwick.com

(BPRW) KFC PICKS LOUISVILLE ARTIST AS THE WINNER OF ITS "˜HITMAKER' 2009 CONTEST FOR AMATEUR SONGWRITERS

National Contest Winner Earns Home Music Studio

(BLACK PR WIRE) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (October 5, 2009) – The celebrity judging is done, and KFC has selected a Louisville-based songwriter and rapper to sizzle the charts of the future as ‘Hitmaker’ 2009. Hip Hop stars MC Lyte and David Banner judged Renzo Charlez to be the amateur songwriter with the best song to celebrate KFC’s Pride 360 commitment to the community.

As ‘Hitmaker’ 2009, Charlez earns a home recording studio and his song will be among those available for download at www.kfc.com/pride360.

Launched in June to celebrate Black Music Month, the ‘Hitmaker’ song contest invited aspiring musicians to submit original songs that included the key words Individual, Family, Community and Heritage. Renzo Charlez’s song, “I’m Proud of Me,” will be featured on the Pride 360Ëš CD along with songs from 11 other contest entrants. KFC, MC Lyte and David Banner selected the 12 winning songs.

Added star power makes contest a bigger success

KFC executives said the third ‘Hitmaker’ contest was even more successful than last year’s version as it attracted 21 percent more song entries. KFC’s Jermaine Higgins, Multicultural Marketing Manager said celebrity judges MC Lyte and David Banner were great additions to this year’s contest because they helped draw the best musical efforts from the contestants.

“This year’s ‘Hitmaker’ song contest was a great success because we received better songs, and the contest continues to show KFC’s commitment to the communities where we do business,” said Higgins. “We congratulate Renzo Charlez and we’re grateful to have the involvement of MC Lyte and David Banner. They encouraged the participants to bring their ‘A games’ to the contest.”

About KFC
KFC Corporation, based in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant chain specializing in Original Recipe, Extra Crispy, Kentucky Grilled Chicken™ and Original Recipe Strips with home-style sides, Honey BBQ Wings, and freshly made chicken sandwiches. There are more than 15,000 KFC outlets in 109 countries and territories around the world serving some 12 million customers each day. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.) For more information, visit www.kfc.com. www.kfc.com.

About Pride 360
Pride 360 is KFC's reminder that the reasons we succeed are all around us - Individuals, Families, Communities and Heritage. KFC wants to encourage others to succeed and achieve by honoring their heritage and fostering a belief in people. KFC believes, "What we honor today comes full circle tomorrow." For more information about KFC's commitment to the African-American community, please visit www.kfc.com/pride360.