MACKLEMORE & RYAN LEWIS TO PERFORM AT THE "2013 mtvU WOODIE AWARDS" IN AUSTIN, TEXAS ON MARCH 14

Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Joey Bada$$ to Take the Stage at the "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards Festival"

"2013 Woodie Awards Special" to Air on MTV and mtvU on Sunday, March 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

New York, NY - February 25, 2013 - MTV's 24-hour college network, mtvU, today announced that "2013 mtvU Woodie Award" nominee Macklemore & Ryan Lewis will perform at the "mtvU Woodie Awards" on Thursday, March 14, 2013 during the SXSW Music Festival. Additionally, 2013 "Breaking Woodie" nominee Alt-J, Jake Bugg and Joey Bada$$, will take the Festival stages by storm, leading into the "Woodie Awards" that evening. MTV and mtvU will air a half-hour "2013 Woodie Awards" special on Sunday, March 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. mtvU will announce additional performers at a later date.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, one of MTV's 2013 Artists to Watch, are the first performers announced for the "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards." The duo from Seattle, Washington, has emerged as a premier international hip-hop group known for their electrifying live shows and innovative music videos and media. The group broke new ground by independently releasing their debut full-length album, The Heist, which shot into the #1 spot on iTunes and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. Additionally, "Thrift Shop" featuring Wanz. recently spent four weeks at #1 on the Billboard "Hot 100." Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are gearing up for the show by headlining the "The 2013 mtvU Woodies Tour," which touches down on three college campuses in advance of their performance in Austin. The pair is up against Dan Deacon, deadmau5, Amanda Palmer, The xx, Jack White, and Avicii for the "Branching Out Woodie," which honors artists finding creative ways to reach fans via social media. To check out the list of the "2013 mtvU Woodie" nominees click here.

"We're excited to be performing at the 'mtvU Woodies' this year. It's a great stage and lineup to be a part of and we're looking forward to seeing our fans in Austin!" said Macklemore & Ryan Lewis.

"2013 mtvU Woodies Festival" Performers

Another MTV 2013 Artist to Watch, English indie rockers Alt-J will perform during the "Woodies Festival." The group formed their quartet member band in 2008 under the moniker FILMS, and spent two years rehearsing before signing with Infectious Music Ltd./Canvasback/Atlantic Records in 2011. They're known for their signature blend of layered, folk-inflected dub-pop and soaring alternative rock, which was first heard on the 2012 singles "Matilda" and "Fitzpleasure."

Another festival performer, Jake Bugg is an English singer/songwriter who blends a melodious working class swagger with a bluesy feel. Bugg was first recognized at 17 and before he knew it he was supporting acts like Lana Del Ray and Michael Kiwanuka. Bugg landed a deal with Mercury and his first single, "Lightning Bolt," arrived in early 2012, while his eponymous debut album hit in October.

Joey Bada$$ will also perform at the "Woodies Festival" on the MTV Jams stage, which will host a number of up-and-coming hip-hop acts throughout the day. An 18 year-old MC from Brooklyn, NY, Bada$$ has a unique vision and perspective on music. He was discovered by Johnny Shipes at the age 15 for his skills freestyling in a video on the web, and a couple years later, his song "Survival Tactics" hit the world by storm. He is a member of the hip hop collective Pro.Era, with whom he has released two mixtapes, and he also released his debut mixtape 1999 in June 2012 to critical acclaim and recognition, followed by Rejex in September.

The Woodies Festival and Award Show

To harness the power of live music, MTV and mtvU are touching down in Austin, Texas during the SXSW Music Festival on Thursday, March 14, 2013. The day will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT with a host of live performances by up-and-coming artists during the open-air "Woodie Awards Festival," which will feature two stages: the "Festival" stage, and the "MTV Jams" stage. Open to all SXSW badge holders and music fans over the age of 18, the performances will lead up to the "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards," which will take-over the Festival beginning at 8:00 p.m. CT on March 14, 2013. Music fans without SXSW badges will need a "Woodies" ticket for entry. Tickets are free and available in the Austin Convention Center on Wednesday, March 13 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the top of the Rotunda stairs. On Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT, mtvU will bring the best moments from the show to MTV and mtvU in the half-hour "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards Special." The hosted special will showcase some of the best "Woodie Awards" performances and celebrate the artists who are walking away with Awards this year. Additionally, the biggest celebrities, comedians and artists will join the special to give a nod to their favorite artists.

The ninth annual "mtvU Woodie Awards" promise to be an unforgettable night of music and performances. The "mtvU Woodie Awards" originate from the indie tradition of giving a wooden record to those artists who generate a passionate response to their music. The show was established in 2004 and has since propelled numerous recognized acts to the next level of their careers - including surging record sales, headlining tours and mainstream acclaim. Examples include: The Killers (Breaking Woodie '04), Death Cab for Cutie (Best Video Woodie '05), Muse (Performing Woodie '07), Gym Class Heroes (Woodie of the Year '07), Lupe Fiasco (performed at Woodies '07), Paramore (Woodie of the Year '08), Kings of Leon (Woodie of the Year '09), Vampire Weekend (performed at '09 Woodies), Matt & Kim (Best Video Woodie '09), Wiz Khalifa (Woodie of the Year '11), Odd Future (performed at '11 Woodies), MGK (Breaking Woodie '12) and Mac Miller (Woodie of Year and Performing Woodie '12).

Official sponsors of the "Woodie Awards Festival" and "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards" include Chevrolet, Express, The Hershey Company, and Outlook.com.

Eric Conte, Amy Doyle and Gina Esposito are the Executive Producers of the "2013 mtvU Woodie Awards." Joe Buoye is the Executive in Charge of Production. Produced by Tracy Hellerud.

About mtvU:

Broadcast to more than 750 college campuses and via top cable distributors in 700 college communities nationwide, mtvU reaches nearly 9 million U.S. college students - making it the largest, most comprehensive television network just for college students. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, mtvU can be seen in the dining areas, fitness centers, student lounges and dorm rooms of campuses throughout the U.S., as well as on cable systems from Charter Communications, Verizon FiOS TV, Suddenlink Communications, AT&T u-Verse and nearly 70 others. mtvU is dedicated to every aspect of college life, reaching students everywhere they are: on-air, online and on the campus. mtvU programs music videos from emerging artists that can't be seen anywhere else, news, student life features and initiatives that give college students the tools to advance positive social change. mtvU is always on campus, with hundreds of events per year, including exclusive concerts, giveaways, shooting mtvU series and more. For more information about mtvU, and a complete programming schedule, visit www.mtvU.com