Union County Teen Takes Home First Place in PDFNJ’s Substance Use Prevention Music Competition
May 12, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2022
Contact: Natalie Golub, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org
Union County Teen Takes Home First Place in PDFNJ’s
Substance Use Prevention Music Competition
Atlantic County Student Claims Second Place, Bergen County Student Earns Third
MILLBURN, NJ — A Union County teen used her musical talent to shout down drugs by creating a unique substance use prevention song to win first place in the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition.
In its 18th year, the Your Song! Your Voice! competition, supported by 95.9 WRAT and the New Jersey Broadcasters Association, is designed on the premise of music’s ability to sway and move people. It challenges New Jersey high school students to be peer leaders and take a stand against substance abuse and misuse by creating original music and lyrics with substance use prevention messages.
The competition culminated with the Prevention Concert that was held virtually on May 12. Keyoni Lee, of Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy in Union County won first place for her original song, “Never Too Late.” Jamar Felder, of Egg Harbor Township High School in Atlantic County, earned second place for his original song, “1-800-662-4357.” Andrew Cho, of Leonia High School in Bergen County, took home third place for his song, “Drifting Away.”
“These talented New Jersey high school students are true peer leaders on the issue of substance use prevention,” said PDFNJ’s Executive Director Angelo Valente. “Each of the participants should be commended for their creativity, musical talent and resolve to use their talent to spread important prevention messages.”
The concert played on the contest website, ShoutDownDrugs.com, and featured the musical performances of 9 finalists from throughout the state. WRAT Creative Director and PM Drive DJ Jimmy Steal announced the winners live on 95.9 FM WRAT at the conclusion of the concert.
The winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges, as well as online voting, which began in February and closed at midnight May 11. The contest website featured a profile of each musical act, and the public was able to vote for their favorite songs.
The first-place winner received a music contract worth $5,000. Second- and third-place winners earned $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively. The winning students will perform their original songs at statewide events over the next year.
To listen to recording of the Prevention Concert Audio Show, please visit ShoutDownDrugs.com. Each of the winning musical acts will be featured on WRAT’s Jersey Rock show at 11:30 pm on May 17, 18 and 19. To listen, tune in to WRAT 95.9 FM or go to wrat.com.
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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 211 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.
