Music Fans Have Selected the "Next Great Road Songs” in Midas and Spin Magazine Rock the Highway Competition

Music fans have spoken. They have chosen the "next great road songs” in a summer-long contest sponsored by auto service provider Midas International Corporation and SPIN.

More than 1,200 original songs were submitted in the competition. Judges comprised of SPIN editors, music industry experts and Midas representatives selected 10 finalists in two categories: "unplugged” for songs using non-amplified instruments and "amped” for songs using any number of instruments, recording style or production methods.

From the 20 finalists, music fans voted online for the top three songs in each category. First, second and third vote-getters in each category have won $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. In addition, the six winners will appear in a Midas advertisement in SPIN magazine’s November edition.

First place winner in the "amped” category is "Where I Go” by Cousin Affect, whose music combines blues with funky chord arrangements. John Lilly’s "Come and Go” won the "unplugged” category. Lilly is an acoustic performer who specializes in Americana and traditional folk music.

Finishing second and third, respectively, in the "amped” category were "One More Memory” by Sammi Moore and "Odyssey” by The Spanish Channel.

Second place vote-getter in the "unplugged” category was "Walk with You” by Mark Burke. Third place went to "Lost in Texas” by Granville Automatic.

"We had a wide variety of highly creative original songs submitted for consideration,” said Mike Bevan, Midas’ director of retail and field marketing. "And, music fans had fun helping us discover these great road songs.”

Bevan said that music fans can listen to the winning road songs at www.rockthehighway.com.

ABOUT MIDAS

Midas (NYSE: MDS) is one of the world’s largest providers of automotive service, offering brake, maintenance, tires, exhaust, steering and suspension services at nearly 2,400 franchised, licensed and company-owned Midas shops in 15 countries including nearly 1,600 in the United States and Canada. Midas also owns the SpeeDee Oil Change business with 175 auto service centers in the United States and Mexico.

ABOUT SPIN

Since 1985, SPIN magazine has been known for giving the first national exposure to many of history’s most important recording artists. The publication has expanded to be a monthly resource for all things prominent in music. Its leading web presence offers daily unique content and breaking news for readers and listeners through www.spin.com. SPIN celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010.