OneRepublic's hit track, Apologize, has been playing on the radio incessantly and listeners cannot seem to get enough... But those attending the Isle of MTV concert on June 25 can hear the band sing it live.
They are the first band with whom a deal has been sealed to play at the upcoming mega concert at the Floriana Granaries, The Times has learnt.
Official sources said negotiations are still under way for the other two bands that will form the line-up of the anticipated concert, possibly the hottest ticket of the season.
Last year saw Enrique Iglesias, Maroon 5 and Akon steal the show and MTV is always looking to sign on the biggest names of the summer.
The sources indicated that negotiations were under way with what could be "the next best thing". OneRepublic, the first cat out of the bag, were described by the sources as "huge" at the moment, number one in Malta, massive on MTV and poised to be the biggest band of the summer.
OneRepublic are an American rock band/R&B group formed in Colorado. They have drawn mainstream attention since the release of their single, Apologize, and often cite Coldplay as an influence. OneRepublic's Apologize has gone triple platinum, marking three million copies sold in the US and peaked at number three on the UK official Top 40 Week. Its follow-up single is Stop And Stare. Their new single Say (All I Need) is scheduled to be released on June 2. Their album, launched last year, is Dreaming Out Loud.
Malta's relationship with MTV was recently sealed even tighter when the government signed a three-year contract with the popular music TV station, meaning the country will be hosting the successful Isle of MTV concert again and again, occupying the hot spot until 2010 and making sure last July's pumping event was no one-off.
Last year's concert attracted a 50,000-strong crowd. It is set to grow even further in its upcoming editions, with the organisation of a four-day event, or Music Week, in celebration of Isle of MTV, including club nights in Malta and Gozo and a beach party.
The idea is to capitalise on the timing and sell and promote the entire package overseas - time constraints were tight last year.
One cheap ticket is being sold for the string of events while the climaxing concert remains free of charge.