Alicia Keys Celebrates Unplugged20
In Honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Historic Album Release MTV Airing the 2005 Performance
Across US and International Channels Throughout The Week
Unplugged 20th Anniversary Edition Features “Goodbye/Butterflyz” Medley and Bonus Track “How Come You Don’t Call Me” on Vinyl for the First Time
Celebrating the 20thanniversary of the release of Alicia Keys Unplugged, MTV will air the concert event across US and International channels through October 12th. The historic Unplugged was Keys’s first ever live recording, and was recorded live on July 4, 2005, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music during her highly acclaimed MTV Unplugged performance. It was the first MTV Unplugged by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 and became the highest debut for an MTV Unplugged performance since Nirvana’s iconic session in 1994. The stunning album was nominated for a GRAMMY Award for Best R&B album.
Keys celebrated the upcoming anniversary of the album’s release by treating fans to an incredibly special Encore Series performance at Broadway’s Shubert Theater, home of her Tony Award-winning musical Hell’s Kitchen. Among other hits, she performed “Unbreakable,” off the chart-topping 2005 Unplugged album.
AK Worldwide and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment have also released Unplugged 20th Anniversary, a deluxe 2-LP black vinyl edition of Alicia Keys’ landmark MTV Unplugged performance. Out now, this special edition commemorates two decades since the intimate concert recorded live on July 4, 2005, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Order Unplugged 20th Anniversary HERE.
In a throwback homage, Keys took to Jungle City Studios in New York City to reimagine three fan favorites from the concert in intimate Unplugged20 Sessions performances. The performances can be viewed now on YouTube. Keys performed “Karma (Unplugged20 Sessions) (Live from Jungle City Studios),” “How Come You Don’t Call Me (Unplugged20 Sessions) (Live from Jungle City Studios),” and “Butterflyz (Unplugged20 Sessions) (Live from Jungle City Studios).” Watch the Unplugged20 Sessions HERE.
MTV will air Unplugged on MTV Live, MTVU and MTV Classic in the US through October 12.Additionally, Alicia Keys music video blocks will air across all channels and performance excerpts are being included in the “Fresh Out” playlist this week. On air graphics will point viewers to Paramount + to watch Alicia Keys Unplugged in its entirety.
Outside of the US, Unplugged will air across international territories on October 7th and music video blocks will air across global video channels. Excerpts will air across these channels in heavy rotation: MTV Africa, MTV Australia, MTV Belgium, MTV Brazil, MTV France, MTV France Hits, MTV Germany, MTV Hungary, MTV Italy, MTV Italy Music, MTV Israel, MTV Latin America, MTV Netherlands, MTV Poland, MTV Portugal, MTV Spain, MTV Switzerland, MTV UK & Ireland and MTV Global