Band Metrics Named an OnHollywood Top 100 Private Company

I really wish I was announcing the expansion of our private beta in this post - I really do, especially considering how many people have been patiently waiting to use our service. All I can say is I truly appreciate your support and we're doing the best that we can. The good news is that the wait is almost over, and if you've registered for an account, you will get access later this month.

In the meantime, I would like to thank the folks over at AlwaysOn for naming Band Metrics as one of the 2009 OnHollywood Top 100 Private Companies. If you're curious as to what this award is all about, here's the press release from earlier today.

Band Metrics Swag Contest

How would you like to make $100?  All you have to do is come up with a design for a new Band Metrics t-shirt. There are just two guidelines:

• your design has to incorporate at least a portion of one of our logos so our brand is not lost in your design
• your design has to fit onto at least one of these types of tees

That's it! If we like it, we'll send you a check for 100 Greenbacks, and post your design on IMT.

NoiseAddicts Annoying Song Remix Competition

NoiseAddicts is going to award whomever can come up with the best remix of the “most annoying” song with a Propellerhead Reason Version 4. There are prizes for the top finalists too, and more prizes are being added. All you have to do to enter the competition is send them your remix before April 1st, 2009 to: remix (at) noiseaddicts.com. All entries will be posted on NoiseAddicts for judging... Good luck!

We Are Listening Launches The 2009 Singer/Songwriter Awards

We Are Listening, a London-based artist and content development group with divisions in artist management, music publishing, and online services for musicians and music fans announces its 23rd Singer/Songwriter awards contest for independent performing artists, songwriters, and lyricists.

The contest is offering a greater variety of prizes this year, divided into six music industry sectors: Songwriting, Licensing, Marketing, Production, Post-Production, and Retail Distribution - for a total of six winners in 2009. Grand prizes range from a week-long songwriting retreat in Stockholm, Sweden; network-sized television placement in the US; college radio promotion and administration; a production weekend in London, England; mixing and mastering services; and CD replication and digital distribution.  The 26-member panel of judges include executives and creative directors at EMI, Universal, and Sony/BMG; producers credited by Sting, Bjork, Dido, and Eric Clapton; songwriters credited by Faith Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Chaka Khan, and Wyclef Jean; and professors at the Songwriting Department at Berklee College of Music.

Performing artists, songwriters, lyricists, or agents acting on their behalf must submit their original music by May 1st 2009. Registration, entry fee, and additional details are available here: 
http://www.wearelistening.org/singer.php

Band Metrics Named a 2009 Top 40 Innovative Georgia Technology Company

We are excited and honored to announce that Band Metrics has been named as one of the 2009 Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies for Georgia. The award is given annually by The Technology Association of Georgia (one of the largest state technology associations in the nation) to Georgia based technology companies that demonstrate a significant degree of innovation, have a high likelihood of success, and will play a role in promoting Georgia’s innovative efforts nationally and internationally. As such, the competition was stiff, and the selection committee was composed of some of Georgia's most prominent technology leaders including, Sig Mosley, Stephen Fleming, Kathy Harris, Ben Dyer, Knox Massey and many others. Not to mention, we are among some fantastic tech companies. With that said, we are extremely grateful for our selection, and we sincerely thank TAG and the selection committee for their support of Band Metrics!

The Atlanta Braves are Looking for Bands

Have you wanted to play at Turner Field in front of thousands of music fans like a few bands did in last year's competition, but you didn't know how to apply, or you missed the application process? Then go to www.braves.com/bravesbands and submit your information, as The Atlanta Braves are looking for a few bands to energize and entertain fans at Turner Field before some home games in 2009.  All genres are welcome to apply, but they seem to be focused on country, rock, pop, cover, and/or original indie bands. If selected, it's a great opportunity for exposure to a large audience, and who knows, maybe you'll get some airtime when they cut to/from a commercial break - good luck!

Top Rockstar Set to Launch September 1st

There's a new music contest about to launch called Top Rockstar. Beginning September 1, Top Rockstar will award cash prizes of up to $5,000 for the top artist each month in each of their genres. Additionally, every six months, one of the previous monthly winners will be selected as the overall Top Rockstar and will win up to $100,000. That's some serious cash!

Here's how it works: You simply create an artist profile and upload your music, videos, bio etc. The Top Rockstar community will then vote for the winner in each genre, each month, as well as the overall winner every 6 months.

Sounds interesting, especially given the amount of cash they're planning on awarding to artists, so I've got a few questions:

1. What are the genres? How were they determined?
2. What are the rules, as they're not published yet? Are there any limitations? Do you have to be based in the United States? Are there any fees required to participate?
3. Can an artist win more than once during a one year period?
4. Is the Top Rockstar contest open to all artists? If not, what are the restrictions?
5. What are some of the tactics Top Rockstar will deploy to prevent voting fraud?
6. How does Top Rockstar make money?

I've also got an email out to the founders and hope to schedule a call with them next week. As soon as I know more information, I'll publish a follow-up post. In the meantime, you may want to signup for their email list to make sure you're included in their initial competition.

8th Annual Independent Music Awards Reminder

Don't forget to submit your music to the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. IMA winners will receive yearlong print, broadcast, online promotion and distribution, as well as performance opportunities through arrangements established with IMA sponsors including: eMusic, PureVolume, CMJ Music Marathon, broadcasters ManiaTV, The StreamTV, HM Magazine, Venus Zine, Planetary Group radio promotions, Hip Video music video promoter, MediaGuide; Burnside Distribution, and the Coalition of Independent Music Stores.

Music categories include: Alt. Country, Americana, Blues, Punk, Children’s Music, Contemporary Christian, Country, Cover Song, Dance/Electronica, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Gospel, Holy Hip Hop, Hard Rock/Metal, Jazz, Latin, Live Performance, New Age, Pop/Rock, R&B, Rap/Hip-Hop, Social Action, Song Used in Film, TV, Gaming and/or Multimedia, World Fusion and World Traditional.

Submit your music via this application or online via SonicBids. Entries must be postmarked by midnight Friday August 1, 2008, and you may submit as many entries as you like. For more information, go here. Please visit IMA for rules and eligibility.

7digital and Feeder Create Competition for Unsigned Artists

London based 7digital, a next generation music distribution provider that enables artists and their managers to build digital download stores using the same technology that powers bands like Coldplay, is holding a music competition with Feeder. The competition is aimed at finding the best independent musicians and bands, and helping them reach a large audience by opening up for Feeder at one of their eight pre-tour shows next month. These "rehearsal" shows will be held at venues around the UK to introduce Feeder fans to their much anticipated release, Silent Cry.

Here's how it works: Sign your band up for free at indiestore.com. If you're band is already a member of 7digital, just opt in for the competition. Then go out and get your fans to vote for you on 7digital. The top 16 bands with the highest votes will be selected as the semi-finalists. On May 12th, Feeder will then personally select the final 8 musicians and/or bands to open up for them (one artist for each night). The competition is open to all unsigned artists, but closes May 2, so act now! Who knows, they may like you enough to take you on their global tour later this year, as Grant Nicholas of Feeder commented that they are “really looking forward to reviewing the entries and choosing potentially the next big act to support their gigs.”

I'm glad to see companies like 7digital partnering with major artists to support the indie music community and I hope to see more activity like this, so hats off to the folks at 7digital!

Btw, I didn't see any geographic limitations, so even if you're based in the US you should consider entering this competition, as it could immediately help you reach the masses if you're lucky enough to be selected.

International Songwriting Competition

If you are interested in submitting your music to the 2007 International Songwriting Competition, don't forget that all entries must be postmarked on or before October 15. The grand prize winner will receive $25,000 cash (USD) and $20,000 (USD) in prizes. Submissions are judged on the following five criteria: Creativity, Originality, Lyrics, Melody and Composition. Production value is not considered. For a complete list of the rules, go here.

Peace.