(Press Release) Unsigned Bands Can Earn A Spot On “Songs For Film & TV 2” A Globally Distributed Compilation CD

Mystic, CT - April 30, 2008; American Laundromat Records invites unsigned artists and bands to submit for consideration an original song(s) for an upcoming compilation CD titled “Songs For Film & TV - Volume 2”. The CD will be released on American Laundromat Records and distributed worldwide at retail, online and through iTunes. It will also be sent to hundreds of music supervisors and filmmakers for placement consideration in film and television.

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The San Diego County Fair’s Battle of the Bands is looking for the best rock n’ roll band, judged on quality of vocal and instrumental performances, stage presence, originality, and fan reaction. The winner receives priority booking for a show on the Coors Light Rock On Stage at the fair, live broadcasting on 94.9 FM, a performance at the Casbah, a possible appearance on Fox 6’s San Diego Living, a 12-hour recording session from Dinky Music Recording Studios, and $1000. Applications must be postmarked by May 23rd. Download the details, rules and free application at: www.sdfair.com/fair/pdf/08se_battlebands_ap.pdf For personal assistance: (858) 755-1161

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(From Digital Music News) Major labels have equity stakes in MySpace Music, the soon-to-be-launched ecommerce initiative. But the story gets a bit more complicated for independent labels and unsigned artists.

According to information reported by Wired, independent labels unaffiliated with certain aggregators or distributors will not be handed equity stakes. The unaffiliated artists will receive a percentage of asset sales, but not a bigger chunk related to MySpace Music advertising.

In the article, MySpace cofounder and chief executive Chris DeWolfe alluded to that point, without specifically mentioning independent distributors like The Orchard or IODA. “We’re open to extending our equity deals to the right partners, but at a certain point, you can’t extend equity to everyone,” DeWolfe explained.

Permalink: http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/042008myspace

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You can watch “webisodes” of the Bodog Battle of the Bands on Bodog TV and see what hot and up and coming bands float your boat. It just blows my mind what can be done over the ‘Net these days. Even if you can’t be at the shows you can still experience them. Very cool. Head over to http://tv.bodoglife.net/battlebackstage and check out all the rock and roll action.

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Mark

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(From Music Connection) Beginning May 1st, The Gretsch Company will sponsor an online search for the best unsigned and independent bands in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Japan, Spain, Germany and France. Ten finalists will be selected by popular online voting at www.gretsch125th.com/contest in June and July. Then, the finalists will be judged by an expert panel who will select the grand, first and second prize winners. The grand prize winner will receive $15,000+ in Gretsch drums, guitars and amps and a spot playing at the Gretsch 125th anniversary concert with legendary Gretsch Greats this November in New York City. Visit www.gretsch125th.com/contest for more information.

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Just in time for the celebrated Stone Temple Pilots reunion comes the announcement that Versailles Records has announced a STP tribute album. Titled Wicked Garden: A Millennium Tribute to Stone Temple Pilots it’s due in the early spring of 09.

According to the label

In addition to a number of name hard rock and alt-rock/grunge-era artists participating, the collection will also feature a handful of up and coming millennium rock bands. Those interest in submitting tracks should email versaillesrecords2006@yahoo.com with a myspace or related web link, and specific STP song they’re interested in covering. The label recently released ‘Lick It Up: A Millennium Tribute to Kiss’, and will have tributes to Guns N’ Roses and Led Zeppelin rounding out the remaining 08 release calendar.

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Mark

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If you are a working musician (or you want to be a working musician) you should definitely be listening to the CD Baby DIY Musician Podcast. Always informative AND entertaining, CD Baby has always in my opinion had musicians interests at heart and this podcast is no different.

The latest podcast is a two parter covering music (sync) licensing and it makes for fascinating listening. Regardless of whether you take the Neil Young point of view that licensing your music is anti ethical to being an artist or you are interested in finding out what this whole opportunity involves, this episode has interviewed a number of people active in licensing music and seeking out opportunities for bands and artists. Even if you decide not to take this route you will do so armed with enough information to be making an informed decision.

The thing that fascinated me the most was when Joey Prather of Blue Scout Music opined that things like iTunes commercials are the new way of breaking new, independent and eclectic bands, that in fact “TV has become the new radio.” Highly recommended that you listen to these two episodes and in fact that you subscribe to this podcast. It hasn’t won awards for nothing!

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Mark

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I saw this on Drew Masters’ M.E.A.T. group on Facebook and thought it to be a great opportunity for Canadian metal bands.

Metal Queen Management is sponsoring MQM is also sponsoring this year’s “Best Metal Band” category at the TORONTO INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS (TIMAs). The TIMAs — now in their 4th year — have gained tremendous momentum while remaining true to the goal of creating a new positive community space for independent artists. In 2007, TIMA gave away $30,000 in prizes; this year prizes total over $40,000. The TIMAs have three components: a seminar, music showcases during the summer, and an award show held at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on July 31, 2008.

Canadian Metal Bands are encouraged to sign up for this event, and could win the following:

- MQM management & promotional services for 6 months
- 3-Song Demo with Iguana Recording Studio
(http://www.iguanarecording.com)
- Interviews and features with:
- Heavy Metal Music (http://heavymetalmusic.biz/)
- Caustic Truths (http://www.caustictruths.com)
- Glam Metal (http://www.glam-metal.com)
- Indie Love Radio (http://www.indielove.ca)
- Rock Eruption (http://www.rockeruption.com)
- Photo Packages with:
- Rebel Reviewer Dot Com (http://www.rebelreviewer.com)
- Bonseye Photography (http://www.myspace.com/_bonseye_)
- Party at Rok Boutique with 100 free drink tickets
(http://www.rokboutique.com)

More Info:
http://www.torontoima.com
http://www.MetalQueenMgmt.ca
http://www.MQMusicFest.com

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Mark

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For Immediate Release

Bodog Battle worldwide unites with a group of gear greats. Bodog Battle is proud to be teaming with Mesa/Boogie, Hoshino/Tama and Paiste Alpha Cymbals to provide the thousands of musicians competing in Bodog Battle 2008 with the highest quality instruments and equipment available today. With 400+ live battle performances taking place within 70 cities in Europe, Canada and across the United States, Bodog Battle keeps the rock sounding as huge as ever by working with some of the greatest names in music equipment to provide the backline for the 2008 Bodog Battle competition and Bodog Battle reality show.

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From April 25-27, 2008 there will be a very interesting event that both music fans and indie bands might be interested in checking out.

The Las Vegas Live Indie Rock Wars is a new contest for indie bands where the winner will receive a recording and promotion contract with Black Mountain Records as well as a number of other cool prizes for the runner ups.

The cool things for fans is that this will be a live “eCast” viewable on computers, TVs and cell phones where fans will be able to vote
on their favourites.

Check out the site http://www.blackmountainproductions.com/specialevents/liveindierockwars.html for all the details. This one will be fun to watch.

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Mark

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Regional Semifinals And Finals Are All That Separate Bands From A $1 Million Dollar Record Contract.

For Immediate Release

With the best unsigned bands in the nation remaining, Bodog Battle surges into the American regional semifinal rounds and onto the regional finals of the worldwide competition. After enduring months of online voting and the “Impress the Judges” rounds, only the top American bands get a chance to fight for their shot at the big time and a $1 million record contract with Bodog Music ( www.bodoglife.net/music).

Just a handful of bands remain from each city, and they must now fight their toughest battles to date as they take on the remaining top bands from their region in the American regional semifinals. Only the best of the best from the American regional semifinals will earn the right to move on to the regional finals, moving one step closer to the coveted $1 million record contract with Bodog Music.

The stakes are high as the bands are being filmed for the second season of the Bodog Battle reality TV series with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage appearing online only at Bodog TV (www.bodoglife.net/tv ). The first season of the popular Bodog Battle of the Bands show aired on fuse TV last year. These bands are fighting for their musical lives on camera, as they attempt to take the next big step onto the regional finals. Playing across the country from Manhattan to San Diego, only a talented, hardworking few will get a chance to live out their dreams of a cross country tour with the hopes of a shot at the finals.

(more…)

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Despite the fact that we are living in a Web 2.o world and we can have access to tons of great rock and roll without ever leaving our keyboards, rock and roll is meant to be both played and experienced live. There is no two ways about it, rock and roll is a communal experience. The key for most bands is to tour, tour and tour some more if they want to generate a buzz and let’s face it, some income for their hard work. If you are in a band you will know that planning a tour, especially with little or no support from a major label is a daunting task but two tools might be helpful for those planning on taking the touring plunge.

Eventful.Com is billed as a “user generated touring site” that lets fans request performances and organize gigs for their favourite acts. More than 30,000 musicians are using the service with 3000 more signing up every day. The cool thing for fans is that you can integrate it with your iTunes and Last.FM accounts to track when your favourite bands are coming to town and for bands it’s great because you can use it to pinpoint where your fans are located and plan your tours appropriately. A very cool Web 2.o site for bands and fans alike.

Another, more traditional tool is the brand new Indie Venue Bible. A team of over 20 researchers has been collecting venues for this book and it features 26,000 venues and 2000 booking agents in the US and Canada. It lists venues of all sizes including clubs, restaurants, lounges,
coffee shops, festivals, theaters, halls, churches, book stores, community centers, house concerts, jams and open mics. There are also over 1000 colleges listed for any artist that wants to plan a college tour. Looks like this will be essential for any touring indie musician.

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Mark

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In the summer of 2008, Versailles Records will be issuing a Led Zeppelin Tribute, for which we’re seeking to do is something a little different with the bonus disc, which is to feature ORIGINAL ROCK/METAL bands who sound derivatively alike or similar to Led Zeppelin in some manner (be it songwriting, vocal range, riffs, etc) performing an ORIGINAL song of yours on the sampler disc.

As with all our tributes, this album will be distributed nationally to retail outlets in the U.S., and each participating band will get promos, as well as a bio/pic in the cd booklet.

Interested bands should email an MP3 of their submittal song or a web link (myspace perferably) where we can check out your sound before getting back in touch with further details regarding a formal spot on the cd sampler. All interested bands should email versaillesrecords2006@yahoo.com for further details.

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For Immediate Release:

“On the heels of the “Skater Rock Vol. 1/2″ and “Strip Club Rock” CD Comps, both due in stores March 25th, Versailles Records has announced plans for “Surf Rock Vol. 1/2.’ The album will feature material from current/former members of Ozzy Osbourne Band, Aerosmith, Rough Cutt, Ratt, Alice Cooper Band, Exodus, Warrant, L.A. Guns, Slash’s Snakepit, Exodus, Lillian Axe, Dangerous Toys, Poison, Pretty Boy Floyd, Dad’s Porno Mag, WASP, and others.

In addition to the aforementioned material, the label is seeking original song submissions from up-and-coming, signed and unsigned millennium rock and metal bands. Each participating band will receive a photo and bio in the CD booklet, as well as promos. Interested groups should e-mail inquiries to surfrock2008@yahoo.com.

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(From Music Connection) According to the folks at want2bdiscovered.com, “All you need is a camcorder and laptop, and the venue you’re performing at must have a internet connection!”

Contact live@want2bdiscovered.com for more details and give them the date, time, venue, name of artists performing and give us 3 weeks notice, so they can promote the event over the internet. The company says, “You must have your music profile on our website to be eligible for this FREE opportunity.

If you don’t have a profile yet, it’s FREE to join and create your music profile! Visit www.want2bdiscovered.com/music

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The Rock and Roll Report Podcast is just one of hundreds if not thousands of music podcasts out there hosted by everybody from keen fans to record labels to major media like the BBC, but why would any musician want to get involved in what some are calling a media revolution?

A podcast, just in case you are wondering is simply a digital audio file that people can download to their computer, phone or MP3 player and listen to at their convenience. Big deal you might think, downloadable audio has been available off websites for years! While this is true, the difference is in the way that these files are distributed. Using something called an RSS feed, all a listener has to do is subscribe to the podcast using this feed and they will automatically receive the latest edition of a podcast directly on their computer without any further action on their own. Using the Rock and Roll Report Podcast as an example, if a potential listener is searching in the music podcast section of the iTunes Music Store and comes across the Rock and Roll Report Podcast and is intrigued, all they would have to do is click on the “subscribe” button. From then on until they unsubscribe (which we know they wont do because the music played on the podcast is just too damn good!) they will automatically receive the latest podcast right to their computer and as soon as they plug in their iPod to their computer that new podcast will download onto their iPod without the owner having to do anything. It’s that simple. And you don’t have to use the iPod or iTunes to achieve this as the process is just as simple with iTunes alternatives like Juice or other MP3 players.

(more…)

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So you think you can do better than those suits running the major labels huh? Consider yourself the arbiter of cool and all that is good in music? Well now you can put your money where your mouth is by signing up to LaunchALabel.com.

The idea behind LaunchALabel.com is pretty cool. According to the site:

LaunchALabel.com will bring together 50,000 music fans to start their own record label. These fans will choose the label’s name and the first five bands to sign to record contracts worth $200,000 each. From there they will have input into every aspect of marketing and promotion for the label and its artists. Right now, joining LaunchALabel is free. Once the 50,000-member threshold is reached, each of those members will be required to pay $25 for access to the nomination and voting process. That will raise $1.25 million to sign bands and to pay for overhead expenses including office space and staff. Founder, Karol Gajda says, “Music is for fans, not corporations. And, fans should be a major part of the music selection and marketing processes from the very beginning.” If you’re interested in this intriguing experiment, visit www.launchalabel.com, or contact Gajda directly at 407-745-1809.

Check out the site and see what you think.

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Mark

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The Rock and Roll Geek is on tour

I am a huge fan of the Rock and Roll Geek Show podcast. Hosted by Michael Butler, bassist for American Heartbreak and currently on tour with Jetboy, Michael is one of the original rock and roll podcasters and he is always a blast to listen to. He is currently on the road with Jetboy on the Stephen Pearcy/Jetboy/Antidivison tour and he is doing a video podcast chronicling their adventures as they rock and roll all over the States. The last time I checked they were playing a strip bar in Omaha I believe and the drummer for Antidivision had just quit. If you ever wanted to know what it was like to go on tour as part of a working indie band then you gotta start watching this. Always a lot of fun and nothing is sugar coated. This podcast is a must for any true fan of rock and roll.

Versailles Records Looking for Some Unsigned Bands for Tribute Album

(PR) Versailles Records is seeking a handful of unsigned bands to round out several star-studded tributes planned for release in 2008 to Kiss, Led Zeppelin, and Whitesnake. Collectively, these tributes feature current/former members of bands including Whitesnake, Anthrax, Dio, David Coverdale Band, Kiss, Badlands, L.A. Guns, Ratt, House of Lords, Blue Murder, TSO, Warrant, Slash’s Snakepit, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Alice Cooper Band, Lillian Axe, Riot, Dangerous Toys, Pretty Boy Floyd, and a host of others. In seeking to feature new millennium rock/metal bands among the aforementioned stars of the genre, we have approx. 2-3 slots open per-tribute. Interested bands should submit a weblink (website, myspace, etc) to versaillesrecords2006@yahoo.com for consideration.

Joe Camel’s Illicit Affair with Rolling Stone Magazine

It seems that Rolling stone Magazine and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco are under fire for a recent promotion featured in the 40th Anniversary edition of the mag. According to an article in The Daily Swarm, the magazine features a fold-out poster that may have crossed the line between mixing advertising and editorial content. The Daily Swarm explained, “The fold-out poster – a bizarre illustration that lists dozens of Pitchfork-centric bands grouped around representations of various planets and animals – is nestled in between five pages of advertisements for ‘The Farm,’ Camel Cigarettes’ indie band and label-focused promotion. If you are like most indie music fans who paid any attention to those pages, you likely assumed that the ‘Indie Rock Universe’ poster was part and parcel of the Camel advertising campaign; if not, the message was clear…Camel’s got indie rock’s back.”

Of course everybody is denying that there was collusion and it is all an innocent misunderstanding but Reynolds has halted any further advertising of “The Farm” and indie labels are demanding an apology. This IS Rolling Stone Magazine we are talking about right? Who the hell reads RS for info on indie bands?

Keith Richards Makes Rudolph Run

Just in time for Christmas you can buy the legendary Keith Richards version of Run Rudolph Run, recorded around the time of mega-heroin use and Some Girls. Just like his idol Chuck Berry…

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Mark

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(PR) OurStage announced today the OurStage College Clash, a 3-month long online music competition for New England college bands. The monthly winners will battle it out in a LIVE competition for the $5,000 OurStage College Clash grand prize at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston in February 2008.

“The New England college music scene is budding,” says Ben Campbell, OurStage founder & CEO. “The OurStage College Clash will give these up-and-coming talented musicians an opportunity to get noticed and launch their career, so we invite all New England college bands to submit to our competition today.”

From the 1st to the 23rd of each month, for 3 months starting in November, NE college bands can simply go to www.ourstage.com/go/collegeclash and upload their music into the OurStage College Clash channel to enter. Music fans from OurStage and the submitting bands then decide who’s most deserving by judging all submissions in the channel side by side. OurStage’s unique judging process makes sure that each submission is voted on fairly by a real audience - no rigging, no cheating, and no celebrity judges.

At the end of each month, the top-ranked college band for that month on the OurStage College Clash channel will be awarded $500 and have the opportunity to play live at the Paradise in February against the other OurStage College Clash channel winners. The overall winner will be chosen by the fans at the Paradise based on their live performance. The winner will be awarded $5,000. To qualify for these prizes, at least one member of the band must be currently enrolled in a New England college or university.

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(Press Release) In December, 2007, “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine” will make its newsstand debut! As part of our launch, we’re seeking to profile some of the hottest up and coming, as well as established, millennium rock/metal bands! To that end, we are now seeking submissions for our CD Sampler, which should be emailed to sexdrugsandrocknrollmagazine@yahoo.com in MP3 format, along with a myspace link, and a contact name and number. Each participating band will receive a brief (150-200) word write-up (additionally including contact info, websites, etc.), and color photo of the band in the Magazine itself, as well as promotional copies of the issue. The participating bands’ names will also be included in any press release concerning the publication of our inaugural issue. Each slot costs $100.00 U.S.

Our debut issue will feature the beautiful and talented SHERI MOON ZOMBIE on the cover. Sheri’s star has been on the rise since appearing as a lead character in husband Rob Zombie’s “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects.” Currently, Sheri is starring in her hubby’s remake of “Halloween”—as Michael Myers’ mother Deborah—which earned more than $30,000,000 during its opening weekend. Additionally, Sheri owns and operates the Total Skull clothing line, which will be highlighted in her magazine spread. Additionally, it features interviews with Motley Crue founder/songwriter/bassist Nikki Sixx discussing his new biography “The Heroin Diaries,” Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee and his producer, Scott Humphrey, discussing their writing and recording process, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, the Guru of Ganja Ed Rosenthal, are other key articles in the premiere issue of “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine.”

More About Us:

“Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll Magazine” is as provocative in subject matter as our title might suggest. A hybrid in the spirit of “Rolling Stone,” “High Times” and “Maxim” magazines, the publication offers cutting-edge coverage and commentary of and on everything and anything colorful—be it mainstream or indie—popping off in the entertainment, sex and counter cultures! Published quarterly to three demographics simultaneously, readers can flip from what’s hottest in the bedroom to the radio or movie screen, hearing it all first-hand from their favorite stars! “Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll” is more than just a magazine…it’s a lifestyle!” www.myspace.com/sexdrugsandrocknrollmagazine

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Last. FM has announced that they want to help you kick start your music career by using all the amazing resources of this Web 2.0 world by launching their Now Form a Band initiative as part of their A Campaign For Better Music.

According to their manifesto,

We’re going to show you how to produce, promote and distribute your music, without spending a load of money, and without lots of other people getting involved.

The cool thing about this campaign is they high lite free software and websites that you can utilize to get your music heard. Sounds like a worthwhile time investment to me. I am just getting into the whole Last.Fm thing and I must admit it is pretty cool. So far it looks like CBS in buying the site hasn’t screwed it up too much.

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Mark

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(PR) Nationally-distributed rock label seeking up and coming, unsigned, and established Christian/religious rock and metal bands of all types for forthcoming Comp. focused on and marketed to the Christian Rock/Metal Community. Each participating band will receive a pic and bio in the cd booklet, as well as 20 promos of the cd. The comp. will also feature current/former members of well-known rock/metal acts. Please include a myspace or related web link with any inquiry, and send all inquiries/submissions to religiousrock@yahoo.com.

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I saw this over at Blabbermouth.

Canadian label Moshpit Tragedy Records is accepting demos from punk and metal bands for consideration for their new free downloadable music series. Send your band links to http://www.myspace.com/mptrecords but do not send any MP3 files and make sure your stuff is professionally recorded!

More details can be found at the Moshpit Tragedy Records website at http://www.moshpit-tragedy.com/

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Mark

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(PR) Guitar Center’s Drum-Off 2007 local competitions will launch this week at over 200 stores across the nation. Store preliminaries start today, Wednesday, September 12, and take place every Wednesday ending with local store finals on October 3rd. Now in it’s 19th year, Drum-Off continues to bring together thousands of the nation’s top undiscovered drummers for the chance to compete for incredible prizes, national recognition and the bragging rights of being crowned Drum-Off Champion. Visit www.guitarcenter.com.

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(PR) Sonicbids, the leading online submission platform for indie bands and musicians, is proud to announce a new partnership with the famed SXSW Music Conference & Festival that will give over 1,400 independent artists from around the world the chance to perform live in front of top music industry professionals, talent scouts, and promoters next spring. Most genres of music will be accepted for this opportunity.

The submission period is open now and runs through November 9th. ;Interested parties can view the opportunity and submit their Electronic Press Kit (EPK) at www.sonicbids.com/SXSW.

The SXSW Music Conference and Festival 2008 will again take place in Austin, TX from March 12th-16th.

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