Here at HM Magazine, you might notice, we’re not so much territorial and whatever when it comes to cool stuff. If we see a cool contest that another magazine or company is sponsoring, we don’t care. ‘Why not share the good news?’ That’s what we think… Now, this particular contest isn’t sponsored by another magazine or anything. We’re just saying…
The 14th Annual Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle Of The Bands is now underway. Bands can go to www.battleofthebands.com to enter to win a chance to play on the Ernie Ball Stage at this summer’s Vans Warped Tour. The online contest also gives music fans around the world the ability to decide who is eligible to win the coveted slots on the Ernie Ball Stage.
For each of the 2010 Vans Warped Tour shows (June 24-August 15), four different bands will be chosen to play on the Ernie Ball Stage. The top 100 bands in each market–based on fan voting–will then be reviewed by a panel of industry professionals comprised of Battle Of The Bands partners, Vans Warped Tour Organizers, and Ernie Ball Inc. The winning four bands in each city will play live in their hometown venue in front of thousands of fans alongside main stage headliners and Ernie Ball Stage headlining artists Mayday Parade, Emarosa, The Swellers, Automatic Loveletter, Eyes Set To Kill, Closure In Moscow and more.
The winners of this round of the competition will go on to compete for the ultimate grand prize which includes:
- $15,000 Guitar Center Shopping Spree
- All Expense Paid Trip to Hollywood to Play Live at the Vans Warped Tour After-Party
- Two Week Performance Slot on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour
- Recording a 3-Song EP with Multi-Platinum Producer Matt Squire
- One Year of Paid Tunecore Service (digital distribution on iTunes, Yahoo, Rhapsody, Amazon)
- Full Ernie Ball Music Man Endorsement
- Customized Vans Shoes
- Custom Atticus Apparel Package
Previous winners include breakout bands Monty Are I, Mayday Parade and My American Heart, among others. The Ernie Ball Stage on the Vans Warped Tour has featured over 6,000 unsigned bands including national acts Avenged Sevenfold, Paramore, Gym Class Heroes, Bowling For Soup, Story of The Year, Circa Survive, Mute Math, Nonpoint, Cartel and Armour For Sleep.
“The Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands has proved to be a valuable springboard to thousands of bands over the past decade and beyond,” says Brian Ball of Ernie Ball Inc. “Playing live on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour is a tremendous opportunity for unsigned bands to gain exposure, and we couldn’t be more excited to provide the opportunity.”
At the conclusion of the Vans Warped Tour, four winning groups from the Battle Of The Bands are selected to showcase their talent in front of industry and label executives at a major Hollywood venue. The four bands are selected based on their Vans Warped Tour performance, which is filmed in high definition for judges to review. Crowd support, musicianship and overall performance are criteria in determining the finalists. At this Hollywood showcase party, a panel of industry veterans will choose one ultimate grand prize winner from the four finalists performing that evening. Through The Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands, groups have the chance to earn a record label contract, endorsements and a spot on the following year’s Vans Warped Tour.
To enter the Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle Of The Bands, bands simply register by completing a short informational profile and uploading at least one MP3 to the site (www.battleofthebands.com). Entrants should use the Band Promotional Toolkit provided in their profile upon logging in to promote their entry all over the web and drive fans to vote.
Fans can also register at www.battleofthebands.com to become an official contest judge. In addition, each vote cast will serve as an entry to win a brand new custom-designed Ernie Ball Music Man guitar. Fans may cast one vote per artist per day.
About Ernie Ball Battle Of The Bands:
Since its debut fourteen years ago, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands has given the best local bands from North America the opportunity to showcase their talents in the world’s longest running and largest live music promotion in the music industry. The online contest gives music fans across North America the ability to decide who is eligible to win the coveted slots on the Ernie Ball Stage.
The Ernie Ball Company is providing the best unsigned bands from North America the opportunity to perform at the most prominent live music festival of the last decade. For each date on the annual Vans Warped Tour, four bands are selected to play live on the Ernie Ball Mobile Stage. Equipped with a 30,000 watt sound system, The Ernie Ball Stage has featured over 6,000 unsigned bands including national acts Bowling For Soup, Nonpoint, Story of The Year, Avenged Sevenfold, Paramore, Circa Survive, Mute Math, Cartel, Gym Class Heroes and more.
About the Author
