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AKG Microphones Gives Unsigned Bands The Chance To Shine

Up and coming bands are being given the chance to enter an electrifying online competition that could win them a day in a recording studio with a named producer AND the opportunity to play at a major festival in 2007.

Harman Pro UK is launching AKG Microphones’ Unsigned Heroes 07 Battle of the Bands at this year’s Music Live, which takes place at the NEC in November. Music Live attendees who pre-register for the show will automatically be entered into a free draw that could win them one of five daily prizes of an AKG D3700 TM Wireless Microphone System. All visitors need do is visit the Harman Pro UK stand and check their ticket number against those drawn each day. They will also be able to pick up full details of the Unsigned Heroes 07 competition.

Unsigned Heroes 07 aims to find the best unsigned band in the UK by inviting bands to submit an MP3 of their music for the judges’ consideration. Bands must have a minimum of three performers and all songs must be original compositions, not cover versions of another artist’s song.

As this is an online competition, AKG will be promoting it via MySpace.com and will have an Unsigned Heroes 07 MySpace page to lead entrants straight to the competition website which will go live on the first day of Music Live.

“The reason we came up with this campaign is that there are a lot of really great unsigned acts in the UK but they know that there’s no place for them on glossy TV talent shows,” explains AKG’s Amanda Chester. “What are the next Kasabian or Arctic Monkies supposed to do in front of Simon Cowell, anyway? Sing him an unaccompanied vocal rendition of a Maria Carey song? It isn’t going to work.”

Instead of facing Simon Cowell, all bands need to do to enter is upload an MP3 featuring a performance of one song to the competition website. A panel of judges will choose the 20 best bands, whose performances will be featured on the site so that the public can have a chance to pick one their favourite via an online voting process. Once their choice has been made, the competition judges will pick two more finalists – one from the North of the UK and one from the South. All three finalists will be invited to perform before the judges to ensure their live standard matches the recording entered.

Assuming the finalists’ live performances pass the judges test, they will be asked to perform at the legendry KOKO Club in London alongside a headline band and in front of the judges, invited record company representatives and a live audience. At the end of this exciting evening the judges will choose the winning act who will go on to enjoy the fantastic first prize.

Harman Pro UK and AKG are offering a stunning range of prizes (subject to change) for all three finalists. The overall winning band will get a day in a studio with a well-known record producer, a gig at a major festival in 2007 and an endorsement contract with AKG Microphones. They will also receive approximately £10,000 worth of PA System from Harman Pro UK featuring AKG Microphones, Crown amplifiers, JBL Speakers, Lexicon, BSS and dbx outboard as well as a Soundcraft mixing desk. The two runner-ups will receive AKG Wireless Microphone systems and an endorsement contract with AKG Microphones.

All three finalists will have the chance to perform live at KOKO’s – and maybe grab the attention of one of the invited record company representatives. Tickets for the finals will be made available for sale to the supporters of all three finalists, giving them a great chance to bring their friends and whip up a winning atmosphere.

Every band entering the competition will receive Unsigned Heroes 07 T Shirts, a 50% Off discount from AKG Microphones and AKG earphones.

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AKG Microphones Gives Unsigned Bands The Chance To Shine

2nd October 2006

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