www.si-q.com presents - INNOVATION ROCKS


1. Portal/slogan

Are your fingers sore from practicing? What about your throat? Do you write songs, love your band, and are you generally mad about music? And is your music too cool to lock away in the rehearsal studio?

Then you've come to the right place?

INNOVATION ROCKS
The EU-wide band contest powered by www.si-q.com


2. Philosophy

Garages are the link between technology and music.

This must sound like a bold statement if you don't realize just how much has been invented in the humble garage - in the sphere of technology as well as music. The milestones in developing the home computer took place in a garage, for example, as did the songs that changed the course of music history, which also originated in converted garages used as rehearsal rooms.

So it comes as no surprise that a globally successful technology group that lives for innovation should also provide a platform for really promising young musical talent. Siemens, or more specifically the branding platform www.si-q.com, has long been involved in promoting all kinds of talent in the areas of sport, music and art, for example. Geared towards young people and with a total of almost one million hits so far this year, the internet platform www.si-q.com is also a very successful and frequently-visited platform for active internet users.

Ambitious bands who want to get a foot in the door of the music industry have never had it so tough - so www.si-q.com is now offering a real opportunity. INNOVATION ROCKS will provide up-and-coming artists from European Union member states with the chance to present themselves first of all to a wide, forward-looking and innovative public, as well as an international jury of music industry professionals. For the winner, a real step-up into the wide world of the music industry is up for grabs in the form of a complete album production. And the winners will be in an excellent position, given that the album will be produced without any obligations to the music industry - so they will remain independent and can decide exactly where they want to go next.

The presentation on www.si-q.com will give 20 selected bands the opportunity to promote themselves for a full eight weeks to 86,000 registered users worldwide and 150,000 visitors each month. So whatever happens, all entrants will be heard by a jury of music industry professionals - and 20 of them are guaranteed to grab the attention of music fans across Europe.


3. Facts
Solo artists and bands of all styles from EU member states can take part (apart from dance and hip-hop). As well as the fully completed and signed application form
(www.si-q.com) and the signed Conditions of Entry (www.si-q.com), bands can apply
in writing between August 16 and October 24. Applications should include the following material:
? Demo (CD)
? Band info and/or biography
? Band photo

Please post applications to:

"Innovation Rocks"
- AVILEON-
Lindwurmstrasse 124
80337 Munich
Germany

The closing date for applications is October 24, 2005 (postmark).

Each and every demo will be listened to. A total of 20 bands will be selected from the submitted applications by a jury of music industry professionals, and two songs from each band will be posted online at www.si-q.com for audio streaming during the voting period, which will run from November 7 until January 6. As well as the audio samples, there will also be photos and information about each band. Fans, visitors to the website and anybody else who is interested will then have a full two months to vote for their favorite band.

The four best bands from the online voting will go head-to-head at the INNOVATION ROCKS final at the end of January in Munich. Before a jury of producers, A&R managers and professional musicians, publishers and experts, each band will play a 30-minute live set.

Jury:

Mario Thaler: (producer, has previously helped The Notwist, Slut, Sportfreunde Stiller, Conic and Console to polish their sound at his Uphon studio in Weilheim.
Gregor Stöckl: (Former head of Virgin Records in Germany, now A&R manager at Pirate Records.)
Rainer Schaller: (Guitarist with the bands Slut and Pelzig.)
Stephanie Schönberger: (Head of music at style magazine JOY)
Natascha Augustin: (A&R Warner/Chappell Music Publishing)
Achim Bogdahn: (Bayern 2 Radio - popular music show Zündfunk)

4.Prizes

First prize:
The winner will receive a complete album production. Recorded in the Soundsolution studio in Altenstadt and mixed by Mario Thaler in his Uphon studio in Weilheim, the recording session will last 14 days, plus 5 days for mixing.

Second prize:
A Blade Texas Standard Pro E guitar and
a Crafter Richmond 88DE VTG guitar.

Third prize:
One copy of Ableton Live 5 Box version music software.


What happens, when and where?

- The deadline for submitting applications is October 24, 2005.
- A jury of music industry professionals will go off and listen to the recordings between October 25 and November 5, and choose the best 20 bands to qualify for online voting.
- Online voting starts on November 7 at www.si-q.com and finishes on January 6, 2006.
- The best 4 bands will enter the final in Munich, which will take place at the end of January.
The location, precise date and timetable for the event have not yet been published.
Entry is free for fans and anybody else interested in coming.

Source:

Inside Out