LOS
ANGELES (www.discmakers.com) - Disc Makers, the nation's leading
independent CD manufacturer, is kicking off the latest installment of
the Independent
Music World Series (IMWS), the premier music showcase
series for independent musicians, to find the most talented independent
acts in the Midwest. The Midwest showcase finals will take place in
Chicago at the Elbo Room on May 12th, 2005, and will feature the top
six independent acts selected by Billboard Magazine who will be
competing for the grand prize of $35,000 in music gear and prizes.
Bands
and artists can log onto www.discmakers.com/imws to register for the
Midwest showcase and find out more information about the IMWS. The
competition is open to all musicians not currently signed to a major
record label and to all styles and genres of music. To be eligible for
the Midwest showcase at least one band member must reside in Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, or Wisconsin.
Submissions must be postmarked by March 4th, 2005. Each artist who
submits an entry will receive a FREE copy of Billboard's Musician's
Guide to Touring and Promotion and Electronic Musician magazine.
TAXI,
the industry's leading A&R company, will select 100 semi-finalists,
and the editors of Billboard Magazine will select the six finalists who
will perform live at the Elbo Room for the title.
The $35,000
prize package features everything independent musicians need for a
career boost including a complete CD manufacturing package,
post-production sweetening, and promotional posters from Disc Makers, a
complete
Digital Audio Workstation from Alienware, IK Multimedia's
Studio Bundle recording software, professional Shure microphones,
Fender guitars and amplifiers, a 5-piece drum kit from DW Drums,
Electric Guitar
Strings and EXL170 Electric Bass
Strings from Dean
Markley, a free copy of METAJAM from Broadjam, Remo drumheads, a Sabian
cymbal package, and a one year membership to TAXI. Additional event
partners include Sonicbids, XM Satellite
Radio and the Illinois
Entertainer.
"We are delighted to again join forces with
Billboard Magazine and our sponsors to help promote independent music
in the Midwest," says Tony van Veen, Vice President of Sales and
Marketing at Disc Makers. "We have been coming to
Chicago for a number
of years for the Midwest showcase and could not pull this off without
the great support of the Elbo Room and the city's great music
community.
The IMWS helps independent musicians make an impact
in their local music communities and make connections that can help
advance their careers. Recent winners include Los Angeles' BANG sugar
BANG (West 2005), Pemberton (NJ)'s Chinua Hawk (Northeast 2004),
Nashville's Rich
Creamy Paint (Southeast 2004), and last year's Midwest
showcase winner, Detroit's Shipwreck Union (Midwest 2004).
