WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Guitar Center) - Continuing its commitment to the support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center and
Motley Crue announced today the launch of "Guitar Center On-Stage" - Your Chance To Make Rock History. "Guitar Center On-Stage" and the world's most notorious rock band will provide one up-and-coming band the ultimate, career-altering opportunity - the chance to open on tour for rock icons, Motley Crue. Starting today, through
September 21 2008, bands across the United States are invited to submit their music at https://www.makerockhistory.com for a chance to win a prize package that includes an opening slot on Motley Cure's 2009 U.S. tour (dates to be announced at a later date), $25,000 cash, $20,000 in exclusive new gear from Gibson Guitar, management from Tenth St. Entertainment, and a recording deal from Eleven
Seven Music, Motley's management and record label.
Guitar Center has engaged FameCast to power the submission site for "Guitar Center On-Stage," using FameCast's proprietary contest management platform to collect and present each band's submissions and rank them using a variety of metrics such as online fan voting and community engagement. A judging panel including Tenth St. Entertainment and Eleven Seven Records will then review the top bands, selecting 30 bands to advance to regional evaluation events held in mid-October at Guitar Center locations in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. After narrowing the list to the top six bands at the regional events, Guitar Center will host a final round of evaluation on November 12, 2008 at Guitar Center Hollywood, where each of the six bands will perform live for members of Motley Crue. One band will be notified via a personal phone call from a member of Motley Crue that they have been chosen as the winner and that the grand prize, which will include going on tour with Motley Crue, is theirs.
Also on hand at the press announcement at Guitar Center on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood was Chris Taylor Brown, lead vocalist from Trapt who are currently touring on Crue Fest. "It is an incredible opportunity to be on the road with one of rock's greatest bands. Trapt has sold more than two million albums, we have four hit singles, a new album out on Tuesday (August 5th) and it's still an honor as well as an enormous boost to our audience to be on the bill with Motley Crue." Guitar Center spends millions every year behind programs that help our customers realize their musical dreams.
"'Guitar Center On-Stage' is our most audacious and ambitious program yet. We are offering nothing short of a chance for greatness. A way to step out of the shadows of obscurity and into the light of legends," said Norman Hajjar, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Guitar Center.
Allen Kovac, CEO and Founder of Tenth Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music said, "Tenth Street Entertainment has historically achieved success with unique and robust strategic marketing initiatives for its clients. In just 24 short months, Eleven Seven Music has become the No 1 Independent Active Rock record company with five percent of the market share at rock radio. Aligned with the advertising, brand recognition and credibility Guitar Center is providing, Tenth Street and Eleven Seven are excited to give an up-and-coming rock band the best possible support to jump start a long and successful career in the music and entertainment businesses."
Motley Crue's Mick Mars notes, "Our partnership with Guitar Center gives us the opportunity to help an up-and-coming band by giving them every element needed to succeed. Like Ozzy did for us when he took an unknown band called Motley Crue on the road, we too are looking for the next generation's great rock band."
Press Conference Master of Ceremonies Jim Richards, Program Director of San Diego's 101 KGB FM says, "Motley Crue has remained one of the most relevant bands of their era. Their single "Saints Of Los Angeles" is currently Top 10 at Active Rock and Top 5 at Mainstream Rock and played alongside bands like Disturbed, Linking Park and Avenged Sevenfold. None of their contemporaries have experienced this kind of staying power. This program is a dream come true for any young musician."
"Gibson Guitar has always supported bands on every level and as a music innovator we work hard to support emerging bands by giving them opportunities for success through our many resources," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. "This program will launch the next Motley Crue and we are proud to partner with our friends at Guitar Center for such an exciting promotion."
For additional details, rules, and regulations and to enter for your chance to make rock history please visit: https://www.MakeRockHistory.com.
About Guitar Center
Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, percussion instruments, keyboards, and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 214 Guitar Center stores across the nation. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, https://www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Web site at https://www.guitarcenter.com.
About Motley Crue
Having survived three decades of decadence and nearly every possible obstacle, including several brought on by themselves, Motley Crue now find themselves alive and elevated to rock royalty. The Crue have returned with the recent release of Saints of Los Angeles, their first CD with the original line-up - Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil - in over a decade and the ninth studio album in their career. The disc debuted at No 1 on the Independent Album chart and was the top debut of the week at No 4. Based on the band's 'New York Times' bestseller, 'The Dirt', the revealing CD offers tremendous insight into the lives of the rebellious leaders of the "L.A. sleaze rock" movement. The single "Saints of Los Angeles" broke barriers when it was released simultaneously on Rock Band and by traditional means, selling more than five times the number of downloads via the video game as it did on iTunes in its first week of release. The band is currently on their inaugural Crue Fest, the top rock festival of the summer. https://www.motley.com
