STEVE BACKSHALL: ALL SET TO INSPIRE
Battle of the Bands
Register now | entry form | download poster
‘Platform One is one of the brightest, futuristic looking schools I’ve ever seen and is a truly inspiring educational establishment that is firing out new musical talent at a rate of knots. I’m a huge fan!'
Rob Da Bank - BBC Radio One Presenter & Bestival
Welcome to Battle of the Bands 2012
Want national exposure for your music?
Following the success of the Battle of the Bands at last year’s Skills Factor Competition, where the lucky winners got to play at the IndigO2, London. Young Chamber UK has launched Battle of the Bands 2012 in association with Platform One College of Music.
Platform One has over 15 years experience at working in the music industry and prides itself on preparing young musicians to gain sustainable employment in the music industry. With a wealth of experience and an abundance of high profile music industry contacts it is anticipated that Platform One will certainly add value to this amazing opportunity.
“This Battle the Bands is different to many band competitions that happen across the UK which is why we are delighted to be involved. The Young Chamber are in an amazing position to support and develop opportunities for aspiring young musicians - and you could get to play Wembley Stadium!”
David Pontin, Director – Platform One
This year we are looking for three groups / solo artists to play at the national final of ‘The Skills Factor’ competition - which is at Wembley Stadium London, on 4th July 2012.
It’s free to enter and open to all young people involved in school or in college. Entries are also encouraged from youth groups and other youth organisations, you must be:
- Aged between 12 and 19 years of age
- In some form of full or part time education or training programme
This year we have stepped up the competition. If you are serious about making it in the music industry it’s as much about your business and enterprise skills as it is about your music.
Do you have what it takes to develop your music and bring it to fruition, demonstrating your skills along the way? It’s not just about showing off your musical abilities. The competition also wants to see what skills you have learned or developed along the way - it's not just the end product that we want to see, it is also how you got there.
The competition is in 2 stages, the first stage involves completing an entry form about your band or you as a solo artist. Do you understand more than simply playing your instrument, do you have the drive, ambition and business acumen to be a successful musician. It’s what it takes these days to make it in the music industry with such high competition.
Stage one will be judged by a panel who will consist of third year BA(Hons) Commercial Music students. These students are at the forefront of the modern music industry and are in an excellent position to carefully select entries for stage 2.
If you are successful completing stage one you will be invited to produce a DVD of not just your music but an interview of you as a solo artist or your band. Three of these entries will then be chosen as the Winners to attend Skills Factor 2012 at Wembley and play in front of the audience and for the coveted title of Battle of the Bands Winner 2012.
There is no limit to style, or genre, or presentation but you must own the copyright to the music: no cover versions of other people’s music are allowed.
What students gain:
Young Chamber wants to inspire young people to be creative, to write new music and to be ambitious. The Battle of the Bands is the ideal excuse to form a band, to create original music, to rehearse, to perform and most importantly to enjoy music. This is not just about winning a competition but about creating a music community in your school, college, village hall or any where! We also want to be able to demonstrate that there is more to the music industry than just playing a musical instrument. The music industry is a multimillion-pound industry and is essential to the economy of the UK. You could be part of this exciting and vibrant industry.
How to enter
- Register your interest. You can create your account now and then you have until 9th March 2012 to submit your completed entry form.
- You must register through your school, college or youth group.
- Work through the materials and the online entry form (you will have the opportunity to revisit and edit your entry as many times as you want before sending the final version).
- Submit the project via our online submission tool before the competition deadline: 9th March 2012.
- Wait to see if you have made it through to the semi-finals. Semi-finalists will be informed on the 19th March 2012. You will then have until the 1st May 2012 to submit your DVD of 2 original songs and interview. The entries will be judged by a panel consisting of music professionals.
- The Final will take place in London on Wednesday 4th July 2012.