Music competition The Source offers unsigned bands £10,000 prize
A competition is set to launch offering unsigned musicians the chance to win £10,000, through Factory and music streaming site We7.com.
The Source aims to offer unsigned musicians a platform to upload their own music video onto the dedicated website, developed by Blueleaf Digital, where the public can view and vote for their favourites. A chart of the top 120 entrees will be listed by the end of August and taken through to the daily TV show which begins in September on Channel M, Showcase (Sky 203) and Freeview Channel 200.
As well as the prize money, the winner will also receive a co-operative record deal which will see profits split equally with the artist.
Iain May who devised the concept for The Source, explained; ‘We wanted to create a focused platform where musicians can get somewhere rather than stagnating in an overcrowded space. Most importantly, we want them to earn some money at the same time regardless of whether they win or not so we’ve decided to give all of the televised acts 50% of the money from votes that they receive’.
Peter Hook, owner of The Factory said ‘I’m supporting The Source because it gives unsigned musicians the vital exposure that they need. It’s hard to make it as a musician and it’s not like it used to be’ He added ‘those other talent shows are bull shit, they are just made for TV not for the music, this is real, it’s irreverent and different’
A press launch event has been planned for 24 July as the promotion to encourage unsigned bands to participate gears up.
The first programme will air on TV on 13 September.