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Nominations wanted for Rock the House Competition, only one week to go!
I am proud to invite nominations from South Derbyshire, to be considered for the best live band and best live music venue awards of the first ever parliamentary Rock the House competition.
Rock the House is an accessible vehicle through which to capture the imagination of the public and legislators in recognition of the need to support and promote the live music sector. It aims to promote the intellectual property rights of unsigned and up and coming musicians; and highlight the importance of live music venues to local communities.
I will nominate one band and one live music venue from South Derbyshire on 31 March 2011. Any band or live music venue can enter the competition by downloading and completing an application form from www.rockthehouse.me.uk and send fully completed submissions to Heather at heather.wheeler.mp@parliament.uk or send it to Heather Wheeler MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA by 31st March.
Finalists and winners will be determined by an independent judging panel, which includes Chris Ingham, Group Publisher of Future Publishing, musicians and music professionals, Mike Weatherley MP and John Robertson MP (Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Music).
The Panel will determine the five finalists in each category, and the shortlist will be announced by the end of May 2011. Each of the finalists will be invited to a star studded reception on the Terrace of the House of Commons, on 30th June 2011, where the winners will be announced.
The sponsors and supporters have pulled together an unbelievable array of prizes, many of which money can’t buy, including: the chance to perform live on the terrace at the House of Commons and at a top music venue or a music festival; a photo shoot with an internationally published music photographer; Yamaha gear and instruments; the chance to network and have consultancy sessions with top industry professionals; master classes from top sound and lighting engineers; the opportunity to record music; the chance to make a music video; invaluable PR exposure through coverage in Future Publishing’s catalogue of specialist music titles; and many more runners up prizes.
Rock the House is supported by a myriad of big names within the international and British music sector: Yamaha music; UK Music; Future Publishing; BPI; Live Nation; Consumer Focus; Music Managers Forum (MMF); Incorporated Society of Musicians; MVPA; the All Party Parliamentary Group on Music (APPG on Music); and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs & Clubs (APPG on Pubs & Clubs).
I think this is a great opportunity to show case the immense talent that we have here in South Derbyshire. Anyone one who thinks they’ve got what it takes should give it a go, you've only got a week left to submit your nominations!
Mike Weatherley MP said:
“The future of music lays in the hands of the up and coming artists, and the live music venues who support them, that are finding it increasingly hard to break through in a sector where many consumers think it is their right to access content for free. Without recognition that this music actually constitutes the creative and intellectual property rights of artists, the future contribution the sector makes to the economy will be jeopardised. This is particularly bad news for anything outside of mainstream genres and will serve only to stifle the diversity of the British music scene.”
