We’re unbelievably excited today to announce the No Label Needed Contest & Series presented by Scion. You’re going to be reading a lot about this over the next few months on the Insider.
We’re collaborating with Scion for an unprecedented experiment in helping one lucky unsigned band circumvent the dated label system and learn the industry ropes on their own. It’s a DIY crash course in the metal biz, and the winner will get all the tools they need to produce, release and market music on their own terms.
By everything, we mean everything: the winner will travel to Massachusetts to meet with their new mentors, Shadows Fall. The Grammy-nominated artist will be there to offer advice and work on the winner’s songs. Then they’ll go to the Machine Shop to record a 5-song EP with legendary producer Machine (Lamb of God, Every Time I Die). The winner will get a shopping spree with Maria Brink from In This Moment and Blasko from Ozzy’s band to pick out new wardrobe – for a photo shoot. After all, they’ll need new press photos for a press campaign from Big Machine Media. We’re also going to bring in partners for radio promotion campaigns, new merchandise, website re-designs and a ton more.
This band will be completely set up with nearly everything they’d be asking a label to do for them, and they’ll learn all about it themselves, hands-on.
The best part? Metal Insider will be reporting back on progress along the way, so readers like you can learn every bit as much about the industry as our winner. You’ll see a ton of videos, how-to blogs, live chats and other educational pieces from our experts.
Starting January 18, we’ll be taking entries from unsigned artists at metalinsider.net/nolabelneeded. Finalists will be chosen in February and will then be voted on by Shadows Fall, Machine, Metal Insider, a panel of industry experts (artists, managers, agents, etc.) and you, the public!
Keep checking back for more information as it rolls out. Hit the jump for the full press release.
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Metal Insider, as well as its parent company, The Syndicate, is hiring interns for the upcoming spring semesters in its media and radio promotion departments. This opportunity is a perfect fit for any college student interested in learning about the world of online publishing and advertising, radio and the music industry as a whole.
The Syndicate is an independent marketing firm based in Weehawken, NJ (with extremely easy public transportation access to New York City, just 5 minutes from Times Square), offering a vast range of services to the music and entertainment industries, as well as operating successful blog properties and advertising networks.
Internships are available with Metal Insider’s editorial and advertising departments, The Syndicate’s Metal Radio Promotion and College Alternative Radio Departments, and Black Freighter Media, a new advertising network of comic book and geek culture sites. The position’s responsibilities could be exclusive to each department or any combination thereof, depending on the applicant’s experience and interests.
All applicants must be able to earn college credit. A strong interest in music, entertainment, lifestyle trends and pop culture is a must, as well as experience or interest in the business of radio and/or digital media.
The internship is unpaid, but interns will receive college credit and a $15 per day reimbursement to cover travel and other expenses. Each position is required to be in the office for at least 2-3 days per week, from 10 AM – 6 PM. We can be flexible if necessary to work around class schedules.
Interested applicants should send resumes and, if available, writing samples to tips [at] metal insider [dot] net. Click read more for additional details.
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It’s horror movie season, and with the sixth installation of the ridiculously successful Saw franchise opening next Friday, Lionsgate and Metal Insider want to hook you up! The same day the movie opens, Metal Insider is having their first Annual CMJ Listening Party. There will be plenty of Saw VI goodies on hand, as well as an exclusive listening party for Slayer’s World Painted Blood, a screening of their creepy DVD extra Playing With Dolls and a showing of the Gallows DVD Grey Britain. This is an RSVP-only event, which means it’s closed to the public.
However, we’ve got your ticket in to this exclusive event! All you have to do to enter is e-mail saw6 [at] metal insider [dot] net with your name and why you deserve to go! If you place or link the above trailer on your social networking site (MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, etc) and send us a screen cap, you’ll be entered twice! If you win and can make it to our party, you and a friend will be added to the guest list and win a prize pack with a bunch of goodies including a Saw VI t-shirt, a copy of Anvil: The Story of Anvil book, a Metal Insider MusicSkin and more! Even if you can’t make it out, you’ll still be eligible to win a box set of Saw 1-5.
We’ll pick a winner on Wednesday morning. Only open to ages 18+, sorry kiddies! Entering automatically subscribes you to the Metal Insider and Lionsgate Films e-mail lists.
More details on our party after the jump. Read more »
New Yorkers: join us next Friday at the Arrow Bar’s Heavy Metal Happy hour for a special preview of Converge’s latest masterpiece, Axe To Fall! We’ll have prizes, and drinks are 2 for 1! Sweet deals, brah!
Blackberry and Windows Mobile users can now access Metal Insider’s featured stories, news ticker and Twitter feeds in once one place through Viigo’s new ROCK! app. The app includes a number of other killer sites like MetalInjection.net, MetalSucks.net, MetalUnderground.com, PureGrainAudio.com and SMNnews as well as weather, news, sports scores and every other piece of information you could possibly want.
Hit the jump for the full press release and visit viigo.com/rock or getviigo.com/rock from your mobile device to join in!
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If you don’t already, you should follow us on Twitter. We’ll be live-tweeting (ugh, I know, I hate that term too) the Mayhem Festival from scenic Camden, NJ. Check us out at @metalinsider.
Of course, this is all assuming Twitter doesn’t shit the bed again.
BITPOM parent company The Syndicate has capped a busy and rewarding year by being awarded the title of “Metal Radio Promoter of the Year” by radio industry trade magazine Friday Morning Quarterback (FMQB)’s “Metal Leaders 2008 Awards.” The awards were voted on by metal radio programmers and music industry executives.
In addition, a number of companies and bands the Syndicate works with also dominated the FMQB Metal awards.
Label of the Year: Roadrunner Records
Album of the Year: Slipknot, All Hope is Gone (Roadrunner)
Best Up-And-Coming Independent Label: The End Records
Veteran Act of the Year: Metallica
Most Promising Artist: Five Finger Death Punch
Our friends Jose Mangin at SiriusXM and Jackie Kazjer at Indie 103 in Los Angeles also picked up awards. The full list of winners can be seen here.
Posted by Dan Rodriguez on Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 10:33 am
Inside Metal Insider, No Label Needed