Sonicbids Supports Indigenous Artists with First-Ever No-Cost Listing in Australia

BOSTON, MA September 1, 2010 — Sonicbids, the website that helps bands discover and book gigs, has always taken supporting independent music to the limit. This August, Sonicbids saw the launch of its first-ever No Cost Gig Listing in Australia. The listing, presented by One Movement, focuses on supporting indigenous artists throughout Australia.

Five finalists and one overall winner will be chosen through Sonicbids to receive the Australian Indigenous Music Scholarship (AIMS), which aims to provide opportunities for indigenous artists to gain experience and exposure within the music industry.

As part of their commitment to fostering new talent, One Movement presents the Australian Indigenous Music Scholarship (AIMS). The scholarship is designed to provide an opportunity for Indigenous artists to gain high level industry experience and exposure to ultimately achieve their career objectives. Five Sonicbids artists will be selected as finalists.

The five AIMS finalists will receive the following benefits:

• An invitation to attend One Movement for Music and a delegate registration per band to attend the MUSEXPO conference
• A contribution towards flights to Perth from their nearest capital city and accommodation (for residents of SA, VIC and QLD supported by their local Arts body)
• The opportunity to showcase at One Movement for Music in 2010 at an intimate environment to music industry representatives from around the world
• A three hour development and mentoring session with renowned and experienced professionals from within the music industry covering areas such as A&R, marketing, management, presentation & publishing
• A 3 month Sonicbids membership

The overall AIMS winner will further receive in addition to the above benefits:

• A minimum 4 hour session in a Perth based recording studio with members of the panel to mentor the production and recording process
• 6 month Sonicbids membership
• Opportunity to play at the “Share the Spirit Festival” on 26 Jan 2011 – provided by Songlines Victoria
• A live recording of their winning showcase performance.

The scholarship has a strong focus on career and skill development and provides exposure and assistance to ensure that artists are not limited to being categorized as only Indigenous artists but also provided with mainstream music exposure and mentoring. As such, the AIMS program was specifically developed to provide participants with the necessary industry skills, experience and exposure to ensure that they are able to maximize the likelihood of long term sustainability in the music industry.

For more information about this opportunity, including entry details, click here to visit the Sonicbids site.

The deadline to submit on Sonicbids is Monday, September 6, 2010. Submit your EPK through the Soncbids site here.

For an exclusive Q+A with 2009 AIMS winner, Lee ‘Sonnyboy’ Morgan, click here.

Sonicbids is the website the helps bands get gigs and promoters book the right bands. Our community includes more than 245,000 bands and 21,000 promoters and licensors from all around the world. With festivals, clubs, colleges, music licensing and much more, Sonicbids offers a diverse range of gigs for every kind of musician. In fact, last year alone, more than 71,000 gigs were booked on the site. The company was founded in 2001 by Panos Panay and continues to focus on its core mission of empowering the artistic middle class. Get a gig or book a band at www.sonicbids.com.