Slash, the former lead guitar player for Guns N’ Roses, is giving an unsigned band the chance to record a 3-song EP with himself and renowned Guns N’ Roses producer Mike Clink as part of an upcoming Guitar Center contest, according to Billboard. The hefty prize package also includes a management development deal with "The Collective" (Linkin Park, Slash, Avenged Sevenfold), a featured single on iTunes, worldwide distribution of the winning artist’s music through Tunecore, a $10,000 Guitar Center Shopping Spree, new gear and endorsement deals from Ernie Ball Music Man, an opening slot on Slash’s Monster Energy Bash and an editorial feature on the winning band in Guitar World Magazine.
Bands across the United States are invited to submit their music at YourNextRecord.com from February 2nd to through April 30, 2010, . The potentially career- altering competition is specifically for unsigned bands, making it a first of its kind.
"The formula that used to work for discovering new artists has been decimated and the opportunity for really talented bands to be heard is extremely limited," Slash said to Guitar World Magazine. "That’s why it’s so important to me and Guitar Center to provide a situation where new talent can be discovered. This is an incredibly interesting way to find and help launch a really great band that hasn’t been able to get their foot in the door otherwise."
The submissions will be ranked by "Buzz Factor," a contest management technology, that will collect and present each band’s submissions and rank them using a combination of online fan voting and community engagement. After the three-month submission and voting period, the top bands will be personally evaluated and selected by Slash and Mike Clink. Guitar Center is also collaborating with Ernie Ball’s “Shred with Slash” promotion, which offers musicians the chance to win over $50,000 in prizes, including a private master class with Slash upon finding one of five custom, limited edition Slash guitar picks in select packs of Ernie Ball electric guitar strings, sold exclusively at Guitar Center between February 1st and April 30th.
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