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MTV KICKSTART IS BACK FOR 2008

MTV have cemented their commitment to support local up and coming musicians by announcing the return of MTV Kickstart 2008. Bands can enter now at http://www.myspace.com/mtvkickstartnz


The initiative will literally help young up and coming kiwi musicians get a ‘kick start’ in the industry by giving them all the tools necessary to break into the music world inc:
o $10,000 worth of flights
o A $5,000 NZ On Air music video grant
o $1,000 funding to professionally produce their single
o Video clip airplay on both MTV NZ and MTV Australia
o 1 month on-mtv exposure via MTV’s ‘This is my MTV’ campaign
o A performance on MTV Australia’s live music show ‘The Lair’ 
o B-Net prize pack inc airplay & interviews etc
o MySpace prize pack inc band profiling and advertising
o Media planning session with MTV, NZ On-air and NZ Music Commission
o A slot on a NZ On Air Kiwi Hit Disc radio promo sampler for the winning band's single
o A single distribution deal with EMI MUSIC NEW ZEALAND
o NZ Music commission support pack inc legal advice & one year’s membership to Music Managers Forum

To win this opportunity, up and coming musicians from across New Zealand simply need enter via http://www.myspace.com/mtvkickstartnz from April 2 to April 27. The competition is open to any artist/band irrespective of genre, the only criteria being that they have to be unsigned.

A series of closed auditions will be held across NZ in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin in conjunction with NZ Music Month. Industry judges will then select the top 5 bands from these auditions that will go on to compete against each other at a final event in Auckland on Friday May 30.   

Chris Keely, MTV NZ General Manger said: “MTV believes there can never be enough support for talented kiwis! MTV - with our great partners - is proud to deliver this kick- ass Kickstart to ensure success for the 2008 winner” 

“It’s great when big organizations devoted to providing youth entertainment and music get behind local talent and uses their medium to give real opportunity” Says NZ On Air’s Tania Dean “Winning an opportunity like this will be a dream come true for any up and coming artist. They will literally get everything handed to them on a silver platter – a true kick start!”

MySpace was chosen as the vehicle to drive entries for the competition due to the social networks longstanding global support and discovery of unsigned artists.  15,000 New Zealand bands are currently registered on MySpace. 

Rebekah Horne, Vice President MySpace NZ & Australia  said “MySpace is delighted to partner with MTV Kickstart.  From our very inception MySpace has been a fundamental promotional platform for musicians, artists and labels and a seminal force in launching the careers of some of music’s biggest names; from Lily Allen, Artic Monkeys and Colbie Caillat, to Operator Please.  As the home to 15,000 New Zealand bands already, there is a natural synergy for us to provide this support for emerging New Zealand artists. “

For press enquires contact Pip Jamieson (Marketing Manager, MTV New Zealand) on +64 275 111 011, +64 9 308 6612 or