THE NEW MUSIC SEMINAR AND OURSTAGE.COM ANNOUNCE THE

“ARTIST ON THE VERGE” WINTER NEW ARTIST SEARCH
Enter to Win the Opportunity of a Lifetime

The New Music Seminar (NMS) and OurStage.com have announced the “Artists on the Verge” Winter New Artist Search. This once in a lifetime opportunity is aimed to help break aspiring artists’ careers in the music industry though direct exposure and personal mentoring from some of the most influential and connected industry leaders of the new music business. The winner will also receive a special prize musical package including free musical equipment, video promotion, publicity services, legal work, CD pressing, and much more (full details below).

Entries are open to all unsigned artists in the Urban, Rock, or Pop genres, and will be accepted until December 22, 2009. Enter here.

Ten Finalists – A Judge Panel consisting of music industry leaders will select ten finalists from the top 20 ranked artists from each of the “Artists on the Verge” OurStage Channels. These ten finalists will have their A&R promotional packages and EPKs delivered to 20 top record labels in North America for consideration.

Top Three Finalists – The top three finalists will be awarded travel funds and passes to Los Angeles to attend the New Music Seminar on February 2nd, 2010 following the Grammy Awards. The three finalists will each receive a live mentoring and critique session by industry experts (led by superstar artists, producers, radio programmers, and bloggers) in front of the NMS audience.

Grand Prize Winner – One Grand Prize Winner will be chosen at NMS to perform at the NMS After Party, and will receive a comprehensive music consultation package that will include special music prizes, services, and offerings from some of the smartest and most connected leaders of the new music business.

“Last year 105,000 albums were released but sadly, less than 50 artists doing it themselves broke 10,000 album sales for the first time,” explains NMS Founder Tom Silverman. “The New Music Seminar along with OurStage is dedicated to helping new artists learn how to ‘cut through the noise floor.’ This contest will provide the opportunity and the right tools for the most talented new artists to break in the new music business.”

“We are thrilled to partner with such an important program as The New Music Seminar and to help deserving, emerging artists increase their exposure and improve their craft,” shares Ben Campbell, CEO of OurStage. “OurStage is in the business of delivering life-altering opportunities for worthy artists – so this is really exciting for OurStage and our whole community.”

The Grand Prize Winner Package will include:

Travel funds to attend the New Music Seminar in LA
New Music Seminar attendance

Mentoring & Consulting
- Tom Jackson – The Premier Live Performance Producer and Consultant

- Tom Silverman – Founder of Tommy Boy and the New Music Seminar

- Dave Lory – Manager and Touring Expert

- Martin Atkins – author of Tour:Smart – Expert on touring and the live experience
- Linda Lorence Critelli – Free one hour consultation with SESAC on “The business of songwriting and music publishing”

- Pam Workman – Founder/Owner of WE + PR and Public Relations, in-depth PR consultation and strategy session

- Joe Serling – Serling, Rooks, Ferrara, McKoy & Worob LLP – $5000 worth of billable time for legal work and consultation

Music Business Toolbox
- Tour:Smart book – Signed by Martin Atkins
- Music Success in 9 Weeks book – Signed by Ariel Hyatt
- Musician’s Atlas subscription
- Trendrr Pro Gold subscription
- Broadjam subscription – One year to receive opportunities to get your music used in TV and Films
- Canadian Music Week – 2 Tickets to the convention in Toronto, March, 2010
- New Music Seminar Guidebook

Exposure
- A&R package critiqued at NMS by industry experts
- Performance at the New Music Seminar immediately after the final panel
- MySpace promotion

- Yahoo! Music – Exclusive front page video debut for your next video
- Pandora targeted ad campaign
- OurStage Feature
- WE + PR campaign to promote winner
- Ariel Hyatt PR blog campaign
- Corey Denis Cyber PR social network makeover
- A&R Package sent by NMS to top A&R execs in North America (top 10 semi finalists)

Monetization
- Sabian Cymbals
- Guitar Center $1000 Gift Certificate
- Rainbo Records1000 CD’s manufactured
- Mozes Connect Subscription

- Ross-Ellis 500 deluxe vinyl jackets (packaging only)

About The New Music Seminar

From the co-founder and director of the original legendary New Music Seminar comes a conference for the Next Music Business. Artists have never had so much power to control their own careers and build their success. This affordable, one-day event gives artists and their representatives the knowledge, tools, and connections to step into the tomorrows music business today. Delegates get an intense program including a keynote speech and four Movements with an incisive curriculum redefining the music business from the artists’ perspective. Delegates all receive the New Music Business Guidebook filled with important do’s and dont’s by the experts, tips, information, forms, and essential websites and blogs. The NMS Schmoozatorium will have important exhibits by companies to help artists with their careers and amazing networking opportunities.

About OurStage
OurStage is emerging as one of the hottest new-music discovery platforms on the web. On OurStage, artists, fans and industry professionals all come together – to discover, judge, and enjoy the best new music and the best new artists online – as ranked by the fans. Top-ranked artists receive significant career-building promotion and support from famous artists, fans, industry professionals, and a broad assortment of partners, including MTV2, ABC Radio, Radio-One, AOL Music, Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, PLUG Awards, Newport Folk Festival, JVC Jazz Festival Newport, Paste Magazine, CMJ, Noise Pop, and many others. Founded in 2007, OurStage delivers music and related content to more than 4 million fans in over 140 countries each month.