The commercial radio industry’s annual nation-wide hunt for Australia’s best unsigned artists, New Artists 2 Radio (NA2R), is well underway. Nine finalists have now been announced, three in each of the nominated genres: adult contemporary, pop and rock.
The finalists are:
Rock: The Violet Flames (VIC), The Moderns (QLD), Finabah (QLD)
Pop: Ray Isaac (NSW), Kate Vigo (VIC), Mojada (NSW)
Adult Contemporary: Melanie Horsnell & The Inflatable Girlfriends (NSW), Brianna Carpenter (QLD), Emma Donovan (NSW)
The nine finalists had been selected from a record number of 298 entries this year, up 77% on last year.
Commercial Radio Australia CEO Joan Warner says: “These finalists will now compete for the chance to share in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks, together with the opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations for four weeks as well as extensive advice from industry experts on distribution, management and marketing.”
All finalists will attend a radio workshop with leading program and music directors and music marketing professionals in Sydney on 25 September. The NA2R workshop offers advice and expertise about how to maximize commercial radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists.
The 2009 NA2R winners will be announced at this workshop following judging by a panel of commercial radio network program and music directors from around Australia, with the decision based on commercial radio play potential. Three winners will be announced, one from each genre.
The three winners will perform at the NA2R showcase event to be held in Sydney on 9 October in front of a large crowd of key music and program directors from the commercial radio sector. One winner from these three acts will then be chosen to perform the following night at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), to be held in Sydney on 10 October.
NA2R, now in its eighth year, is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception in 2001 including artists like Delta Goodrem, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade McRae, Little Birdy, Nessa Morgan, The Sunpilots and Ashleigh Mannix.
Last year’s winners, Ashleigh Mannix, Emma-Louise and Boston Shaker are all in the process of finishing their debut albums following their wins in the NA2R competition.
The three winners of the event will receive:
* Possibility of four weeks of airplay, across the day, on Austereo, DMG Radio, Australian Radio Network, Macquarie Southern Cross Media, ACE Radio, Prime Radio and Grant Broadcasters.
* A share in $150,000 worth of radio advertising promoting the artists and their winning song on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio and Macquarie Southern Cross Media.
* An artist development package for the winner in each category including MGM Distribution at retail and digital online sales via ITunes. All winning singles will be submitted to ARIA for inclusion in the ARIA single chart survey.
* Marketing, management and media advice from VGM (Media & Marketing) including mainstream music press, electronic and digital music media, marketing, artist management and advice about radio tracking to ensure maximum exposure. Design of their single cover and CD for distribution through MGM.
* An overall winner will be chosen to play at the ACRAs on 10 October. As well, the winner will feature in their very own music video produced by Short Motion Studios, under the direction of Rachel Dunn. Rachel has produced numerous videos for artists such as Vanessa Amorosi, Selwyn and Butterfly Nine.
The NA2R event aims to discover the next big music star to be played on radio throughout the country. The event is open to unsigned, independent Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.