Contest Format
The contest entry process begins early in the year, when bands submit a three-song CD to a panel of judges, typically due in late April. During the first three years of the contest, this panel selected the eight national finalists. For every year since then, the judging panel selects 18 US bands to participate in one of three qualifying US regional “Battles” which are held in the summer. Locations for the US regional contests vary from year to year -- the 2007 regionals were held in Nashville, TN, Los Angeles, and Austin, TX. In 2008 a European regional was added for the first time, in London, UK. Six bands from around Europe are selected for the European regional.
At each regional event, each of the six bands performs a 20-minute set. The judges then choose two finalists from each US regional, plus the one winner of the European regional. After all of the regionals have been completed, the judges choose an additional one or two bands as "wild card" finalists, typically making eight finalists in all.
In some years, a finalist is included from Australia. Since 2004, Telstra, an Australian telecommunications and information services company, has sponsored their own national competition, called ROCKINC. The winner of ROCKINC is automatically entitled to a spot in the FORTUNE competition final.
On the day of the finals, held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October, each band performs a 30-minute non-judged showcase for the public during the day. That evening, each band plays a 15-minute set for a panel of music industry judges. The judges will then select a winner, dubbed “The Best Corporate Band in America” for that year, along with 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Read more about this topic: Fortune Battle Of The Corporate Bands
Famous quotes containing the word contest:
“It is odd but agitation or contest of any kind gives a rebound to my spirits and sets me up for a time.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)