'Contrabands' to promote Indian talents
Mumbai, Mar 6 : In a united effort to provide independent musicians with a platform to jet start their careers, three of India's leading music promoters - Vh1 India, Universal Music India (UMI) and Hard Rock Cafe India - have combined their efforts to create 'Contrabands'.
It is a platform tailored to provide opportunities for aspiring Indie artists across the country.
Contrabands will be the first ever property to consolidate key factors like Discovering, Recording, Promoting and Managing the bands.
Thus empowering artists to be exposed and gain access to the best studios in town, top quality videos production capabilities and live gigs.
One can register on the Contrabands site where their music will be sampled by the head honchos of Vh1, UMI and Hard Rock Cafe India.
The micro site will provide relevant tools for bands to register and have their music reach the right people with minimum effort allowing for artists across genres to upload their material.
After the talent is discovered, UMI will sign them to a 3-year recording and management deal and activate a synchronized marketing and promotional campaign that will include mass media exposure, digital distribution, live shows, brand endorsements and collaborations with international UMG artists.
Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director- Universal Music India and SAARC, said: "Growing up as a musician as frontman of metal band 'Brahma' we had to struggle for years to be heard, seen & then eventually published. I know that pain personally & we have instituted 'Contrabands' to give the next generation a real chance to be who they've set out to be."
Vh1 will formulate a creatively conceptualized music video that will have an international look and feel for the artists.
This video will give the bands enormous exposureby finding its way to the television screens of 70 million viewers across India.
Also apart from being integrally involved with the selection and grooming process, Vh1 will also actively monetize Contrabands through its sponsor base.
Commenting on this association, Ferzad Palia, Senior Vice President & GM - English Entertainment, Viacom18 Media Pvt. Ltd, said: "Vh1 has always supported Indian artists since its inception in India. This partnership with UMI and HRC takes our platform 360 degrees and is sure to spot and develop some of the best hidden jewels. We're extremely excited to take these musicians to the next level."
As the official Tour and Venue Partner of Contrabands, Hard Rock Cafe will provide the indie artists a stage to showcase their music talent and promote them through on ground branding and various digital media.
Speaking on the venture, Sanjay Mahtani, Co-founder and Executive Director, JSM Corp, said, "Through our integrated efforts to put across a perfect amalgamation of 'discover, record, promote and manage', Contrabands will resonate boundless opportunities for the aspiring artists."