:: Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED competition

By: Carmine Pascuzzi

Let the competition begin! This year’s Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED competition is off to a flying start as the first round of the competition started recently. Organisers have announced which artist has already been plucked from the talent pool by The Music Network - and has automatically scored a place in the semi-finals. Congratulations to Ellington from Brisbane, QLD.

The panel of industry experts and A&R team have come together over the past few weeks to bring you the Top 50 bands and artists, whittled down from over 2,300 entrants. For the first time ever, the doors were open for solo artists to enter the competition as well as bands and you can register to vote on the official website

Readers are also in the running to win one of eight double passes to Splendour In The Grass 2009 – there will be two double passes up for grabs each week for a limited time. This year you can also submit votes via SMS as well as online, so get behind your favourite band/artist, they might get the chance to play at one of Australia’s hottest music festivals – Splendour In The Grass, plus an artist development package worth $25,000

Jade Harley, Managing Editor from The Music Network sais, "uncharTED offers an amazing step up for emerging artists in Australia. By receiving a $25000 artist development fund as part of the prize package they are assured of a solid start in the industry. Entrants have to present themselves well via their bio and photos and demonstrate their own abilities at marketing via activities such as social networking & live appearances in order to drive votes, all these things will stand them in good stead regardless of their success in uncharTED. A competition like uncharTED ups the ante for all musicians and helps develop awareness and avenues for exposure for a multitude of acts from vastly different genres and demographics.”

About the band Ellington, Harley stated, “We have chosen ‘Ellington’ as The Music Network pick as we believe they have all the makings of a successful Australian band, their sound is well developed with great hooks and will appeal to both commercial and independent radio, they have a strong look and show a great grasp of marketing with over million plays of their tracks on MySpace. In today’s market all these factors come into play when determining a bands success and longevity.”

There will be three more ‘media picks’ from our remaining panel – MTV, MySpace and a Street Press Collective in the coming three weeks, so keep checking the website to find out which bands have been chosen to go straight through to the semi-finals.

Competition Announcement Timings:

MTV media pick announced – Tuesday, May 5

MySpace media pick announced – Tuesday, May 12

Street Press Collective media pick announced – Tuesday, May 19

Stage 2: Semi Finals start, Top 10 announced – Friday, May 22

Stage 3: Finals start, Top 3 announced – Tuesday, June 16

Grand Final event - winner announcement – Thursday, July 9

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**Update as at 23 May**

The Top 10 Artists have been chosen

For the last four weeks Tooheys Extra Dry uncharted competition 1 2009 round 1 has been live and kickin’, showcasing the country’s Top 50 emerging artists, which were selected by the industry panel and A&R team from over 2,300 entries. Round 1 has come to an end with the announcement of the Top 10 semi-finalists - as voted by you!

Organisers are proud to announce the Top 6 publically voted artists are (in no particular order) Sydney bands Bridgemary Kiss, The Falls, OnlyTheSeaSlugs and The Deer Republic, Melbournites Foxx On Fire and Perth band French Rockets. They will be joined by the four media pick bands, Brisbane band Ellington (The Music Network), Sydney-siders Death Mattel (MTV), Melbourne outfit Hot Little Hands (MySpace) and Sydney songstress Sui Zhen (Street Press Collective).

This fine collection of Australian emerging artists are now waiting for your vote, and each has the chance to strut their stuff at this year’s Splendour In The Grass, as well as winning an artist development package worth $25,000! Visit here to look at and listen to the Top 10, then vote for your pick of the pack.

The voting slates are wiped clean bringing all the artists to the same playing level for this round, so register and start voting to make sure your favourite semi-finalist has a chance of making it through to the Top 3 announced on June 16. This time around we have SMS voting, an uncharTED mobile site and artists widgets that you can upload to your social networking profile, go to our website for details. You can submit one vote per hour and the more you vote, the more chances you have at winning prizes.

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**Update as at June 16**

Congratulations to Hot Little Hands, The Deer Republic and Foxx On Fire on making the Top 3 for the upcoming Grand Final on July 9.

From over 2,300 entries, the Tooheys Extra Dry uncharTED competition 1 2009 enters its final stage and is down to the Top 3. The Deer Republic from Sydney, and Melbourne bands Foxx On Fire and Hot Little Hands, will battle it out for the major prize at the Grand Final held on July 9.

The winner will see themselves play at one of Australia’s most-loved outdoor festivals – Splendour in The Grass, plus receive an artist development package worth $25,000. The Top 3 comprises of the top two publicly voted artists and an industry pick. Hot Little Hands were the stand out for our industry judges, which saw them automatically claim a spot in the finals.

“Being in the top 3 for uncharTED is just so great, it's like there's a party in our favourite dancing shoes and everyone's invited!” – James, Hot Little Hands

“We have never felt so happy in our entire lives!” – Geno, Foxx On Fire

“Reaching the final is like building castles in the sky and there will be one hell of a party at the Grand Final!” – Mike, The Deer Republic

To see your favourite out of the Top 3 claim uncharTED victory, register to vote and spread the word. Visit here to obtain SMS voting codes unique to each artist, and download widgets from the uncharTED artist profiles, which you can upload onto your social networking profile (i.e. MySpace and Facebook). There is also the option to vote and view videos via the mobile site
Support Australian music and register now! Every vote counts.