The 2014 Bands4Good Challenge™, presented by Doing Good Network™, is accepting applications today through Sept. 30 for its online music talent competition. It uses a proprietary virtual program to help propel aspiring artists while aiming to keep music in our schools through support of nonprofits benefiting music education. Contestants – solo artists and bands in any genre – will compete to earn both fan votes and professional judges’ scores for the chance to win prizes, such as career development, vocal/instrumental coaching, recording studio sessions, performance opportunities and introductions to industry professionals.
Following the application process, people across the United States will have two opportunities to support their favorite participating musicians. First, fans can vote once per day without cost. Second, fans can purchase additional donation votes in package bundles in which the more money donated to support the cause, the more votes granted to the musician of their choice. Professional judges will also score each contestant’s performance looking for exceptional talent.
“The Bands4Good Challenge is an opportunity for up-and-coming artists to compete on a national scale, having their songs judged by industry experts and voted on by people nationwide – all while raising money for charity,” said Fred Fletcher Jr., Doing Good Network CEO and president and Bands4Good co-founder. “It’s a chance to garner huge exposure, invaluable industry access and all while knowing you’re ‘doing good’ for charity.”
The Doing Good Network developed this unparalleled fundraising platform to support deserving causes by connecting and benefiting nonprofits, musicians and the general public. The surprising founders, four guys with a median age of 65, embrace the digital age and believe everyone has the power to change the world with just one good action at a time. They spent the last four years creating and perfecting the competition’s virtual platform and kicked off a beta test with a North Carolina competition last year.
Now on a national stage, the 2014 competition is open to artists who are unsigned by major record labels. Singers, songwriters, duos, groups, bands and musicians of all genres, instrumentation and styles are encouraged to enter. As part of the submission process, applicants must upload audio of a song they feel best represents their musical talent. Further information, the complete rules and the application form are available at www.bands4good.com.
The 2014 Bands4Good Challenge includes two divisions: the School Division is open to individuals or bands in which all members are between sixth and 12 grade. Contestants must be 13 years of age or older. The Adult Open Division is for artists who are age 18 and older. Winners will be recognized in a number of categories for each division, including Fan Favorite, Charity Champion, Judges’ Pick and Best in Genre.
John “JD” Davenport serves as head judge and is also the Bands4Good co-founder and vice president of music and artist development. His career spans three decades of audio engineering for artists such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones, BJ Thomas, Ronnie Spector, Kenny G, Michael Bolton and Bruce Springsteen just to name a few. Today, John runs a state-of-the-art recording and film studio in North Carolina, Deep River Sound Studios. He will share his studio, audio engineering expertise and mentorship with some of the competition’s top winners.
“The Bands4Good Challenge will help take exceptional, unknown musical talents to the next level; it’s a huge opportunity for artists to be discovered,” said Davenport. “The other professional judges and I will all score contestants based on voice quality, musicianship, creativity, originality and overall entertainment value. We’re looking for super talents, but these individuals will also need to know how to rally their fans to generate votes and donations to help keep music in our schools.”
The 2014 Bands4Good Challenge will focus all philanthropic efforts on music education through select nonprofit partnerships. This includes Little Kids Rock, which aims to give every student the opportunity to unlock his or her inner music-maker. Over the past 12 years, it has given more than 300,000 under-served schoolchildren across the U.S. access to fun, engaging, modern band music classes and brand new instruments at no cost to the students, teachers or school districts. Additionally, Bands4Good has partnered with Arts for Life, which builds bridges and makes lasting connections between the art and healthcare communities of North Carolina. Its programs teach visual arts, music, and creative writing to patients and run five to seven days a week, eight to fourteen hours a day in each of our four different hospital sites.
Contestant applications will be accepted through Sept. 30. The 2014 Bands4Good Challenge preliminary round voting will officially start Oct. 3. The final winners will be announced during a live digital streaming performance show on Nov. 22. To apply, learn more or gear up to vote, visit www.bands4good.com.
