In an effort to find upcoming college bands and musical acts, mtvU announced the launch of its Web site www.bestmusiconcampus.com. The site gives students an opportunity to build profiles featuring blogs, videos and their original music. The most popular bands will be eligible for awards including artist of the year, month and week.
Students can help their favorite acts succeed by voting for them online.
Winners will receive airplay on mtvU and possibly MTV, in addition to promotion. Monthly winners will be eligible for record deals from three labels: Def Jux, Drive-Thru and Epitaph records.
“We’re excited to partner with Epitaph, Drive-Thru and Def Jux – connecting the best of our wildly talented and eclectic audience with labels where they can flourish creatively and blow up,” said Stephen Friedman, general manager of mtvU.
The Artist of the Year winner will be selected from 50 finalists nationwide and be unveiled on NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in May 2007. The winner will also receive a year’s promotion from their respective label and a record deal from one of the three underground recording labels.
“We are looking to discover college bands and give them a national stage,” Friedman said.
MtvU is broadcasted exclusively to 750 college campuses nationwide, including Cal Poly, encompassing an enrollment of over two million students. The channel is broadcasted around the clock in dorms, fitness areas and dining halls.
Although the channel is not yet available in private homes, users can download streaming broadcasts of their favorite mtvU shows and clips from the Web site, mtvU.com.