Today, leading music site Unsigned Band Review announces a nationwide new talent initiative called Emerging Icons Academy and a complete relaunch of the site as the first comprehensive Music Industry social network. 

The Emerging Icons Academy is a talent search with a difference; Unsigned artists who enter will undergo a development program whereby tasks are set by leading industry experts* to test and educate entrants in all aspects of the music industry. The artist who shows the most promise throughout this process will be selected by a panel of industry experts and given the opportunity to record an EP with award-winning producer Sacha Skarbek (Adele, Jason Mraz, James Morrison, KT Tunstall). 

As well as giving new artists a platform to get heard and a chance to work with a top producer, the initiative is designed to give every participating artist advice and direction that will help them in their future music career. 

“It is a tough world out there for artists because they need to be savvy in many areas other than just the music. The Emerging Icons Academy is set to equip them with tools and tips that will no doubt help them within their career whether or not they get to work with Sacha. I have chosen contributors from the industry who are highly experienced in working with established acts across different areas including A&R, song-writing, management, social media and PR." said the creator, award winning music entrepreneur Kat Jackman.

For full Emerging Icons Academy entry details see below.

Leading music site, Unsigned Band Review, provides unsigned bands with a platform to get heard, reviewed and publicised by key and influential music industry experts. On the 12th March, it is set to relaunch to provide the first comprehensive social community for the Music Industry. As well as a design overhaul, it will open it’s doors to anyone who works in or around the music industry and serve as a platform to share advice, network and find new talent. http://www.unsignedbandreview.com

"There are many technology based, and user generated platforms out there for artists, but we see the need for something more than this - we will be providing a platform for both artists and music industry professionals. We want to work with all the other services out there for bands and become the central place for new music, aspiring music video producers, promoters, venues, pluggers, publicists and more. Artists who sign up on UBR may find themselves on Radio One, Absolute Radio, BBC One, Secret Garden Party Festival, working with a top music producer, or having conversations with one of the A&R managers at Universal Music. This, I think, could be the first 360 degree social network for the music industry." said Kat Jackman. 

Since launching the free sign-up, ad-funded site in 2008, Unsigned Band Review has gone from strength to strength, attracting over 13,000 musicians to sign up and gaining national coverage in publications such as The Independent, The Sun and Wired Magazine for it’s innovative service. 

In the past year alone, Unsigned Band Review has seen it’s artists featured on Radio One, 6Music, Absolute Radio, 4Music, BBC One, Wired Magazine, The National Student Chart Show and iTunes. With more artists and industry experts joining the community every day, Unsigned Band Review looks set to have it’s most successful year yet in 2012.  

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 INDUSTRY EXPERTS INCLUDE:

• Annie Christensen - A&R, Island Records
• Richard Dawes - Music Publicist and MD at Dawbell PR
• SodaRock - Leading Artist Management Company
• Aaron Bogucki - Senior Digital Manager, Polydor Records
• Sacha Skarbek - Producer (Adele, Jason Mraz, James Morrison, KT Tunstall)
• PRS - Royalty Collection Service

TERMS FOR ENTRANTS: 

- Artists must have written their own material/songs

• Artists must be ‘unsigned’ - artists can be signed to a small indie or their own label but must make it known upon entry 
• Artists can be managed; if they are managed they would need to supply a copy of the management agreement upon entry to the Emerging Icons Academy

- Artists can have a booking agent; this is looked upon favourably- This is free for artists to enter- Artists must sign up on www.unsignedbandreview.com (UBR) to take part- All tasks will be published on UBR in the first instance

• Terms of the opportunity to work with Sacha Skarbek will be published on UBR

Lisa Birch 

DawBell 
Room 417 
8 Duncannon Street 
London 
WC2N 4JF 

email | lisa.birch@dawbell.com 
dir tel | 0207 484 8758 
mobile | 0741 586 3761 

www.dawbell.com