AMERICAN streetwear brand Vans is holding its annual Musicians Wanted contest, promising a slew of attractive prizes, including products, record label support, and an opportunity to share the stage with a megastar next year.
Between September 2 and 30, Vans will be taking submissions for the contest, offering their products, musical gear from well-renowned guitar maker Fender, and Vans Spotify and Apple Music playlisting for the grand prize winner.
The grand winner of the contest also stands a chance to win a music video produced by Universal Music Group, one year of free and unlimited global music distribution, and the opportunity to share the stage with Grammy Award-winning American rapper, Anderson .Paak, as an opening act in 2021.
In a press release, Vans said the top five artists from the Asia-Pacific will perform at the Vans Musicians Wanted Virtual Concert this December.
They will also receive free album distribution through Spinnup, Universal Music Group’s distribution service for independent artists.
The company said this year’s competition has evolved into a “seamless” digital experience and will award one grand prize winner the opportunity to share the stage with Anderson .Paak., who is a Vans ambassador.
Anderson .Paak will also be judging for the contest alongside British singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya, hip-hop artists JID and Bohan Phoenix, and Tierney Stout from Vans Global Music Marketing.
Originally launched in Vans’ Asia-Pacific region in 2015, the Vans Musicians Wanted competition was described by the brand as a “global music platform that provides undiscovered musicians a chance for their original music to be heard by a global audience”.
“The Vans Musicians Wanted competition began as a programme to directly enable local, undiscovered musicians a chance to submit their original music and be discovered on a national scale,” the brand said in a press release issued by its parent company, VF Corporation.
Since its inception, more than 7,000 artists have taken part in Vans Musicians Wanted.
“Vans is proud to expand the program globally to welcome artists from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and Europe for a chance to share their original music with the world.”
In Malaysia, the programme has served as a catapult for past winners, namely Lawalah Familia, Lukarts, Kapow, and Mafidz.
Artists can submit their original music now on Vans.com/MusiciansWanted. – The Vibes, September 21, 2020
