The FUSION Soundrise Project

FUSION ENTERTAINMENT & MAINZ PRESENT
THE FUSION SOUNDRISE PROJECT

Auckland, NZ. – FUSION Entertainment is giving New Zealand musicians the opportunity to showcase their music to the world. In collaboration with Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ), the organisations are launching the FUSION Soundrise Project.

The project sees two well-established, homegrown Kiwi brands that operate on opposite ends of the musical spectrum, but are passionate about Kiwi music, partnering to connect the arts with the commercial world. Students from all areas of MAINZ will have the opportunity to create original music, representing one of five genres, that fits a corporate creative brief provided by FUSION Entertainment.

In submitting their tracks to Radio Teapot, the MAINZ-run radio station, students will gain real exposure and air time in Auckland, before a panel of judges select a finalist for each genre, as well as an overall winner. The five finalist tracks will be mastered and loaded onto FUSION’s Stereo Active – a portable, purpose-built marine stereo – and distributed to FUSION’s salespeople and retailers worldwide, to be played in stores and at tradeshows. Completing the loop, students will get real world feedback from the market place and global exposure along the way. The project will select a “track of the year” based on this market feedback, which will see the winning student receive an award and cash prize.

“Our best guess is that these students’ music will be heard in at least 42 countries,” says Marcus Hamilton, Marketing Manager for FUSION Entertainment. “The initial idea was just to run a competition, but when we teamed-up with MAINZ, we were really able to give the project heart. Now we’ve developed an ongoing programme around it with the intention of showcasing New Zealand music to the world.”

For Scott Bulloch, Tutor at MAINZ, giving students the opportunity to experience what it’s like to have a career in music in the real world is what appealed. “The New Zealand music industry is healthy and our creative industries now generate about as much for the economy as forestry, so there are real jobs. The students that choose to take part in this project are going to learn valuable new skills about what it means to produce music to a corporate brief,” Scott explains.

“It’s also going to bring all the parts of the school together and encourage collaboration. A talented artist will need audio engineers for mastering, and management students to get the legal and promotional boxes ticked. Creating these tracks will be a team effort.”

This semester’s FUSION Soundrise Project is just the start of the partnership. Harry Lyon, Dean Emeritus of MAINZ explains, “Everyone is really excited about the project, which has every department involved. At MAINZ, our focus is not only on teaching music and audio engineering, but also showing students how they can build a career out of their creativity and this partnership with FUSION Entertainment provides real world connection and feedback.”

FUSION Entertainment and MAINZ intend to run the programme each term to update the music available on the Stereo Active devices and give a new set of students a “leg up”.

“For us it was a no-brainer,” shares Marcus. “We are already playing music, so why wouldn’t we make it New Zealand music? There’s so much amazing Kiwi music that never gets the exposure it deserves. Not only that, we’re excited to be able to provide an inspiring opportunity for students.”

-ENDS-

About Fusion Entertainment:

FUSION, the leader in marine entertainment, is dedicated to offering innovative solutions that enhance personal leisure time, whether on the water or on the road. FUSION, backed by Garmin, builds products that exceed regulatory standards, using the latest technologies at Garmin’s international ISO accredited manufacturing facility.

For more information on the FUSION STEREOACTIVE, FUSION Entertainment or its entire line of marine audio products, please visit www.fusionentertainment.com.

About MAINZ:

The Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand (MAINZ) is a faculty of Tai Poutini Polytechnic. MAINZ is highly regarded by industry and has an enviable reputation for its high quality programmes covering all aspects of the music business. When you study at MAINZ, you will join a community of like-minded people dedicated to music. Programmes are supported by industry, responsive to industry needs and approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority.

For more information about MAINZ please visit: www.mainz.ac.nz

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