Nickelodeon Searches For Kiwi Kid Bands

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The search is on for New Zealand's youngest rock stars

Nickelodeon NZ (Nick NZ), in-conjunction with Upstart Magazine, is conducting a nationwide search to find the country's most talented band, with members aged five to 15-years-old.

The winning band will receive a session to professionally record their best song in a studio, have a music video produced by Nickelodeon and have that video played on Nick NZ (Sky, Channel 41).

"You often see some incredible rock or pop-stars-in-the-making perform at primary and intermediate school, but they often don't get the chance of exposing their talent beyond the school grounds. Finally, younger musicians, along with teenagers up to 15 years, will have a chance to push their band into the national TV limelight by entering Nick Rocks," says Lauren Nola, Marketing Manager for Nick NZ.

The Nick Rocks competition will give a previously unsigned band to showcase their talents to a television audience. The winning band will be chosen by public vote (SMS and on-line) from three finalists. Each finalist will have their band practice filmed by a Nick NZ film crew and screened for four days from the 9th September when the public vote takes place.

Lauren Nola says the inspiration for a Kiwi kid rock band search came from the popular The Naked Brothers Band movie and series premiering on Nick NZ, Sunday 9th September at 5.30pm. Part-documentary, part mockumentary, the show follows the real life Wolff brothers, Nat (11) and Alex (8) who write and perform all their own music for their band the Naked Brothers.

"We think there's a lot of young talented young musicians out there and we want to support and celebrate their interests. This competition could give them a taste of what it's like to be a rock star," says Lauren Nola.

Entry forms for Nick Rocks have been sent to music stores and school music teachers and departments around the country. Young Kiwi bands can also enter the competition on the Nick NZ website, nicknz.co.nz, from Friday 29th June 2007. Entrants cannot be already signed to a record label, management company or music publisher. Kiwi Rocks contestants can play any genre of music, with either original songs or covers. Entries close 19th August 2007.

ENDS

About Nickelodeon NZ

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th year, is the number-one global entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon first featured on New Zealand TV Screens in 2000 and it went 100% Kiwi in August 2006. The local channel now features Kiwi faces and voices on air and is supported by an interactive and entertaining website and a dedicated team based in Auckland.

Upstart Magazine Upstart Magazine is the Kiwi Kids' magazine with EVERYTHING! Home grown and packed full of children's contributions on everything from sport, fashion, music, gaming, books, television, movies, and heaps more! Interviews with celebrities and Kiwi role models. Kids' own stories about THEIR achievements; THEIR thoughts; and THEIR opinions. Heaps of fun competitions Kiwi children can enter and win!

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