From the press release:
Videos by American Songwriter
Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter program kicks off its third installment today, searching for the next great, undiscovered songwriter. With nearly 30,000 submissions received in the first two years of the artist discovery program, thousands of aspiring singer-songwriters across the country will once again have the chance to catch their first big break and take their careers to the next level.
Having already helped springboard the careers of two talented artists under the care of producer John Shanks, Guitar Center sets out to unearth new talent this year with the aid of Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was. Was brings an incredible range of experience to the competition having produced music with John Mayer, Lucinda Williams, Scotty McCreery, Ziggy Marley, Bonnie Raitt and the B-52s, as well as legends like Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop and countless others.
The winner of Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter 3 will work in the studio with Was to record a 4-song E.P. and will receive new gear and $25,000 in cash.
“I’ve been making records for 35 years and I’ve been really lucky. Trying to catch a break in this business can be the most helpless feeling in the world, but it just takes one person to hear your work and say ‘this could be really good’,” says Don Was. “Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter is going to make some peoples’ lives better and it may very well allow somebody to have an incredible career.”
Hear more of Don Was’ thoughts on the program here:
Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter 3 Winner Will Receive:
· A 4-song E.P. with Grammy Award-winning producer Don Was
· $25,000 Cash
· New gear from Akai, Avid, Bose, D’Addario, Fender, Korg, Martin, M-Audio, Shure, TC-Helicon, Converse and Zoom
· A feature on the award-winning podcast series: At: Guitar Center with Nic Harcourt
· Recording time at the Converse Rubber Tracks Studio in New York
· Worldwide digital music and publishing administration from TuneCore
· Feature story in American Songwriter
“With two successful years behind us, Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter continues to build alongside the success of our winners,” says Dustin Hinz, Director of Music Marketing and Artist Relations for Guitar Center. “We are honored to present the nation’s most promising singer-songwriters with the opportunity to work with Don Was – one of the industry’s most prolific producers. Collaborations like this are the ultimate manifestation of Guitar Center’s longstanding commitment to supporting musicians.”
HOW TO ENTER:
· Beginning September 3, 2013 through November 3, 2013 unsigned singer-songwriters from across the United States are invited to submit an original live music performance video at www.guitarcenter.com/
· All artists who enter will be ranked based on their online fan growth during the first round. In the second round, the top-ranked 140 artists will be reviewed personally by Grammy-Winning producer Don Was who will handpick 10 finalists to perform live in Los Angeles, CA where one winner will be chosen.
· This year’s partners for Guitar Center’s Singer-Songwriter
ABOUT GUITAR CENTER
Guitar Center is the world’s largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates more than 251 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician’s Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Web site, www.musiciansfriend.com. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company’s Web site at www.guitarcenter.com.
ABOUT DON WAS
Don Was is a man of many talents — musician, producer, composer, filmmaker, director, and even record company president. As a musician, Don founded the influential band, Was (Not Was). He continues to play bass on records and at various events such as the Detroit All Star Revue. As a producer, Don’s work has sold over 120 million albums worldwide. His work is so highly regarded that he’s been asked by some of the most influential artists of the past several decades to make records for them: The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt and Roy Orbison. Don has taken home numerous awards, including a Grammy for Producer of the Year, a BAFTA for Best Original Score, and an Emmy Nomination for his documentary on Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. In January of 2012, Don was named president of Blue Note Records. At the same time, he continues to produce albums including “My True Story” for Aaron Neville (co-produced with Keith Richards) and “Paradise Valley,” the latest release from John Mayer.
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