Search starts for the UK’s top school band
And the winning Class Act will pick up the best prize in British music – a BRIT Award!
Prime Minister Gordon Brown: “The judges will have a tough decision ahead of them!”
Party leaders and celebrities are supporting a brand new BRIT Award which will be given to a school act – the prize in a national competition to find the UK’s future music stars. The new category of BRIT Award – the BRIT Class Act – is announced as part of the BPI’s 30th Anniversary celebrations.
The Award has been created to recognise the BRITs’ commitment to encourage and nurture the UK’s future musical talent. The competition is open to school students up to 19 years old around the country, playing any genre of music with the best ‘Class Act’ winning a coveted BRIT Award.
First News, the award winning newspaper for young people co-founded by Piers Morgan, is one of the creators of Class Act. Piers says: “Class Act is a fantastic opportunity for every school student who has ever dreamed of being a music star. I know we will be bowled over with the talent we uncover and it is after all the ultimate accolade to kick start a music career.”
The BRIT Class Act website will advise and help pupils to create their best track for the competition. Established bands will give tips and industry specialists will produce tool kits to give expert guidance to musicians as well as pupils who want to be involved in the process. The tool kits will cover everything from management and promotion to creative backup, so anyone can get involved.
The leaders of each of the major political parties are pledging their support for Class Act.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown says: "I believe it's vital we help young people to discover their talents and channel their abilities. By supporting our schools, empowering expert teachers and investing in new facilities, even more children have the opportunity to progress in music. My ambition is that by 2011 over two million primary school pupils will be learning a musical instrument and joining in the fun. I'm proud of the wealth of talent our young people possess and I'm sure the judges will have a tough decision ahead of them."
Conservative Leader David Cameron says: “The BRIT Class Act is a great way to shine the light of publicity on a new generation of musicians. I am sure it will capture the imagination, and inspire young people across the country to show us just what they can do. And we will all benefit from the new musical talent we'll see emerging as a result."
Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg says: "Class Act is a class idea. Britain has been blessed with some of the world's best musical artists. Schemes like this one to nurture the next generation of talent are as useful as they are fun for the young people involved."
The new Award is a flagship event of The National Year of Music. Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Ed Balls says: “Some of the world’s most well-respected bands, like Radiohead and U2, met at school. The BRIT Class Act is a great opportunity for young people up and down the country to get together and showcase the huge talent they have to offer, and give us a glimpse of the big names to watch for the future.
“Music is at the heart of British popular culture. And now we’re in the first ever National Year of Music in 2010, we want more young people than ever to get involved in the fantastic opportunities that are on offer. This could mean learning about how the music industry works through “Class Act”, becoming part of the school choir, or taking advantage of the free music tuition classes primary schools are offering to pupils. Far from it just being about who’s top of the download charts each week, music teaches discipline, raises hopes and aspirations and gives kids skills that will stay with them for life.”
The competition will start in September 2010 with the launch of a new Official Class Act Schools Chart based on streaming. Number One acts each week will win a prize and will automatically go through to the Award shortlist. Wildcard entries selected by the BRITs panel will also make it through to the finals. First News, which currently reaches over a quarter of all school children, will be featuring a school band of the week in every issue until the winner is announced at the prestigious BRIT Awards in February 2011.
Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive of the BPI said, “The BPI has raised millions of pounds for charity through the BRITs, focusing on young people, music and education. A BRIT Award is the biggest prize in music, and we are excited as part of our 30th year celebrations to be offering every school pupil in the country the chance to compete to win a BRIT Award. Music is an inspirational force in young people's lives, and we hope this Award will encourage thousands of young people to pick up an instrument and play."
Tulisa from N-Dubz added “Artists are right behind this. It’s going to make a big difference by recognising the passion and talent out there.”
The hunt for the next generation of talent has begun…
For more information and to register your support and interest, please visit www.britclassact.co.uk
--------------ENDS---------------
NOTES TO EDITORS:
BRIT Awards (British Record Industry Trust)
The BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) Awards is organised by the BPI – the British recorded music industry association - which has over 400 record company members large and small who between them account for in excess of 90% of UK recorded music sales.
The BRIT Awards 2010 with MasterCard will be the 30th BRIT Awards, which has raised more than £10.8 million for The BRIT Trust charity, whose main beneficiaries are the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology (http://www.brit.croydon.sch.uk) the only free performing arts school in the UK, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy (http://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk) and other selected charities which match the mission criteria.
Over 8,000 young people have been given free education and the opportunity to enter the BRIT School since its opening in 1991 and more than 10,000 children and adults have been helped by the extraordinary music therapy work carried out by Nordoff-Robbins.
Class Act is a joint initiative set up by The Media Spot, First News and Numu in conjunction with The BRIT Awards.
First News
First News is the UK’s national newspaper for young people. It was launched in May 2006 by Piers Morgan and editor Nicky Cox MBE. Now it is the widest read children's publication in the UK with 763,800 readers a week. It is on sale every Friday and is used as a resource in nearly a quarter of schools nationwide.
NuMu
NUMU, a free website and community for schools and organisations to deliver engaging music activities online.
The Media Spot
A leading music and entertainment promotions agency.
For all enquiries please contact:
Andy Cleary at The Media Spot
Tel: 020 8987 0800
Email: andy@themediaspot.co.uk