ibibo Launches Rock Band Talent Hunt

2009 is fast becoming the year of the ‘lets-support-Indian-rock-via-a- talent-hunt’ initiatives. From gear brands to packaged food makers to scene people, there’s a lot of Indian indie love being thrown around. The latest Indian rock crush comes from online portal ibibo.com. The portal, in association with indie record label Counter Culture Records, has launched The Rising Rock Stars of India – an initiative that intends to promote Indian rock acts by releasing their albums and having them tour the country.

As a part of the platform every month one band will get an opportunity to record a professional album and the same will be marketed by ibibo across the web and mobile. The original compilations will be available for ring tone downloads and dedications on the web and mobile. … Over the next 6 months ibibo will produce 6 Rising Rock bands of India and give them an opportunity to perform Live in various cities.

Each of the 6 rising rock bands will promote their album on a 3 city tour, reaching out to audiences on ground as well.

Bands can enter the competition by visiting the ibibo.com website. The bands will be selected by ibibo users and a panel of judges that include – Amit Kilam (Indian Ocean), Randolph Correia (Pentagram, Shaa’ir + Func), Malini Agarwal, Saurabh Kanwar (from Channel V) and KJ Singh.

I asked the head of Counter Culture Records, Neysa Mendes to share some more details about the initiative with us.

If I understand this correctly, these bands will record an album that will then be sold via ibibo.com and its channels? Will these albums be distributed via medium apart from ibibo.com, ie will folks be able to pick these up from say a Planet M?
No, the album will be sold via all channels, online and offline, including ibibo.com So yes, it will be available at a Planet M. We’ll do what we usually do with all our albums. Sell actively at gigs and also distribute via stores.

According to the terms & conditions

All costs of travel, boarding and lodging of the Winners for any activity, including the performances undertaken as part of this Program, will have to be borne by the Winners themselves. Neither the Company nor OML shall be responsible for the same in any manner whatsoever.”

Isn’t that a little tough for a small time band with little or no money, and the need to participate in an online contest to get its music heard?
What the band wins is a record deal and a three city tour to promote the album. For the tour, as with any of our bands, accommodation and travel will be taken care of. (I believe this pertains more to the recording, or some unforseen circumstance. Say, there’s a Delhi band who insists on recording in Mumbai. Now while, I’ll be able to hook up a studio, the budgets don’t allow for travel and accommodation as well)

Where will a winning band’s album be recorded? Who will produce it?
Both of these will depend on the winning band. The producer for the album will largely depend on the winning band and it’s sound.

More from The Rising Rock Stars of India as we hear it.