Video portal MyVideo has launched this year’s competition for emerging musicians. Interested musicians can submit their self-produced music videos at http://popkomm.myvideo.de until 28 September. “Music is one of MyVideo’s most important pillars, so supporting young artists is a particular priority for us,” a MyVideo spokesperson told pressetext. The prize is an appearance at the opening gala of Popkomm, http://www.popkomm.de, in Berlin on 7 October.
The video portal organised its own emerging-talent competition last year. “More than 300 participants entered and placed their videos online for evaluation,” MyVideo said. Last year’s winner, Jim Pansen, can now claim not only 250,000 views on his own MyVideo channel but also a recording contract. “Anyone who wants to make the leap from the virtual world to a real stage can launch a professional music career with a single video,” said Dominic Hesse, Head of Marketing and Communications at media agency Magic Internet GmbH.
The jury for the 2008 competition consists of rapper Das Bo, emerging band Fräulein Wunder and 2007 winner Jim Pansen. “When assembling the jury, it was important to us that as many musical styles as possible were represented and that the jury members themselves identified with the internet,” MyVideo said. Fräulein Wunder also made the leap into television through the internet. Because of the band’s own experience, its members still identify strongly with the early discovery phase of a musician and understand the musical and personal qualities a newcomer needs, the spokesperson explained. “Whether rock, pop, hip-hop or classical, anyone who can convince the online community and the jury will have an opportunity to perform live at Popkomm before many music managers and record-company executives,” Hesse added.
MyVideo said it would continue to make a strong commitment to music. “We currently provide more than 70% of the official music videos represented in the current charts,” the company said. It is pursuing two strategies: “First, we want to give established artists an opportunity to strengthen their fan relationships through original campaigns. Second, we want to provide new talent with a platform on which individual channels can help them achieve a high profile within the community.” To remain true to this approach, MyVideo has also decided to provide extensive video coverage and a dedicated channel for the current season of ProSieben casting show “Superstars”. Sources familiar with the decision said interest in information during the previous season had been so strong that the company wanted to meet the same demand in 2008.
