The Marshall Ultimate Band Contest bills itself as the ultimate band contest, and offers the chance for your band to win a year's full endorsement from Marshall Amplification for the guitar players and bass player. Marshall endorsements are sort after by many of the top artists around the world and in the past the only way to get one was to already be signed up and making waves within the music industry. The prize also includes Metropolis studios offering to remaster the winning band's demo track ready to be put on the Classic Rock covermount CD.

All you need to enter is a video of your band playing, which can then be uploaded to the website for the public to vote on.

For more details, click here

Big Noise label looking for artists

Big Noise, a record label based in Providence, Rhode Island, and home to such artists as Christina Aguilera, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and The Ramones, is looking for artists who are "unique, talented, professional, and ready to launch". All genres of music will be considered. However, artists may be required to contribute towards costs.

For more details click here, or visit the website at http://www.bignoisenow.com  

For over 450 other US record labels, click here

I AM Awards for unsigned and self-releasing artists

The I AM Awards aim to prove that you can be successful, unsigned, and retain your artistic integrity and financial control. The award is open to unsigned and self-releasing artists in the genres of Indie/Rock, R’n’B/Hip Hop, Grime/Garage, Pop/Alternative, Funk and Jazz, Dance, Acoustic, Electronic or Punk.

The awards are free to enter and will be judged by professionals in the film, television, gaming and advertising industries. The closing date for entries is November 28, 2010.

For more details, click here

New record label for Yorkshire bands under 21

Dead Sober Records is a new record label launched by Mickey Thompson and Michelle Dalgety, the people behind Leeds Festival Fringe, held in August ahead of the annual rock showpiece at Bramham Park. The label aims to nurture emerging music talent in the Yorkshire region, and will focus on bands aged under 21.

The label will be hosting regular gigs at Carpe Diem in Calverley Street, Leeds, and is actively seeking demos, which can be dropped off at Carpe Diem and left with the bar staff.

The label's MySpace page can be viewed at http://www.myspace.com/deadsoberrecords 

For over 460 other UK record labels, click here

Get free publicity on MusicSocket

Got a band? Got a website, blog, or personal web page? Run a record label, or a music management company? Know of opportunities for bands and musical artists, or need to get the word out about your own songwriting competitions, auditions, etc.? MusicSocket and its free newsletter, fMn, can help you get publicity for free:

• If you want to promote your website or blog for free you can exchange links with MusicSocket at www.musicsocket.com/links/submit.cgi 

• If you run a record label you can submit it to be listed in our record labels database by clicking here

• If you run a music management company you can submit to be listed in our database of managers by clicking here

• If you know of or offer opportunities for bands / artists you can submit a press release at http://www.musicsocket.com/newsletter/press_room.shtml. We're also interested in receiving good quality articles about making it in music!

Resources for music artists at MusicSocket

Visit MusciSocket for the following invaluable resources for bands and artists:

• over 900 record labels

• over 650 music managers

• over 50 music websites

• and more...

To advertise on this newsletter for as little as $30 / £20 click here