Juno Download, Audio Academy Partner

Largest electronic music e-tailer subsidizes DJ contest

TORONTO, CANADA: AudioAcademy.fm, the industry's rising electronic music resource centre, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the U.K.'s Juno Download. The world's largest dance MP3 and WAV site has agreed to help subsidize Audio Academy's Battle of the DJs contest by contributing $5 to each contest entry.

"We believe in this contest as an important avenue to find the next wave of talent in the electronic music market," says Nick Unsworth, head of label relations at Juno Download. "When you've been around for 10 years like Juno Download has, you get a chance to see unknown artists develop into international superstars and it's exciting every time it happens. We fully expect to find this type of talent through the Audio Academy's Battle of the DJs contest. Every DJ has a critical moment in their career; typically, it's getting that first real big break. That's why Juno Download is investing in each and every artist that joins this contest. We think every young DJ deserves that break."

The Battle of the DJs II contest, which runs from January 11 to March 14, allows unknown turntablists to upload an original track or mix to the AudioAcademy web site for consideration by the public at large. The winner, based on the number of votes received, will have a career-launching opportunity to spin at the Om Records party during the major electronic dance music event that sees 5,000 industry professionals and 75,000 club-goers flock to the city from more than 60 countries.

"We understand how important portals like Juno Download are for aspiring music producers," says Audio Academy founder Alen Bubich. "More specifically, we recognize and appreciate how much Juno has done as a company to help identify and nurture these individuals. The fact that they see what we're doing as worthwhile and, moreover, are investing in our members is a complete honour for us, but it's not surprising based on the track record that Juno has in terms of supporting new music and new talent."

The Battle of the DJs II, which last year gave the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to inaugural winner Frank Oliver from Portugal at the BPM Festival in Playa del Carmen, is just one key component to AudioAcademy.fm's mandate. A much-needed one-stop resource centre for DJs and producers, the site also offers online turntable software DxAudio, the first of its kind that uses Adobe Flex technology to bring the power of runtime C based libraries to online music production. "We're offering tools, guidance, and in the case of this contest, opportunities where none existed previously," says Bubich.

The Battle of the DJs II grand prize includes a guaranteed 45-minute set at the Om Records Winter Music Conference party, flight, hotel, and $500 DJ fee.