Fopp, PRS Foundation and Clear Sound & Vision to launch 'Unsigned'
19 January 2004
Fopp, the PRS Foundation (PRSF) and Clear Sound & Vision have joined together to create a new initiative to take unsigned acts to new levels in their careers.
Unsigned will give up-and-coming acts the chance to record at a professional recording studio for free and have their recording mastered, manufactured and then distributed around the UK through Fopp's network of stores.
Peter Ellen, Managing Director, Fopp said, "The United Kingdom is awash with musical talent. Due to prevailing market conditions and the reliance on manufactured pop it is harder than ever for new acts to secure a record deal. The Fopp Unsigned Network can't promise stardom but could help bands to push through that glass ceiling."
Unsigned, the partnership between Fopp, PRSF and Clear Sound & Vision, has been developed to build on the success of the existing Fopp Unsigned Network. The Fopp Unsigned Network launched in February 2003 to give unsigned bands a simple way to sell their music nationwide and get paid for sales quickly. The response has been fantastic from artists and industry alike with over 400 acts submitting their material since the initiative began.
The new initiative will award the UK's best unsigned acts with studio time and a high quality finished product. The band's material will be recorded, mixed, edited, mastered and pressed at a professional recording studio, courtesy of PRSF.
David Francis, PRSF manager said, "The PRS Foundation is strongly committed to supporting and stimulating emerging musical talent in the UK. We're pleased that this initiative will spotlight the creativity and innovation we know is out there amongst new bands and songwriters and that it will provide practical opportunities for them to progress their professional careers."
Clear Sound & Vision will handle post-mastering and manufacturing of the CDs and in co-operation with the bands will design insert artwork to create a professional product. Clive Robins, Managing Director, Clear Sound & Vision said, "Creating a professional quality product to represent, market and promote you is hugely important. It is our attention to detail, enthusiasm and dedication along with experience in all aspects of the music industry that provide the competences needed to ensure the best possible finished product is out there representing your work."
The final product will be distributed through Fopp's chain of fourteen stores nationwide. The bands will also be given the opportunity to play exclusive in-store gigs following in the footsteps of acts like Tenacious D, The Rapture, Cosmic Rough Riders, Razorlight, Jet and Plaid.
Unsigned is part of Fopp and their partners' long-term commitment to new music. Further information about how to apply to Unsigned will be available from Monday, 9 February.
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For further information / interview contact:
Paul Smith or Lee Beattie at Burt Greener Communications t. 0141 248 6007, e. paul@burtgreener.co.uk or lee@burtgreener.co.uk
Notes to Editors
About Fopp
Fopp www.fopp.co.uk was founded in 1981 by Gordon Montgomery, who is now the Chairman and majority shareholder of Fopp, as well as being the company's executive buyer. Fopp has become one of the fastest growing and most successful entertainment retail businesses in the UK with a chain of fourteen stores from Aberdeen to London.
Extremely competitive prices, excellent service and a huge product range spanning many genres have consolidated Fopp's popularity with the music, book and film loving consumer. A minimum of 20,000 lines are in-store at any one time and over the last two years books and DVD have become an important part of the range.
In recognition of its success Fopp was nominated as a finalist for the Growth Strategy of the Year award in the National Business Awards in 2003. In December 2003 the Time Out shopping survey rated Fopp as number 1 in London for products and service. In May 2003 Fopp won the 'Built in Quality' award from Camden Council for their Covent Garden outlet and in February Music Week awarded Fopp UK Breakthrough Company of the Year.
Sales have will climbed from £17m in 2002 to in excess of £27m in 2003. The next batch of new Fopps includes a flagship store for Manchester - due to open in March 2004.
About The PRS Foundation (PRSF)
The PRSF (www.prsfoundation.co.uk) is the UK's largest independent funder purely for new music of any genre. It is an artistically driven organisation which primarily aims to promote and support the creation and performance of all genres of music and to help people enjoy and understand the new music they experience. In order to energise the new music landscape in the UK, PRSF directs its support towards creatively adventurous and pioneering musical activity.
In just under 4 years, PRSF has successfully funded over 1000 new music initiatives, to the tune of nearly £5million. Its funding and partnership activities have enabled many ground-breaking collaborations and projects.
Although The PRS Foundation receives generous support from the Performing Right Society Ltd, the Foundation is a separate entity and a registered charity. Please credit support for funding to The PRS Foundation and not the Performing Right Society (PRS).
About Clear Sound & Vision
Established in 1997 CSV www.clearsoundandvision.com has been designed to provide a clear and personal style of manufacturing service for record companies, publishers and all users of audio and video formats. Our portfolio of customers varies from one off customers looking to manufacture a first release to small independent companies through to corporate organisations.
CSV is able to supply an excellent complete one stop manufacturing service including all aspects of design, reprographics, printing, manufacturing and total fulfilment. We are aware of how important and reliable the administration side of the service has to be, there emphasis is given on ensuring that order confirmations, delivery notes and invoices are despatched quickly and accurately.
The team at CSV have many years experience of all aspects within the music, video and media industries, and prides itself on the highest levels of communication at all times and to the development of long term personal relationships with its clients.