FORTUNE Announces Regional Qualifiers in Ninth Annual Battle of the Corporate Bands

FORTUNE announced today the 16 bands that will be advancing to the regional qualifying rounds of the “Ninth Annual FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands” amateur competition. Sponsored by their respective companies, each band is vying for one of eight spots in the finals, which will take place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, during October 2-3, 2009.

Established in 2001, the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands is the first live music competition of its kind, providing amateur, company-sponsored bands the opportunity to rock their passion – playing music. The event is a partnership between FORTUNE, NAMM (the not-for-profit trade association of the international music products industry), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It celebrates the positive effects that music has on employee morale and productivity in the business world.

The 16 bands were chosen from 34 entries from across the nation, and will compete in one of two qualifying regional playoffs – in Los Angeles at The Key Club on June 20, and in Nashville at the Summer NAMM show at the Nashville Convention Center on July 18. Four finalists will be selected from each regional to attend the finals at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“We never cease to be amazed by the incredible talent uncovered through the Battle of the Corporate Bands,” said Steve Dobo, director of sponsorship and promotions for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “Despite the recession, corporate America recognizes the value of making music, particularly for the hundreds of employees who make up amateur rock bands across a variety of industries.”

Making music can help businesses thrive, according to recent studies conducted by NAMM.  Research shows music making has a number of key benefits that can boost performance at work. Recreational music making has been scientifically proven to reduce employee stress and depression and improve employee retention, saving companies significant money. Recent research conducted with long-term care workers also showed reduced employee turnover (18.3 percent decrease) due to the implementation of a recreational music-making program.

“This competition shows anyone can play music, no matter what their day job, chosen career or profession,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, and life-long drummer. “When you consider the benefits of making music, particularly combined with the current economic mood, it’s important for companies to show their support of employees and easily boost morale simply by starting a corporate band.”

The following bands/companies have been invited to perform at the regional qualifying events:

June 20 – Los Angeles, at The Key Club
“Slump” from Oceanside Glasstile, Carlsbad, CA
“Boomers of Jackson” from National Life Insurance, Lansing, MI
“Manage This” from Symantec, Lindon, UT
“The Weasels” from The Sunflower Group, Overland, Kansas
“Aeroroot” from Frontier National Products Co-Op, Norway, IA
“High Definition” from NBC Universal, Valencia, CA
“Monk License” from Simpson Thacher Bartlett LLP, Palo Alto, CA
“Feral Catz” from Tapco, Elm Grove, WI

July 18 – Nashville, Summer NAMM, at The Hang at the Nashville Convention Center
“The Interstellar Outcasts” from Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, TN
“The J Wrecks” from TheLadders, New York, NY
“Enerock” from Enernoc, Boston, MA
“The Saps” from Johnson & Johnson, Morristown, NJ
“Strat 5” from Healthways, Franklin, TN
“Roland’s Stones” from Chevron, Pascagoula, MS
“The Mighty Electric” from St. Jude’s Hospital, Memphis, TN

All proceeds from the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands competition will benefit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's education programs. With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s increased focus on bringing music into the classroom, the Museum’s educational offerings have now become one of the most celebrated and award-winning activities of its kind emanating from a fine arts museum in the nation. The Museum hosts a variety of award-winning programs including year-round concerts and the Hall of Fame series featuring evenings with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. In addition, there are education programs for everyone from toddlers to college students, to teachers and adults.
Along with NAMM and the Rock Hall, the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands is sponsored by Gibson Guitar.

About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

About Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission both through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs.

The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays and Saturdays (through September 5), the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12). When you become a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the world of rock and roll becomes yours to explore. Call 216.515.1939 for information on becoming a member. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK or visit www.rockhall.com.

About FORTUNE
FORTUNE is a global leader in business journalism with a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million, with major franchises including the FORTUNE 500 and the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. FORTUNE Live Media extends the brand's mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual conferences, including the FORTUNE Global Forum. FORTUNE magazine’s online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website.

MEDIA CONTACTS:    

Jessica del Mundo – GolinHarris
Public Relations | Phone: 213-623-4200
jdelmundo@golinharris.com

Scott Robertson, APR – NAMM
Marketing Communications | Phone: 760-438-8007, ext. 102
scottr@namm.org

Margaret Thresher – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
Public Relations | Phone: 216-515-1215
mthresher@rockhall.org

Daniel Kile – FORTUNE
Public Relations | Phone: 212-522-3640
daniel_kile@timeinc.com