Guitar Center And KISS Join Forces To Provide Opportunities For Unsigned Bands

Continuing its ongoing support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center, the world's largest musical instrument retailer, has announced that it has teamed up with rock and roll icons KISS and leading digital media company for entertainment, Eventful, for a revolutionary music program: Guitar Center On-Stage, a competition that provides unsigned bands and artists the career-altering opportunity to open for KISS on their upcoming North American tour, The Hottest Show on Earth. A video announcement can be viewed below.

One band from each of twenty-two markets across the United States will be chosen to play at a KISS show. At the conclusion of the tour, KISS will choose the best of the twenty-two bands to receive the grand prize that includes a $10,000 Guitar Center shopping spree. Now through September 1, 2010, bands across the country are invited to register at GCOnstage.com.

"With Guitar Center On-Stage, we are giving bands across the country the mind-blowing chance to open for one of the greatest rock groups on the planet when KISS comes to their town," said KISS. "A lot of rock's greatest bands got their start opening for KISS, including AC/DC, BON JOVI, RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and MÖTLEY CRÜE, among many others. Thirty-seven years ago someone gave KISS the opportunity to become the Hottest Band on Earth. Now, KISS and Guitar Center are returning the favor by offering unsigned bands the opportunity to open for KISS on The Hottest Show on Earth."

Guitar Center and KISS have partnered with leading digital media company, Eventful Inc., tapping Eventful's unique "Demand It!" platform to run the Guitar Center On-Stage band submission and fan voting process. Eventful will design and execute the competition platform as well as assist in creating and driving a powerful social media marketing campaign to engage consumers, increase local demand and drive awareness.

Guitar Center On-Stage is an ongoing revolutionary program developed to organically scout and launch unsigned, independent artists by providing career-altering opportunities through partnerships with some of the world's greatest artists. Last year's competition was judged by MÖTLEY CRÜE and saw the winning band, THE LAST VEGAS, go on to open for MÖTLEY CRÜE on tour and subsequently top iTunes critics' 2009 "Rock Singles of the Year List" with their hit single "I'm Bad".

Guitar Center On-Stage is just one of many Guitar Center initiatives created to foster growth and success within the music community, including its annual Drum-Off, Your Next Record, Guitar Center Sessions and King of the Blues competitions, among others.