SALT is developing the commersial strategy and sponsor programme for GBOB. Jon is member of the Board.

www.gbob.com

The Real Thing
The GBOB Challeng is giving music back to the musicians in the biggest live music competition on the planet! Going against the traditionally and notoriously difficult recording company route, GBOB’s strength has always been in its credibility as the one true breeding ground for emerging musical talent grounded on strong fundamentals provided by the world’s most respected figures in the international music scene.

Founded in the UK by GBOB International Ltd. in 2004, its aim is to seek out and bring the best un-manufactured talent in the world to a global audience. It is the only worldwide music contest for bands playing their own material, meaning, no cover songs and no pre-recorded music. And it is the only one that is of a truly global magnitude – 33 countries to date, and counting - open to all bands in all musical genres – whether young or not-so-young, professional or amateur, signed or unsigned by a recording label.

Promoting equal opportunity regardless of type of music, colour, creed, religion, sex, national origin or age, GBOB champions those outside of the mainstream. “Yours is not a competition. It’s a movement,” comments singer, songwriter and activist, Bob Geldof, the musical genius and driving force behind Band Aid, Live Aid and, more recently, Live 8. “The Global Battle of the Bands is an idea whose time has come,” adds Andrew Loog Oldham, former manager of the Rolling Stones.

And the accolades are well-deserved. For many years, “battles of the bands” have operated quietly on local levels but none has been as applauded as GBOB “…for succeeding in putting together a truly global competition on such an ambitious scale,” commends entertainment journalist Mark Daly of Live Music Alliance.

The Formula of Dreams
Since it launched in 2004, GBOB has put an international spin on an old formula by holding a series of heats in various countries, culminating in a World Final and a colossal first prize of US$100,000.00, a world tour, and recognition as the “Best New Band in the World.” World championship in GBOB is the one true coveted award an aspiring musical group could hope for with the most attractive rewards in terms of artistic gratification, monetary prizes, global exposure and every band’s dream for a world tour (not to mention the appeal of a World Final held in London).

One of GBOB’s founders, GBOB CEO, Tore Lande, has been operating this particular format in Scandinavia for many years, where the competitions are seen as rites of passage and where bands such as A-ha, Europe and Roxette have come through to achieve international success. Himself a musician who was in a band called Bugges Firo based in Norway, he has worked in the organisation of music competitions and festivals in Scandinavia since the 1970’s and has vast experience in the music business, both as a recording artist and as manager for well-known artists and bands. For many years, he was also a concert promoter arranging concerts and tours for artists such as Rod Stewart, Gary Moore, Oscar Peterson and the Sex Pistols. Until the start of GBOB in 2004, he acted as a personal manager for many of Norway’s biggest artists, including Jahn Teigen and Alex Rosen. In addition, he launched the yearly Norwegian Championship for pop and rock bands, which he managed from the 1970’s until 2003.

Tore decided to develop his Norwegian live music competition into a global brand and brought Matt Walker, GBOB Operations & International Director, to the fore. Matt is also highly experienced in most areas of the music business, having worked as a recording artist (for a punk band called The Boys, using the stage name Matt Dangerfield), songwriter, record producer, concert promoter and artist manager. He has also gained a great deal of media experience as a journalist, magazine editor and publisher and enjoyed successful forays into TV and radio as an innovative producer, director and scriptwriter. He has established a broad network of contacts in the music, media and entertainment industries, both in the UK and internationally.

A Line of Musical Accomplishments
From 16 participating countries in 2004, The GBOB Challenge 2007 brings together the world’s best bands from 33 countries, representing all continents. With more than 12,000 musicians expected to participate in over 300 concerts worldwide, live audiences are estimated to exceed two million … making GBOB truly the biggest live music contest on the planet! This is World Music in its truest sense – from pop to reggae, hip hop, R&B, jazz, garage, grunge, punk rock, hardcore, indie-pop, heavy metal, thrash metal, electronica, dance or folk garage to reggae – a music contest for musicians.World champions of past GBOB challenges have found significant inroads into the right career path.  
 
Second from Spain, GBOB 2004 World Champion
Spanish indie band Second, who won the first GBOB World Final in 2004, have since been signed a publishing deal with EMI Publishing and a major recording contract with WEA label DRO Atlantic.

Kopek from Ireland, GBOB 2004 World Champion
And things are also looking good for Irish grunge rockers Kopek, the worthy winners of the 2005 World Final, who have been signed by New York-based manager, Thomas Valentino (who steered Kid Rock to fame). They have just released their Danny Saber (U2, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, etc.) produced debut single “Stop.” 
 
Heavy Mojo from USA, GBOB 2005 World Champion
Great things are also to be expected for rock hip hop outfit Heavy Mojo from the USA who were the winners last year. After seeing a DVD clip of the group’s performance at the GBOB 2006 World Final, they were signed by SRC/Universal Motown. In short, they are pretty much the finished article and they are ready for stardom.

Somewhere there could be a band destined to win US$100,000.00, a world tour and a major chance at international success.