“Popular” Cocaine Energy Drink Wants To Break Your Band

Hey kids! What’s the best way to get your band noticed across the world? How about an online contest sponsored by a mediocre energy drink with a controversial name that no one you know has ever tried?
You’re in luck. Redux Beverages, the makers of the “Cocaine” energy drink, have put together such a competition. And it’s called, appropriately enough, “Cocaine Rocks.” How’d they come up with that one?

The competition is an online contest where up-and-coming bands can upload their three (3) best songs, along with band photos and information to the site and have members of the Cocaine Energy drink social site vote for the top band with the winner receiving great prizes including a chance to tour with a major rock band, an opportunity to record at Temple Studios in Los Angeles and more.

Each semi-finalist will be judged by a panel of music industry experts [Ed Note: The Fu-Schnickens! Warren G! Miley Cyrus' dad!]. Semi-finalists will be judged according to the following equally weighted factors: Creativity, Originality, Quality of Work, and Overall Composition. During the judging period, from March 1, 2009 until March 15th, 2009, Redux Beverages will feature the semi-finalists on the Cocaine website and MySpace. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on March 20th, 2009.

“There is a tremendous amount of undiscovered musical talent out there that deserves to be experienced and discovered,” said Raymond Herrera, Partner and Vice President of Worldwide Marketing for Redux Beverages. “We know it is difficult for up and coming bands to find a way to get visibility so this is a great opportunity to offer them a chance to record in a state of the art recording studio, tour with a major band, win prizes and gain new fans.”

The press release announcing the contest insists that Cocaine is a popular energy drink, yet we’re pretty sure we’ve never seen it in any store, and we’ve only ever heard of it when some elected official complains about the name. Even the company’s social networking website for the beverage isn’t helping. As of 3 p.m. yesterday, a whopping 18 people from the Los Angeles area were “demanding” that Cocaine be sold in their area.
Still, the prize is pretty good here. You’ll win some studio time in B-Real from Cypress Hill’s L.A. recording studio (sick!), some free gear and a chance to tour with and as-yet-unnamed “world famous” band. Hell, you get a T-shirt just for entering, though it will probably be poorly made and have the word “Cocaine” emblazoned across the chest, ensuring that you’ll never wear it outside the house.
Redux Beverages and Cocaine Energy Drink Partner With Xonxon Media and Temple Studios for an Online Band Competition to Find the Best New Rock Band in the World [Business Wire]
Image [Papermag.com]