User-submitted music video site Cravefest.com has launched a new initiative to find
the world?s most popular music video ahead of their CraveFest Music Video
Awards.
Cravefest opens voting to ?music lovers, record
labels, indie artists, directors and producers? from around the globe to
determine which of the music videos featured on Cravefest is the most
favoured. Over $10,000 worth of prizes
are in play, not to mention valuable opportunities for exposure both to the
public and to decision makers in the music industry.
Though the contest is open to all styles of
contemporary popular music, notable relevant genres are rock, punk, metal,
hip-hop, rap, dance and electronic music. The voting process is already underway, having
been soft-launched on 26 June, and will close on 01 August 2008. Cravefest.com has attempted to guard against any
unfairness or changes-of-heart by allowing registered members of the site to
alter their nominations up until the final day of voting.
The music videos with the most votes at the close of the nomination
process will be reviewed by a jury whose members for 2008 include Alan Cross
(program director Edge 102.1 and host of 'The Ongoing History of New Music'),
Scott Simons (head of International Recordings), Saundra Bianchi (director of
marketing at HMV Canada Inc), Richard Cureton (executive producer at SPY
Entertainment) and the film and music video director Ulysses Terrero. The results will be announced live on the 17
August during the CraveFest Music Video Awards, an event that will be held at Canada?s
music hot-spot, Tattoo Rock Parlour in Toronto.
Gautam Pinto, technology strategist at CraveFest comments: "Our
technology allows artists to showcase their talent to an international fanbase
while simultaneously giving music lovers a vast selection of music videos to
discover and enjoy."
Offerings currently online include 'Hail
Destroyer' by the Cancer Bats, 'Blonde Kryptonite' by The Saint Alvia Cartel,
'Securing My Seat' by Hostage Life, 'Hold Me In Your Arms' by The Trews, 'I Get
Around' by Dragonette, 'Myriad Harbour' by New Pornographers, 'Bloodmeat' by
Protest The Hero, as well as numerous efforts by lesser-known artists striving
for public recognition.
Cravefest users are able to share their
favourite videos on their own website, send it to their own social networking
profile on sites such as Facebook or MySpace or embed in their own blog. According to Pinto, a higher level of
integration with popular social media tools combined with the site?s
high-resolution video capabilities allows "Artists to showcase their
talent to an international fan base while simultaneously giving music lovers a
vast selection of music videos to discover and enjoy.?