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Dear Slate, yes there are chocolate bars in China
Looks like Pepsi Co.'s bringing that old tradition of “Battle of the Bands” to China in a big way - the soft drink maker is hosting a mega reality show and its inviting all Chinese “underground” rock bands to participate.
According to the site for Pepsi's upcoming show:
Music groups are seeing unprecedented growth in China, music festivals are popping up everywhere and the concept of the band has become a new force in the mainstream music scene. As part of this trend, Pepsi is holding a big contest aimed at “encouraging young people's passions” and “finding the voice of a new generation.”
The event will be broadcast on Zhejiang Satellite TV over seven months as it scours the country for China's next big rock act. Winners will get a “Platinum” set of instruments (including a Fender guitar and electric bass and a Mapex drums percussion set), a 200,000 RMB “training fund” and a national concert tour related to the 60th Anniversary of the founding of the P.R.C.
The first round of competitions will be held from May to June in 21 cities. After the pool (already numbering in the thousands according to Brand Republic, though the Pepsi site only seems to show 20 or so) is narrowed, the show will host four regional competitions on June 11.
Oh yeah, and Taiwanese pop rock act Mayday will be either hosting or judging or randomly popping up to offer advice. Whatever, they're involved somehow, which kind of makes that whole "underground" claim a little suspect to us.
Still, we'd be super psyched if some of our favorite Shanghai bands stepped up tot he plate. We haven't seen any restrictions for what type of bands can enter (though we haven't really checked all the fine print on Pepsi's site), so we strongly encourage everyone to sign up! Registration ends April 30, guys.
Source: China Music Radar
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Has anyone seen Wo Xing Wo Show or any of those shows? Providing they make it past the censors at all, are we going to have underground bands get up on the stage and do 'talent' parts too, and those bits like reading out a statement about your family to show your character.
Pepsi co, the great music sponsors who brought us Aaron Kwok's music and who market junk food to kids.
F*ck you, Pepsi Co.
It has now been officially stuck to the man. Thanks!
Sorry, I meant The Man.
:)
Seriously though. Gothamist positions itself as 'alt-media' but it's little more than the mainstream ideologies in a blog format.
So, we have the comments, why not.
And seriously, f*ck Pepsi Co.
As far as I know the Shanghaiist spends zero yuan on marketing and PR. How exactly has it tried to "position itself"?
Hi Sharpie
I said Gothamist. Shanghaiist is part of the Gothamist LLC network.
But, also ... just cos you have trouble with Shangs and Goths, doesn't mean I can't also throw in this link.
Or this quote from the link:
That should get you started.
Now how about something from you to illustrate why you think the contrary. Let's have a link showing how they identify with traditional and mainstream new sources.
Not that I feel like I have to defend a blurb about this site that I didn't write, but I believe "alternative" in that paragraph was supposed to mean more like "not traditional media" rather than "alternative lifestyle."
That having been said, are you saying I shouldn't have written about rock bands going mainstream in China and getting corporate sponsorship? Because I mean, that's kind of a big deal even if it's a megacompany you dislike doing it.
Andy, like me, is obviously a Coca-Cola fan.
Oh, I only just saw your comment now Elaine.
I take your point about it meaning a different kind of media and not actually an alternative viewpoint to the mainstream press or trad media. That's exactly what I meant.