Best contemporary music album for 2005 will win $25,000!

PPCA encourages all Australian recording artists with eligible releases to enter.

PPCA, in partnership with the Australian Music Prize Ltd brings you

The Amp 2005 is a new music industry prize which will reward an Australian music artist (or group of artists) a cash prize of $25,000 (provided by PPCA) in recognition of their outstanding creativity during a particular year.

In the spirit of the UK's prestigious "Mercury Music Prize", the winner of The Amp 2005 will gain increased and widespread exposure which will serve to enhance their global career aspirations.

PPCA is the principal partner of The Amp 2005, providing the cash prize of $25,000 for the winner. This initiative will not only promote PPCA to a broad range of Australian artists, encouraging them to register with PPCA to be eligible to share in licence fee revenue, but it will also promote the health and growth of the local industry both here and abroad.

Entries for The Amp 2005 will be accepted until December 23, 2005. In February 2006, a shortlist of eight entries, which will be known as 'The Amp 2005 Shortlist 8' will be announced. These eight entries will perform at 'The Amp 2005 Winners Event', an industry function in March 2006 where the winner of the $25,000 will be announced.

The winner of The Amp and those in The Amp Shortlist 8, will benefit from significant national coverage, highlighting the artists and their work to a broad base of listeners including the public, the media, the industry and even international ears!

All entries submitted for The Amp will be reviewed by a judging panel consisting of over fifty judges, hand picked for their known ability to expertly review music and appreciate excellence in music. The judges will be pooled from all over Australia and will include music retailers, music journalists, music critics, established artists and music event promoters. Each judge will be required to declare any personal or business interest in a particular entry/entrant and will not be eligible to judge that entry.

It's important to note that entries will not be judged on commercial success, fashion or sales. Judging will also not be genre or age specific, so The Amp will be open to a wide range of Australian recordings artists. If you don't think you have a chance of winning the Amp, remember that you will still receive significant benefits from making it into the Shortlist 8.

We strongly encourage all Australian recording artists who meet the criteria to enter - you've got to be in it to win it!

To learn more about The Amp 2005 or to submit an entry, go to www.theamp2005.com.au

28 October 2005