Bon Jovi backs emerging Aussie artists in Telstra Road to Discovery program

Independent and unsigned artists looking to get their foot in the door with the Australian music industry have been granted an incredible opportunity as part of this year’s Telstra Road to Discovery program.

For the first time in Telstra Road to Discovery history, Telstra is partnering with international superstars Bon Jovi to create an exciting development opportunity for selected finalists as part of the band’s ‘Because We Can’ Australian tour in December 2013.

Telstra Chief Marketing Officer Mark Buckman said the partnership with Bon Jovi is an exciting development for the Telstra Road to Discovery program in 2013.

“Telstra Road to Discovery has been supporting emerging Australian artists from a range of genres for more than 10 years and we are thrilled to have Bon Jovi partner with us to create a new development opportunity for selected finalists this year,” said Mr Buckman.

“Bon Jovi has sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 3.5million fans and the experience and knowledge they will be able to share with some of our finalists is incredibly valuable.”

Since its inception, Telstra Road to Discovery has evolved to become one of Australia’s most recognised talent development programs and has served as the launch pad for Jessica Mauboy (2003 winner) who has achieved incredible international success as well as some of Australia’s brightest musical talents including Neda (2009 winner), Harry Hookey (2010 winner) and Melody Pool (2012 winner).

Home-grown musician Pete Murray performed at an intimate event in Sydney on Wednesday night, sharing his personal road to discovery to mark the launch of this year’s program.

“It feels like only yesterday that I was playing in local bars and clubs and selling CD's out of the back of my Kombi – but the journey to get here has been an exciting one,” said Mr Murray.

“The music industry is one of the hardest industries to break into and one of the hardest to maintain success in. Telstra Road to Discovery is a great program for emerging and unsigned artists because it equips them with the skills and experience needed to be a successful artist,”

Pete Murray joined past Telstra Road to Discovery alumni including Melody Pool, Gena Rose Bruce, Andrew Redford and Kelly Menhennett in a collaborative performance of his song, Opportunity, to officially open the call for entries.

Entries for this year’s Telstra Road to Discovery program are now open and independent and unsigned artists from across the country are being encouraged to visit the Telstra Road to Discovery website to enter the 2013 program with the first of 11 regional heats kicking off in Echuca on 27th July.

As well as the new Bon Jovi development opportunity, one performance winner and one songwriter winner will each receive a 12 month music mentorship, including a return trip and showcase performance at the Americana Music Festival, local gigs in Australia and face to face time with some of the nation’s biggest music names, plus a $14,000 tailored music development fund.

For more information or to enter, visit the Telstra Road to Discovery website.