Last Call for Corporate Rockers to Submit Entries for the 2010 Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands

Despite the economic downturn, corporate bands around the world are turning up the volume and discovering the fun and many stress-relieving and team-building benefits of playing music together in company bands. For the past decade, the best of these groups have competed for bragging rights and big prizes in the Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of this competition and time is running out to submit entries. To enter, interested parties should visit www.rockhall.com/Fortunebattle. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, March 31, 2010.

The Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands is the first live music competition of its kind, providing amateur, company-sponsored bands the opportunity to rock their passion–playing music. The event is a partnership between Fortune Magazine, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and is also sponsored by Gibson. Event proceeds benefit the Rock Hall's education programs that teach everyone from toddlers to teens to teachers about the impact that rock and roll music has had on our world.

A panel of judges will review all entries and select 16 bands to compete in one of two qualifying regional playoffs—in Las Vegas on May 22, and in Nashville on June 19. Four finalists will be selected from each regional to attend the finals at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November.

“Over the past ten years, we have watched this event grow beyond our expectations. It's just a pleasure to see the amount of passion and talent that all of the bands have exhibited,” said Steve Dobo, director of sponsorship and promotions, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Making music can help businesses thrive, according to recent studies conducted by NAMM.  Research shows music making has a number of key benefits that can boost performance at work. Recreational music making has been scientifically proven to reduce employee stress and depression and improve employee retention, saving companies significant money. Recent research conducted with long-term care workers also showed reduced employee turnover (18.3 percent decrease) due to the implementation of a recreational music-making program.

“This competition shows anyone can enjoy playing music, no matter what their day job, chosen career or profession,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM, and a life-long drummer. “There is no better way to combat the stress that all employees of businesses are feeling right now than by starting a company band and making music together.”

Over the past 10 years, more than 80 bands from across the United States have made it to the finals at the Rock Hall in Cleveland. Companies from eBay to Proctor and Gamble have won the title of Best Corporate Band in America. Judges have included Tommy Lee, Chuck Leavell, Southside Johnny and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Sam Moore, Marky Ramone and Seymour Stein.

With the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's increased focus on bringing music into the classroom, the Museum's educational offerings have now become one of the most celebrated and award-winning activities of its kind emanating from a fine arts museum in the nation. The Museum hosts a variety of award-winning programs including year-round concerts and the Hall of Fame series featuring evenings with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees.

For more information about the 10th anniversary of the Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands, follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Fortunebattle or via Twitter at www.twitter.com/Fortunebattle.

About the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that exists to educate visitors, fans and scholars from around the world about the history and continuing significance of rock and roll music. It carries out this mission through its operation of a world-class museum that collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets this art form and through its library and archives as well as its educational programs. The Museum is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. On Wednesdays (and Saturdays through Labor Day), the Museum is open until 9 p.m. Museum admission is $22 for adults, $18 for adult residents of Greater Cleveland, $17 for seniors (65+), $13 for youth (9-12), children under 8 and Museum Members are always free, for information or to join the membership program call 216. 515.8425. For general inquiries, please call 216.781.ROCK(7625) or visit www.rockhall.com.

About Fortune
Fortune is a global leader in business journalism with a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million, with major franchises including the Fortune 500 and the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For. Fortune Live Media extends the brand's mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual conferences, including the Fortune Global Forum. Fortune magazine's online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website.