Commercial Radio Press Release

Indie rock band, The Sunpilots, winners of the rock category in last year’s NA2R (New Artist to Radio), the radio industry’s search for the next big on-air discovery, has scored this week’s #1 most added position with Australian radio.

With support from the entire Nova network, the Hit Music Stream, Triple M, Macquarie Southern Cross Media and a host of regional stations, as listed in Music Network’s radioactive; their single, Spotlight in the Sun, also hits the #1 most added in the Dance/Pop and Contemporary Rock categories.

NA2R’s Adult Contemporary winner last year, Brett Barnes also makes his presence felt with his single With You coming in as the #4th most added at AC radio picking up heavy support from the Australian Radio Network (ARN).

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said this was fantastic news for the artists and was also testament to the support of commercial radio in helping to promote new Australian music talent.

“NA2R continues to give unsigned talented musicians and bands the chance to shine and show what they can do in front of Australia’s major radio decision makers.  It is an amazing competition because it gives acts the promotional and professional support they could not otherwise afford.”

“This initial success for two of last year’s winners highlights the fundamental ideal of the NA2R initiative and hopefully will be the first of many successes for these talented artists.”

The NA2R event is open to unsigned Australian artists – acts that do not have a record deal at the time of the NA2R Showcase but may or may not have an independent distribution deal. Last year more than 160 musicians entered the competition from all parts of Australia.

As winners of last year’s NA2R were The Sunpilots (rock category) and Brett Barnes (adult contemporary category) shared in a $150,000 advertising prize across the four major radio networks down the east coast of Australia, which started last week, with an opportunity to be added to the playlists of selected radio stations.

The Sunpilots are planning to tour next month with another of the NA2R finalists Mandi Jarry. Their debut album, Living Receiver is scheduled for independent release in May. Runners up in the 2007 NA2R Rock category, Raging Bull, are in the process of completing their debut album and are generating a lot of local interest.

NA2R has helped launched the music careers of artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc and Jade Macrae and is supported by social interactive site, MySpace.