Pringles Unsung

Pringles Unsung was a music competition in the United Kingdom that ran once from 2006 to 2007. It was sponsored by the Pringles snack brand, and was one of several brand-sponsored music competitions to be launched during this period.[1] The competition invited unsigned artists to upload a song to the official Pringles Unsung website, where they could then be voted on by the general public and a panel of judges.[2] The most popular songs from each of seven regions progressed to regional heats in Newcastle upon Tyne, Birmingham, Ipswich, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Bristol and Plymouth.[3] The winners of the regional heats then competed in a grand final, where they each performed in front of the judging panel.[4] The judging panel consisted of producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby, ex-Island Records managing director Marc Marot, journalist Paul Sexton and Echo & the Bunnymen lead singer Ian McCulloch.[5] McCulloch had become involved as he wanted to encourage exciting new music.[6]

Pringles Unsung
GenreMusic competition
Location(s)United Kingdom
Years active2006–07
Founded byPringles
Websitepringlesunsung.com

The winners of the Pringles Unsung were Cardiff group The Toy Band, who won with their track "Riff Song". McCulloch described the band as being "great musicians" with "the magic ingredient".[7] Their prize was to record a demo produced by Bacon and Quarmby and to receive management advice from Marot.[8]

Response to the competition was mixed. The public relations and communications company GCI London were shortlisted for their role in Pringles Unsung in the Consumer Award category at the 2007 PRCA Awards, but lost out to Nelson Bostock Communications for "An Extremis Success".[9] Adam Webb of The Guardian described the competition as a "nadir" of music competitions, and that a band's associating with it was "liable to kill the most credible career".[1]

See also

References
  1. Webb, Adam (9 December 2007). "Year zero for the industry". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  2. "Ramblers seek fast track to fame". North Wales Daily Post. Llandudno Junction: Trinity Mirror. 6 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  3. "Band bids for stardom". Bury Free Press. Bury St Edmunds. 7 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  4. "Ian McCulloch leads search for the next generation of music stars". StudioTalk.TV. 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  5. "Local singer/songwriter puts Southport on the map". Southport Reporter. Southport: PBT. 4 December 2006. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  6. "Talking Shop: Ian McCulloch". London: BBC News. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 11 January 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  7. "The Toy Band hit Camden". London: Music News. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  8. "Greenlights in contest bid for stardom". Newmarket Journal. Newmarket, Suffolk. 30 December 2006. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  9. "PRCA Awards 2007". London: Public Relations Consultants Association. 2007. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2016.

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