FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEANIME EXPO® 2008 BATTLE OF THE BANDS CALL FOR ENTRIES

New Year Å  New Bands Å  New Challenge

Anaheim, California (March 14, 2008)

 

‹ New Year. New Anime. New Music. New Bands. New Challenge! Prepare your band for battle as Anime Expo® presents the Battle of the Bands at this year¹s Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6,2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website <http://www.anime-expo.org> .Interested bands can enter the event beginning March 14th, 2008 via mail by submitting a video recording of their band¹s performance to:BOTB c/o SPJA

1733 South Douglass Road, Suite F

Anaheim, CA 92806

Bands will also be able to submit entres via downloading their band¹s video performance online at

 

<http://www.anime-expo.org/botb> at a later date. All entries must be received no later than May 20th, 2008. All rules can be found online at www.anime-expo.org/botb.Prizes will be announced on the Battle of the Bands website at a later date.For full description of the event and rules, please go to

 

www.anime-expo.org/botb. Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2007 convention at <http://www.AXBackstage.org> .This year¹s Red & Black Sponsors are FUNimation and ImaginAsian Television.Gold Sponsor is Digital Manga Publishing. Silver Sponsor is Gaia Online.

Patron Sponsors are Central Park Media and COPIC Markers.

About Anime Expo®

Located in Los Angeles, California – Anime Expo®, the nation¹s largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2008 will be held July 3 July 6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information can be found at its website (

 

www.anime-expo.org). About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (<http://www.spja.org> ).The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA¹s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company’s assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.###

Addendum A

Battle of the Bands Rules

1. Auditions will start being accepted March 14th, 2008, either online at

 

www.anime-expo.org/botb or by sending it via snail mail to the followingaddress:BOTB c/o SPJA

1733 South Douglass Road, Suite F

Anaheim, CA 92806

2. Auditions must be received no later than May 20th, 2008.

3. Auditions must include an audio and/or video recording of your performance, a pic of the entire band, and the BOTB entry form, which is found on the entry page.

4. Auditions must include an audio & video recording of your performance and a listing of band members & song info (song name, relevance, etc.).

5. Song choices must fall below one of the following categories:

-Anime TV series/OVA/Movie (Opening/Ending/Main Theme/Soundtrack)

-Anime-Themed Videogame (Opening/Ending/Main Theme/Soundtrack) 6. Performances must be no longer than 5 min. in length.

7. No more than 10 members per band allowed.

8. All band members must be present in the audition.

9. No professionals are allowed to participate. Any performers who are found out to be as such will be disqualified.

10. There must be at least one instrument used during the performance, no acapella.

11. The top finalists will be contacted by BOTB staff by June 1st, 2008 to confirm their participation in the at-con performance. A list of the finalists will be posted on the Anime Expo® and BOTB websites on June 1st, 2008.

12. If chosen as one of the finalists, your performance piece will be the same as your audition piece.

13. Please note that no instruments or equipment will be provided, with the exception of mics.

*Rules are subject to change*

PHOTO EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: Photos are available to the media. Please call Chase Wang at (310) 869-8030 or send an e-mail to chase@bam-mp.com to request materials.

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime presents Anime Expo® 2008.

WHO: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

Industry giants

Guests from Japan and the U.S.

Exhibit Hall

Main Events

Concerts

Live Programming

Artist Alley

Screenings

Dances

Arcade

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation and Imaginasian TV

Gold Sponsors include: Digital Manga Publishing

Silver Sponsors include: Gaia Online

Patron Sponsors include: COPIC and Central Park Media

WHAT: Nation¹s largest 24 Hour anime/manga convention serving over

44,000+ unique attendees in 2007.

WHEN: Thursday, July 3, 2008 through Sunday, July 6, 2008

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street; Los

Angeles, CA 90015

ADMISSION:

Registration Type Dates Price

Children ages 5 and under Anytime Free

4-Day Child (children ages 6-12) Anytime $30

Early Jan 1st to March 17th

4-Day Attendee $50

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

Regular March 18th to June 1st

4-Day Attendee $55

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

Late June 2nd to July 6th

4-Day Attendee $60

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

At the door* July 3rd to July 6th

4-Day Attendee $65

2-Day Attendee $50

1-Day Attendee $25

*At the door registration refers to badges purchased at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the convention. Those who choose to register at the Anime Expo® registration site will be subject to the fees listed in the ³At the door² category. However, online registrations made during the convention are considered ³Late² and will be charged according to the prices listed in the ³Late² category. Please note that you will save $5 by registering online!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Anime Expo® 2008 website at:

http://www.anime-expo.org

 

or call (310) 869-8030