If music means a chance of life then play on

Feb 2 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

BUDDING young artists can enter an X Factor-style competition from today to help other young people fight teenage cancer.

Music Means Life aims to raise £1m towards a new teenage cancer unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

With more than 3,000 registrations expected, it will be the biggest music talent search the region has ever staged.

Organiser Gary Thompson said: “The format of the competition had to be somewhat different from the version of Cowell, Walsh and Osbourne to the degree that the teenagers themselves would be the driving force using the one piece of technology they have grown up with – the internet.

“This competition will be the biggest talent contest for young people the region has ever staged. It is vital to ensure that teenagers who are undergoing treatment for cancer, are in an environment best suited for their personal needs.”

The region’s unsigned music talent can take part in the interactive competition by uploading their MP3 music file to www.musicmeanslife.com or provide a link to the artist’s current Myspace/Webpage.

The Journal readers will be able to view some of the acts on our website www.journallive.co.uk and post their opinions.

The competition, backed by The Journal as partner, will be judged by three people who are, or were, cancer sufferers in their teens who will decide who goes through to April’s final. Money raised will benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust, which is establishing a unit in Newcastle.

The present teenage cancer unit at the RVI was the first run by the Teenage Cancer Trust outside London. Thanks to its success, a new unit is being built this year to increase the number of beds from six to a possible 10 under modernisation plans.

“The campaign is appealing for North-East sponsors to “help their own”.

“In order for this campaign to be a success and reach the £1m goal, we desperately need sponsorship and support from local companies. The North-East has the most diagnosed cases of teenage cancer than anywhere else in the country and this new unit at the RVI will be a major lifeline,” said Mr Thompson.

“Local companies can pledge financial support or services such as printing, sound equipment, lighting, auction prizes or by just taking corporate hospitality at our live events. Every penny raised in the North-East will stay in the North-East.”

Anyone who can help should email gary@musicmeanslife.com

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How to enter the competition

ANYONE can take part in Music Means Life as long as one member of the act is aged 12 to 21 and they are based in the North-East.

Unsigned musicians can apply by uploading a music file to website www.musicmeanslife.com on the competition page from today.

The closing date for entries is Friday, February 29.

If you are unable to upload a track or don't have a website/myspace then entries on CD are accepted.

A printable version of the form is available on the upload page of the above site.

Discs should be sent to: Music Means Life, Suite 37, Baltic Quay, Mill Road, Gateshead, NE8 3QW Only one entry per artist/group will be allowed.

The material will be judged by a small group who were cancer sufferers as teenagers, including 20-year-old Rachel Drew from Ponteland.

Twenty acts will appear at semi-finals on April 10 and 17. Six will go through to the final in The Arena at Rainton Meadows, Durham on April 24.

Helping with judging will be Middlesbrough brothers Andy and Carl Pemberton of Journey South, Pop Idol Zoe Birkett of Darlington, Big Brother winner Anthony Hutton of Consett, Tom May of Newcastle Falcons and ex-Newcastle and England football legend Peter Beardsley.