Official Call for Entries: 2011 FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands

The most important deadline in corporate America today is the call for entries for the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands. For the 11th consecutive year, the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (Rock Hall), will showcase the most talented musicians in the corporate world representing the nation's most progressive companies. All proceeds from the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands will benefit the Rock Hall's education programs.

To enter, interested parties should visit http://www.rockhall.com/fortunebattle. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 31, 2011.

It's no secret that the success of corporate America is built upon the foundation of a healthy, happy, and motivated workforce.  Ongoing research shows that music making has several key benefits that can boost performance in the workplace. Recreational music making (RMM) has been scientifically proven to reduce employee stress and depression and improve employee retention, saving companies significant amounts of money. Recent research conducted with long-term care workers also showed reduced employee turnover due to the implementation of a recreational music-making program.

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 through playing music. The program is a partnership with FORTUNE Magazine, NAMM, and the Rock Hall, and is sponsored by Gibson and Air Products.

In April, a panel of judges will review all submissions and select 18 bands to compete in one of three qualifying regional playoffs in Dallas, Texas (May), San Francisco, Calif. (June), and Chicago, Ill. (July). Two finalists will be selected from each region to attend the finals competition at the Rock Hall in September, and the winning band will earn the title of "Best Corporate Band."

During the past 11 years, more than 90 bands from corporations across the world have been represented at the finals event, including Air Products and Chemicals, Chesapeake Energy, Banc of America Leasing, eBay, and Proctor and Gamble. Past judges have included, Tommy Lee, Alan Parsons, Chuck Leavell, Southside Johnny as well as Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Sam Moore, Marky Ramone and Seymour Stein.

All proceeds from the FORTUNE Battle of the Corporate Bands competition will benefit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's education programs. With the Rock Hall's increased focus on and commitment to bringing music into the classroom, the Rock Hall'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. In addition, there are education programs for everyone, from toddlers, teens and adults, to college students and teachers.

For more information about the 11th annual 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 NAMM

NAMM is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion international musical instruments and products industry. NAMM's activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

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. 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 one million and a readership of nearly five 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.