Sennheiser and CMJ Music Marathon Take Manhattan This October, Partnering on HearIAm Initiative for Musicians and Fans

OLD LYME, Conn., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Audio specialist Sennheiser will bring its HearIAm campaign to the CMJ Music Marathon this fall. Sennheiser will host a very special performance on October 20th at (Le) Poisson Rouge, Greenwich Village's latest and most elegant multimedia and performance venue. The performance will feature an artist who submitted their music on HearIAm.com and was selected by hundreds of music fans and a panel of accomplished judges.

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Music Fans: Now Hear This!

Fans who participate in Sennheiser's HearIAm campaign contest by September 24th can become eligible to win a VIP, all expenses paid trip to New York City, where they will have an all access pass to CMJ events. This includes a host of educational seminars, music performances and many other activities. Interested fans should register on the HearIAm website and begin discovering, sharing and voting for their favorite music.

The winning artist for the New York City/CMJ phase of HearIAm will be announced on September 30th. In addition to the performance slot at (Le) Poisson Rouge, the winner will receive $10,000 in Sennheiser gear.

"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Sennheiser on this groundbreaking program," said CMJ CEO Bobby Haber. "For both musicians and music fans, Sennheiser's dedication to producing the world's greatest sound experience – across its product line of headphones, headsets, microphones and assistive listening devices – mirrors the mission of CMJ Music Marathon. We are proud to be a part of the dynamic HearIAm initiative."

Discover and Share with HearIAm

Sennheiser launched HearIAm last June in conjunction with PickTheBand.com and Universal Republic Records. Since then, over 1,200 bands from North America and Latin America have submitted their music to the site, and thousands of fans have participated to discover and share new music. On August 1st, Sennheiser completed the first phase of HearIAm as Kansas City-based rock band Trucker performed at Montreal's Osheaga 2010 festival before 50,000 fans alongside artists like Snoop Dogg and Sonic Youth.

"CMJ has built a longstanding reputation for showcasing the best new musical talent and many of these bands have gone on to achieve international success," commented Stefanie Reichert, vice president of strategic marketing, Sennheiser USA. "As one of the music industry's premier technology manufacturers, we are pleased to be partnering with CMJ to offer a potentially life-changing career opportunity for a deserving band and we hope that artists and fans will take the time to participate."

In addition to hosting a performance at (Le) Poisson Rouge for the winning band, Sennheiser will also participate in CMJ's Exhibitors' Loft and Registrants' Lounge, which provides attendees access to innovative and interactive exhibitors from the music, technology, and entertainment worlds being held at New York University's Kimmel Center. CMJ 2010 badge holders will be able to visit Sennheiser's booth, relax and try the company's latest headphone and microphone offerings.

When the HearIAm initiative wraps up in spring of 2011, a total of five finalists will compete for a grand prize, which includes a 3-song recording with a major producer from Pick The Band, a distribution deal from Universal Republic Records and an A&R showcase at Universal Republic's headquarters in New York. Musicians and fans from all over North America and Latin America are encouraged to participate in HearIAm. To learn more, please visit http://www.heariam.com.

About Sennheiser

Sennheiser is a world-leading manufacturer of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. Established in 1945 in Wedemark, Germany, Sennheiser is now a global brand represented in 60 countries around the world with U.S. headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Sennheiser's pioneering excellence in technology has rewarded the company with numerous awards and accolades including an Emmy, a Grammy, and the Scientific and Engineering Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

SOURCE Sennheiser