HONDA BATTLE OF THE BANDS WEB SITE LAUNCHES

Let the Voting Begin!

Fans Nationwide can Vote for their Favorite HBCU Marching Band as Anticipation for Second Annual Invitational Showcase Increases

Atlanta, Ga - Historically Black College and University (HBCU) bands are performing each weekend during the college football season as a part of the second annual Honda Battle of the Bands Celebration Tour with aspirations of receiving an invitation to the Invitational Showcase in Atlanta, Jan. 24.  Now fans everywhere can vote for their favorite band by logging on to www.hondabattleofthebands.com.  The site launched Sept. 24 and received 165,425 hits the first day.

"Honda is excited to be able to assist in recognizing the tradition and excellence of these dynamic bands," said Wendell Bugg, manager of American Honda Corporate Affairs and Communications.   "We are very excited to see who will be in the 2004 Invitational Showcase." 

This program, sponsored by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., will award a total of $144,000 in grants to the participating marching bands. Honda will host 10 bands that will showcase their dynamic music programs at the Invitational Showcase in front of more than 60,000 fans at Atlanta's Georgia Dome.

The Honda Battle of the Bands program includes two components. The Celebration Tour, which runs through Nov. 22, provides an opportunity for 45 participating schools to receive a grant for their halftime performances at selected football games during the fall.

Battle of the Bands Voting Open

At the end of the Tour, the 10 bands that demonstrate the most showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction will be invited to the Invitational Showcase. Each of the 10 schools selected will receive an additional $10,000 toward its scholarship fund. The invitees will include the two top bands from each of the four HBCU athletic conferences (CIAA, SWAC, MEAC, SIAC) and two independent schools. The selection process for the Showcase will be based solely on a three-tiered process.