Warner Courts the Classical

Warner Music Group has announced the creation of the ‘Warner Music Prize’- a cryptically tilted award that will support classical musicians aged 18-35 who show talent and promise.

A jury of industry leaders and renowned classical musicians will determine a winner, who will receive $100,000 alongside an opportunity to record with Warner Classics and a showcase at Zankel Hall as part of the Warner Music Prize Gala at New York concert venue Carnegie Hall in the US during October next year.

In its inaugural year, the prize will be presented in association with Carnegie Hall, with the nominees drawn from singers and instrumentalists presented by the venue in significant solo roles during the 2014-15 concert season.

Labels used to pull crazy stunts like this all of the time, investing money and signing artists at the point they show promise and they called it ‘artist development’. Utter lunacy if you ask The Gen.

President of International, Warner Recorded Music Stu Bergen said: “The Warner Music Prize has been created to recognize and reward promising musicians early in their careers, when they need it the most. We are thrilled to partner with Carnegie Hall for the inaugural prize and are looking forward to a series of exciting performances this season and the gala celebration of the first recipient next fall”.

Find out more here.