MUMBAI: Hard Rock International continues its commitment to emerging musicians of tomorrow with this year’s Hard Rock Rising, the most far-reaching battle of the bands competition in the world. Through Hard Rock Rising, Hard Rock Café Mumbai gives local artists the chance to compete against bands from across the world for an opportunity of a lifetime – participate in a World Tour, make an album and music video as part of Hard Rock Records, and receive $10,000 in new gear. The annual property is now its second phase phase – The Voting Phase which will go on until 11 February 2013.

To kick off the local leg of the competition, local fans decide which bands take the stage at Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai by visiting the HRC Mumbai’s Facebook page to cast your vote and download free tracks from bands of their choice.

Once the lineups are chosen, Hard Rock Cafe Mumbai and 95 other participating locations around the world will host a series of live competitions featuring local bands. One winner will be selected from each location by a panel of local industry judges. Selected local winners will be narrowed down to the top twenty-five bands worldwide via a second round of fan voting on participating Hard Rock Face book pages.

Once the top twenty-five are determined, a panel of music industry professionals; including Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, Live Nation Senior Vice President of Music Toby Leighton-Pope, and Hard Rock Records’ Artist Relations Executives John Kirkpatrick, James Buell and Blake Smith; will select the winner along with two runner-up bands who would win the coveted grand prize.

The Grand Prize winner will play a World Tour in six renowned cities arranged by Hard Rock International, including a spot on the bill at the Hard Rock Calling festival in London with suggested additional dates at Hard Rock Cafés in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Chicago and Honolulu; make an album and music video as part of Hard Rock Records; and receive new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000. Two runner-up bands will each receive new music equipment and gear valued at $10,000.