MUMBAI: Radio City has launched a nationwide hunt RC Live for India's best Hindi band.

RC Live is a month-long national talent hunt to identify and create a truly world class Hindi band.

Spanning the nation through three regional hubs - Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, RC Live will conclude with a mega concert at the national finale in Delhi on 29 February. From the entries received, the judging panel will identify top five bands from each region post which they will battle it out at the regional finals in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai respectively. The top band from each region will then compete for the title of India's best Hindi band at a live concert featuring a performance by Indian Ocean.

The winner of RC Live will bag an album release contract with EMI and will be actively promoted both by Radio City and EMI throughout the year. Also in the offing is a CD compilation titled, 'The Best of RC Live' to be launched by EMI later this year.

The judging panel comprises Subir Malik of Parikrama, Palash Sen of Euphoria and Vibhav Rao Manager A&R of EMI.

Radio City CEO Apurva Purohit said, "With RC Live we are once again leveraging our music expertise to create a platform, which benefits the music industry as a whole. Radio City is all about music and melody and we have a consistent and continued focus on music which remains our forte. Our RC Live will scout the nation in a month to present India a world class Hindi band."

RC Live is supported by a national promotional campaign comprising extensive outdoors, interactive road shows and on-air elements which get radio active from today.

Commenting on the concept of RC Live, judging panelist Subir Malik of Parikrama said, "Being in the business for over two decades now, I know first hand the challenges faced by Indian Hindi bands today. There is an immense amount of original talent out there and with RC Live, we will find India's best Hindi band and make them shine for the world to see!" Palash Sen of Euphoria added, "We at Euphoria have been around for almost 10 years and are among the only commercially successful Hindi bands today. The onus lies more on us industry people to find a successor and we are only too happy that Radio City has come forward with this concept. RC Live is like a whiff of fresh air for all those talented Hindi bands who have been waiting for an opportunity to prove themselves. I am looking forward to coming across Hindi bands with some extraordinary original compositions, excellent chemistry and audience appeal taking on the currently empty space!"

EMI Artists and Repertoire manager Vibhav Rao said, "We at EMI are always on the lookout for fresh, original talent. We are not only happy but also thankful that Radio City has taken the lead to present such a platform for Indian Hindi bands. We are proud to partner Radio City for RC Live ?“ a first-ever reality platform which leverages the power and reach of radio. By 29 February we along with Radio City, will proudly announce India's best Hindi band who will create their own niche in Indian Hindi music."