The Battle Isn't Over! Ernie Ball Online Voting Competition Runs June 15 - September 1

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (June 20, 2006) - Nearly 12,000 bands entered the 10th Annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, 200 of which were chosen to take the stage before thousands of screaming fans at this summer's Vans Warped Tour. But the competition isn't over.

As of Thursday, June 15, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands will give four more bands another shot at over $25,000 of music related gear when the Online Voting Competition opens to Battle fans everywhere.

"Bands are becoming very good marketers through viral based web promotion," said Brian Ball of the Ernie Ball Company. "In this leg of the Battle, we'll see what bands are successfully spreading their music and message to their fans."

Until online voting concludes on September 1, fans can log onto www.battleofthebands.com, the premier unsigned band network on the web, and voice their choice for the band most worthy of a spot in Battle history and plenty of fun music loot.

Ernie Ball will announce online winners on September 18, with the top four bands receiving $25,000 each in rock-n-roll music gear from Battle sponsors including Auralex, BOSS, Coffin Case, DW, Electro-Voice, Guitar Center, Krank Amplification, Mark Bass, M-Audio, Modern Amusement, OLP, PureVolume, Remo, Taylor Guitars, TC Electronic and Zildjian.

The Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands is the longest running music competition of its kind. Now in its tenth year, the contest gives bands four ways to steal the spotlight:

1) By earning a spot on the Ernie Ball Local Heroes Mobile Stage. A total of 200 bands will be chosen to play live at a venue near their hometowns on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour.

2) By having a loyal fan base. The online competition puts fans in the judges' seats and offers winning bands thousands of dollars in great rock-n-roll prizes from Battle sponsors.

3) By having their song chosen to appear on the first ever Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands compilation CD, which will be globally distributed by Warcon Records.

4) By taking their talent all the way to Hollywood. The four best bands that play on the Ernie Ball Local Heroes Mobile Stage at the Vans Warped Tour will land a spot at the Hollywood Showcase event in the fall of '06 where they will play in front of music industry executives and fans.

The Ernie Ball Company was the first to offer rock strings with the creation of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge single strings. Ernie Ball also produces Music Man guitars and basses, volume pedals and accessories. For more information on the Battle, contact battle@ernieball.com. Editors may contact On the Horizon Communications at (805) 773-1000 or info@thepressroom.com.

Ernie Ball was the first to offer rock strings with the creation of Slinkys, and further revolutionized the market by offering guitarists Custom-Gauge single strings. The Ernie Ball Company also produces Music Man guitars and basses, volume pedals, and other accessories. The company's strings and accessories are available in more than 6,000 music stores throughout the U.S. The company also exports to 82 countries. For more information, contact the Ernie Ball company at (800) 543-2255, or visit their website at www.ernieball.com.

These products are Ernie Ball trademarks registered in the USA and many foreign countries:

ERNIE BALL®     CUSTOM GAUGE®     SLINKY®     EARTHWOOD®
MUSICMAN®
STINGRAY®     SILHOUETTE®     AXIS®
STERLING®     4+2®     3+1®

Trademark ownership is indicated by the symbol ®, however, for the sake of brevity it is omitted during the story.

Contact:
Brian Ball
Ernie Ball, Inc.
(800) 543-2255

Media Contact:
Keith Negrin
MORSEKODE
(952) 853-9555