Tenth Annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands Wraps Up with Sold-Out Hollywood Showcase

Four Winning Bands Rock Their Hardest for Fame and Fortune at Hollywood Key Club Event

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA (December 21, 2006) ? The four winners of the 10th Annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands took the stage before nearly 1,000 fans and music industry executives for this year?s celebrated Winner?s Showcase at the Hollywood Key Club. Held on November 30, the event marked the fifth live finale of the annual contest. Warped Tour brass, music industry reps, and label A&R's lined the upstairs VIP section while the general admission crowd filled the club to sell-out capacity.

The event featured the four Showcase Battle winners ? Ludo of St. Louis, MO; Don?t Die Cindy of Panama City, FL; Natives of the New Dawn of Los Angeles, CA; and Karate High School of San Francisco, CA ? as well as headlining acts Cute is What We Aim For of Buffalo, NY and Mute Math of New Orleans, LA (pictured).

"We were very excited by such a large turnout,? said Brain Ball of the Ernie Ball Company. ?We are so pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to every unsigned band in America.?

Selected by a panel of industry professionals, all Battle Showcase winners won thousands of dollars in prizes in addition to the chance to play before some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Since its debut ten years ago, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands has given the best local bands from North America the opportunity to showcase their talents in the world?s longest running and largest live music promotion in the music industry.

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