The Make It, Break It Awards (affectionately known as MIBI) is an annual songwriting contest for aspiring songwriters and musicians for 14 to 19’s.
The judging panel of industry professionals includes, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Record Producer, Steve Levine, Broadcaster, Mark Radcliffe, Promoter, Harvey Goldsmith, XFM Radio, Mike Walsh, EMI Publishing, Guy Moot, HMV Music, Mel Armstrong.
The 12 finalists will each have their song heard and scored by the panel, which will produce 6 winners in two age categories of 14-16 and 17-19. The prizes include a fabulous all expenses paid 4-day industry academy held at the world famous Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, whose major patron is Sir Paul McCartney. Winners also receive a £500 voucher for Yamaha equipment.
MIBI began life as 'The National Youth Rock and Pop Awards' in 1994, at Earls Court in London. It was a joint venture between Yamaha and News International Corp (NIC) with Virgin Radio as media partner. NIC owned the Times Educational Supplement (TES), which provided the media coverage that generated national support from teachers and schools.
In its third year Coldplay’s Chris Martin was one of the winners and he has remained actively loyal and supportive joining the judging panel in 2003. In the same year, Mark Featherstone-Witty, Chief Executive of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, (LIPA), suggested LIPA become involved and support the contest - it was agreed and re-launched as Make It, Break It, now also known as MIBI. Mark Feathersone and the team including head of preliminary judging; singer/songwriter, Kaya Herstad and Deborah Orson, partnership relations’ manager/head of PR & sponsorship, together with founding partners Yamaha & DjPR have created what is now considered a highly prestigious songwriting contest for young talented musicians.
The aims of the competition remain the same, "to provide encouragement and support through a series of on-site music academy master-classes and to create an opportunity for young-talented songwriters to get their music heard by the music industry".
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