"Asian Beat" is one of the biggest amateur band contests held throughout many regions in Asia. It starts out from Area Heat in participating countries and regions. Each winner at Area Heat finals can proceed onto the Grand Final, where they will perform together on the same stage and compete to be the top of amateur bands in Asia.

Yamaha Corporation started this event as "Band Alert" in 1998, renamed to "Asian Beat" in 2001. In the past years, worldwide famous players were the judges such as Nathan East, Wes Borland, Tommy Aldridge, Sonny Emory, Billy Sheehan and James LoMenzo. For further information, you can take a look at the history on this website.

The upcoming fourteenth Asian Beat competition-Asian Beat 2011 shall unfold in 10 regions and countries. The finalists shall meet in Korea in November for the Grand Final. The fortunate audience will have the chance to hear 11 bands in competition -the 10 Asian Beat finalists and the one Brazilian finalist from the Brazilian Beat as a special guest. Stay tuned to this site for updates about competition results in each venue, and for the latest information about the Grand Final itself.

# Asian Beat 2011

Participating Countries/Regions : Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, India

# Asian Beat 2011 Grand Final

Date : November 13, 2011 (Sun.)

Entry fee : Free

Participants : 10 bands from Asian Beat 2011 + 1 band from Brazilian Beat

Venue : AX Hall (Seoul, Korea)

Special guest/judge : Akira Jimbo (Drummer)

A. Qualification :

1. All band members must be amateurs: every member of the band should not have any contract with a record company during the period between application and final.
2. Participating bands should consist of 2 to 12 persons with musical instrument performance.
3. Any music category is acceptable except European classical music.
4. Band members should be the same throughout the events.
5. Each person can participate in one group only.
6. All band members must be residents of the country. There is no limitation on age, gender, profession and nationality.
7. Finalist members of the previous Band Alert or Asian Beat are not able to participate in Asian Beat Grand Final.

B. Song :

1. A song performed at all heats, national / regional finals and Asian Beat Grand Final must be the same.
2. Only an original song is acceptable.
3. A song performed in the past Asian Beat or Band Alert is not allowed.
4. Performance time cannot exceed 6 minutes.
5. All kinds of musical instruments such as music sequencer, sampler, DJ gears, etc. are allowed to use.

C. Musical instruments and equipments :

1. At the Asian Beat Grand Final, participants are required to play only Yamaha products.
2. Non-Yamaha products can be used only in some particular categories that Yamaha does not offer any product at all.-For example, guitar & bass amplifier, percussions, cymbals, folklore, and turntable.

D. Copyright :

YAMAHA CORPORATION reserves the right to use participants' pictures and video performances for public relation purpose. For instance, national /regional finalists' performance may be uploaded on the Asian Beat web site.

E. Asian Beat Grand Final Awards :

For the Grand Final, the following awards will be granted.

1. Group awards

   - Grand Prize, awarded to one band

   US$3,000 in cash + Yamaha instrument(s) valued at $2,000

   - Runner-Up Prize, awarded to two bands

   US$1,500 in cash + Yamaha instrument(s) valued at $1,000

2. Individual Awards

   - Best Vocal

   - Best Guitar

   - Best Bass

   - Best Keyboard

   - Best Drums

   Each recipient will be granted US$1,000 worth Yamaha instrument(s)