Young people aged 11-19 from Great Britain and Northern Ireland are being encouraged to register for Next BRIT Thing – a major new nationwide music competition backed by the UK music industry and The Government.

The competition is a major cross-curricular learning opportunity from Government and the music industry with wide appeal, enabling 11-19 year olds to develop their creative talents, confidence and skills.]   Young people entering Next BRIT Thing will also have access to high-quality tutorials and resources to help them improve their skills, develop confidence and explore careers in the creative industries.

Next BRIT Thing is looking for young musicians in any genre to share their performances, compete in online charts and perform live.  There are separate categories for both pop and classical music, with an additional award for composition.

Next BRIT Thing is open to all 11-19 year olds whether in formal education or not.  It offers entrants a raft of prizes and money-can’t-buy opportunities, including the chance to perform in front of thousands and exclusive support and guidance from musicians and songwriters.

The lucky winners – to be chosen by Take That star Gary Barlow and a team of influential artists and music industry executives – will be crowned Next BRIT Thing and receive a unique award.

The Next BRIT Thing website at www.nextbritthing.com is already open for registration.  From September 2011, entrants can submit video and audio of their performances to be assessed by their peers as a weekly chart.  The most popular entries each week will progress to regional finals in November 2011, culminating in a national final early in 2012.