RaboPlus announces Greymouth songstress as RaboIdol winner

June 3, 2009 - PRLog -- The dream of recording a fully-funded professional album is in sight for Greymouth singer/songwriter Katie Thompson.

Today RaboPlus – the online savings and investment arm of Rabobank – named Katie winner of RaboIdol, investing NZ$10,000 into her online album fund. Now, the opportunity is open to New Zealand music lovers – both here and around the world – to invest in the songstress’ first international album and help make her dream a reality.

RaboIdol ran throughout NZ Music Month with two Kiwi music artists – Katie, and Kane Sole of Taranaki – competing for public votes. The competition was run by RaboPlus in conjunction with SellaBand, the international, online music community that allows people to invest in funding albums for up-and-coming musicians.

Katie Thompson says you have to dream big – and if you set your mind to it, you can do anything.

“I am pretty rapt, and couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. It’s amazing how RaboPlus has jumped on board and I’m extremely thankful for that. A huge thank you, too, to those who voted for me here and overseas; the support has been incredible.

“It certainly makes my goals more attainable knowing people believe in me,” she says.

RaboPlus General Manager Mike Heath is delighted to announce Katie Thompson as winner of RaboIdol.

“Katie is talented and determined with some big music goals, and we want to help her achieve them. As an online bank, this partnership with SellaBand is something a little different and it means our customers, and any New Zealand music fan, can help fund Katie’s first international album by investing as little as US$10.

“If she reaches US$50,000, people who invested will receive a limited edition of Katie’s recorded album, and 50 per cent of net revenue generated is split 50/50 with the artist and her investors for five years,” Mike Heath says.

Winning RaboIdol means Katie will also be profiled on SellaBand’s homepage for June, and on ‘Sixpack’, which features six new SellaBand artists every week and increases artists’ exposure to the international online music community.

With RaboPlus’ investment, Katie Thompson’s album fund has just tipped US$20,000. The determined 22-year-old is now focused on reaching US$50,000 and says producing an album with SellaBand would be a huge achievement.

“A big part of it is the international guidance and experience to benefit from. The ‘people pool’ is bigger and it’s well known worldwide as a great platform for indie artists.”

Katie describes her music as ‘Kiwi’ acoustic, roots, pop and country, inspired by local artists like Anika Moa, Mel Parsons and Anna Coddington.

If Katie reaches US$50,000 she would be the second Kiwi artist to benefit from the SellaBand community and record an album. In 2007 Christchurch rapper Maitreya - Jamie Greenslade - reached US$50,000 with Sellaband and recorded and produced his album Close To Home in London and New York. He has since toured his album in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, London and New Zealand.

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RaboPlus is an online banking service that complements customers’ existing bank, offering New Zealanders high interest, no fees, on-call savings account, term deposits and managed funds.

RaboPlus is a division of Rabobank New Zealand Limited.