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July 10, 2008SmartPunk, the leader in the unsigned and up-and-coming band markets is now under new ownership and management.

Founded in 2004, SmartPunk immediately took the indie music scene by storm by becoming the definitive destination to buy discount Punk, Emo, Metal, Hardcore and indie band music and merchandise. Catering to the rock, pop, punk, indie, and hardcore tastes, the site generates sales over $1 million annually.

With over 3,000 unique visitors a day, SmartPunk.com quickly became a fixture on the famed Vans Warped Tour since its launch in ’04 with its groundbreaking SmartPunk stage. Bands on this year’s SmartPunk stage include Set Your Goals, The Maine, Forever the Sickest Kids, Confide, and Alesana. Previous SmartPunk Stage alumni include Underoath, Saosin, and Chiodos.

Helping with the restructuring at SmarkPunk is Tim Towner of The Daily Chorus, the online source for independent and unsigned band news, who has been named as the site’s new General Manager.

Under its new ownership, SmartPunk will is delving into band development with features such as band digital distribution (making their music available on iTunes, Amazon, Napster, etc.), T-shirt printing, tour merchandise fulfillment, retail distribution, management, touring and special events.

As one example of Smartpunk’s renewed commitment to artist development through special events and engagements, Smartpunk will be co-sponsoring Suretone Records artist Shwayze’s (www.shwayze.com) July 15th show at the Roxy in West Hollywood, CA. Smartpunk will be taking pre-orders at the show as well as online at www.smartpunk.com/product.php?item_id=27939. The first 500 orders get an autographed booklet and anyone who pre-orders gets to hang out with the band after the show. Shwayze’s self-titled debut album comes out on Aug. 19th.

See www.SmartPunk.com for all your indie and up-and-coming band needs.