Why we are here
overplay was created in May 2003 by a small, but dedicated, group of music lovers. And the fact is, there's a multitude of exciting, fresh and fascinating musicians out there to love. However, because they are unsigned, the vast majority of them are going unseen and unheard. But, we wondered, how can we help these very talented people get the recognition and adulation they deserve?
So overplay was born.
We want to provide a platform for unsigned and emerging artists and give them the tools and direction to help them on their musical journey. It doesn't matter if they're a serious career-musician looking for a record deal, or if they're taking their first steps into music. We're here to bridge the gap between the wider world and the band in the garage. Or the MC in the bedroom. Or the singer-songwriter in the shed with a guitar. It's all good. overplay is here to help all artists from all genres.

What we offer
Artist mini-sites
At the heart of the overplay service is the chance for artists to have their very own website; dedicated solely to the promotion of their band and their music. We offer artists their own mini-site within overplay where they can introduce themselves to the world with:
Artist/band biographies and photos
Songs that can be played and on put on sale.
The chance to sell CDs and any merchandise online with majority of sales going to the artist.
When a band/artist joins overplay, we put them firmly on display in the shop window. We aim to make it easier for them to get in contact with like-minded artists, build a bigger fanbase and prove themselves to venues, record companies and management. It's a melting pot of talent that's easily accessible to everyone that counts.
Details of upcoming gigs
Personal message board and contact form
Receive great stats of how many people visit your siteor play your songs along with receiving some great feedback

the overplay 'Play & Rate' competition
Overplay have created the competition 'PLAY & RATE' to unearth and reward the best unsigned songs that deserve to be heard. Every artist/band that is a Silver or Gold member of overplay can submit one song into the competition into the genre of their choice. Then sit back, relax while other artists, fans, music industry and overplays panel of A&R judges the chance to listen and more importantly rate your songs. Plus there are some great music related prizes to be won.

overplay chart
To generate even more interest, excitement and lively debate, we have developed the overplay charts. Positions are based on the number of times a band's song is downloaded from their mini-site. The charts start from first thing Monday and end at midnight on Sunday, before being reset for the following week.

Essential contacts
Our mini-sites are just the tip of a highly tuneful iceberg. Apart from being a platform for bands, overplay has an exclusive - and growing - musical resource centre. We continually collect all types of contact information and web-links that could help unsigned musicians, including:
Other unsigned artist sites
Record companies
Promoters
Venues
Charts
Music shops
Gig guides
And much, much more
Our aim is help artists get in touch all these people and, in turn, help the music industry find new, untapped talent. This database is a simple idea, but a valuable asset. It's where bands, fans and music lovers can come as their first port of call when they want anything from a rehearsal studio or a CD production company to a new gig venue or even a reasonably-priced second-hand ukulele.

Plus if you are an overplay artist in need of some musical advice then you'll be able to fire questions to some of overplays music industry contributors in our advice section.

overplay message board
It's good to talk and the main overplay message board is where bands, fans and music industry folk regularly chat, interact and swap information which helps to build and foster the overplay music community.

overplay radio
Overplay also has its own radio player for overplay artists to submit their songs to. This is an excellent way to sit back and relax llisten to some quality unsigned tracks one after the other.

overplay nights
In our continuing mission to get unsigned bands recognised, we are also very active outside the website. Overplay have held overplay night where we have showcased overplay artists inviting the overplay community, fans and music industry representatives to be entertained and enlightened.
We have also colloborated with local promoters to hold overplay nights and would welcome promoters to contact us to hold other overplay nights and give overplay artists more opportunities to play and gain more exposure.

Overplay hopes to grow along with the artists on overplay and the more noise we all make the more the industry will sit back and take notice and find and reward the unsigned talent.

Contact us
For all technical queries please email us at service@overplay.com with a full description and we will respond to your email within 24 hrs.
If you need to write to us or send a CD for review please post to:
Overplay,
PO Box 11188,
Sutton Coldfield
B76 1WX
England

tel. 0870 112 1382 (our lines are open from Mon-Fri 9 till 5)