The BWAM concept is working so well that it went global January of this year. Talent searches are being set not only for the U.S. but have been in Canada, and the UK. Australia and Germany are onboard for 2010.

Cook, who serves as Vice-President of A&R, came on board and has helped expand the visionary concept for the business since 2005. In response to the growing challenges of shrinking label budgets and dwindling in-house manpower to assess new talent and implement cohesive artist development and A&R strategies, Cook has structured Band With A Mission as a virtual clearinghouse for incoming new talent to find professional career assessment and development opportunities with major labels literally ‘in the next room.’

He noted in a recent interview: “We’ve developed close associations with the labels—both Christian and mainstream—and in many cases, we have been given literally an insiders shopping list of what particular types of artists they’re looking for to fill roster spots. It gives us a tremendous advantage in being able to deliver to the industry through BWAM high caliber new talent that has viable industry potential to go to major levels.”

To date, major careers such as Rush of Fools, Luminate, SideWalk Prophets, and Colton & Zara have come into the industry through Band With A Mission label alliances.

The BWAM creative business model works. Through their website portal, unsigned bands and solo artists sign up online for the opportunity to showcase before a professional industry panel. Whether in search of indie or major label, booking, management, publishing, or simply professional assessment for their careers, BWAM serves as a virtual resource one-stop.

In Nashville based showcases held this year at Rocketown, as in all BWAM auditions, a full professional talent assessment is given to each showcase participant. Those artists/bands, who in the panel’s judgment, have development potential for label interest are put on industry radar. As head of A&R, Cook oversees all showcases and has continued this model for the international searches.

In 2008, BWAM saw more than 500 new hopefuls and has already exceeded that figure this year. Austin Cook is on a 24/7 schedule of label meetings, band showcases and reviews, following up with developmental plans, and listening, listening, listening—a demanding schedule he’s consistently maintained since coming onboard in 2005.

“We’re in a unique partnership with the labels to find the next big artist or band. In the face of both rapid fire industry changes and consumer trends in music, it’s a never ending, ongoing challenge that we’re in position to handle,” notes Cook

With BWAM grounded with a strong U.S. homebase of directors, attorneys and accountants, Cook is looking forward to a global leap. “We had auditions in Canada in January of 2009 followed by London in February. Sydney and Berlin are still being set for next year with more locations to come. Europe is of particular interest to us—a lot of cool innovation is coming from there—the lines blur on definitions of their music and they just have great creativity.”

As for the long range plan: “Our long range vision is for Band With A Mission to be in locations all over the world offering auditions 50 weeks a year, just like the original operation we have built in Nashville," notes Austin Cook. "It’s all about continued growth and BWAM being a relevant resource in an ever expanding one world of music.”

Resource Band With A Mission online at:
http://www.bandwithamission.com or www.bwam.com