It’s official: The Metallica Marching Band Competition that saw nearly 500 colleges and high schools across the U.S. create exciting, dynamic and unique performances of Metallica music, while vying for prizes valued at nearly $200,000, is back for a bigger, bolder and brassier second year. Sign-ups are open at metallicamarchingband.com from June 6 through the week of September 23, with submissions due the week of November 25.
The second annual Metallica Marching Band Competition, presented by Metallica in partnership with Sweetwater, will offer competing bands three times as many chances to win. Each of the five original categories—College (Division 1), College (Divisions 2 & 3), High School (Large), High School (Medium) and High School (Small)—has now been expanded to include awards for first, second and third place, with winners in each category ultimately selected by the members of Metallica.
Year two of the Metallica Marching Band Competition will also feature the return of the Fan Favorite award, this time for a single outstanding performance to be decided by popular vote. Fan Favorite voting opens December 1 and closes December 31.
Winners in all categories will be announced at a date to be determined in early January 2025. All competing schools will have access to free sheet music for 13 Metallica songs.
Metallica Marching Band Competition winners will receive instruments and gear for their schools’ music programs, provided by Metallica, in partnership with Sweetwater, with sponsorship from TAMA and others to be announced.
For further information, please go to http://metallicamarchingband.com.

Skratch N Sniff Celebrates Halloween 2026 With Ice Nine Kills and YUNGBLUD Rock & Alternative Specials
Skratch N Sniff brought a double dose of Halloween chaos to the airwaves over the weekend of October 31, 2026, with two special editions of

Sublime Return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre April 17 & 18 to Celebrate the Anniversaries of 40 Oz. to Freedom and Their Self-Titled Album
Sublime will return to the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre on April 17 + 18 for two special nights marking a celebration of the 35th anniversary

U2 Announces U.K & European Tour Dates
Live Nation has today announced U.K. and Europe dates for Carnaval De Luz presents: The Greatest Show On Earth, a world tour that will see Bono, The

Korn, Bad Omens, Pierce The Veil, and Blink-182 Headline Welcome To Rockville 2027
After celebrating an incredible 15th anniversary in 2026 with 210,000 music fans from all 50 states and 30 countries, Welcome To Rockville is taking things

Fozzy Frontman Chris Jericho’s Book “A Lion’s Tale” Is In Development as a TV Series
Chris Jericho has spent decades turning his life into stories, whether through wrestling, music, books or his podcast. Now, the early chapters of that life

Mötley Crüe Announces 2027 Las Vegas Residency at Caesars Palace
Mötley Crüe is heading back to Las Vegas next spring with Mötley Crüe At The Colosseum At Caesars Palace, Carnival Of Sins in Sin City,