For Immediate Release

Rebecca Eaddy
Marketing Communications Manager
Roland Corporation U.S.
(323) 890-3718
Rebecca.Eaddy@RolandUS.com

ROLAND CO-SPONSORS THE 8TH ANNUAL ERNIE BALL BATTLE OF THE BANDS COMPETITON

Coming Soon To A Venue Near You

Los Angeles, March 18, 2004--Roland Corporation US is proud to announce that it will kick off the summer in true rock-in-roll style by once again co-sponsoring the 8th Annual Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands competition. The competition gives the best local bands from North America the opportunity to showcase their talents in the longest running and largest live music promotion of its kind---the Vans Warped Tour. Local musical favorites will battle it out in cities across the United States this summer in order to be one of the four lucky bands to play on the Ernie Ball Local Heroes Mobile Stage at each Warped Tour Stop.

At the end of the Vans Warped Tour the top four bands of the summer will get a chance at the big-time when they're given the chance to show off their talent in front of industry and record label executives at an elite Hollywood venue later this fall/winter.

All bands that get their acts into gear and register for the competition by 4/16 will be eligible to win thousands of dollars in music gear from Battle sponsors including BOSS, Guitar One, Remo and a host of other top-tier companies.

BOSS will be contributing their popular ME-50 floor-based multi-effects processors to the competition. Built with the ruggedness and the simplicity that have made BOSS the gear of choice for guitarists worldwide, the ME-50 focuses on killer multi-effects instead of amp modeling. Dedicated knobs, an intuitive interface and single pedal make it simple to use, and impossible to get lost in a menu on your way to signing that record label contract.

For more information check out: http://battle.ernieball.com/bb8/.

BOSS products are manufactured and distributed by Roland Corporation. Roland is a world leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of electronic musical instruments, professional audio equipment, multimedia products and music accessories. For more information, contact Roland Corporation U.S., 5100 S. Eastern Ave., P.O. Box 910921, Los Angeles, CA 90091-0921, (323) 890-3700 (x3718 – for media use only), www.rolandus.com