Tube Idol? YouTube's Underground music video competition

In an attempt to draw people's attention away from "copyright-infringing" content, YouTube has launched its Underground competition in "a quest to find the most talented and entertaining unsigned musicians and bands out there."

Submit videos that best represent your group's musical, lyrical and video-making skills. The YouTube community will vote and decide just who rules the YouTube Underground.

Submissions start on 2 Oct and close on 18 Oct.

If it is a success, it will no doubt grab the attention of the music industry and help YouTube convince advertisers to do big-money deals with them. Sponsored by Cingular too. Ideal phone fodder.*

*Bloomin good prizes actually.