There was once a time when bands gained recognition by playing gig after gig, night after night. It didn’t matter if you were playing rap music at a country bar or performing for a crowd of 10, you had to keep on shredding to get noticed. Now in 2010, all you have to do is shop your demo around different social marketing outlets, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and then hope that Ellen hears your music and flies you out to her show. It’s as simple as that.

With companies worldwide taking notice of social media tools, it’s to no surprise that Toyota, whose cars are sold at used Camry Champaign dealerships, is continuing their partnership with MySpace.

A program that started in 2009 was designed to help spread Toyota brand awareness in the MySpace music fans and bands community. Toyota collaborated with MySpace in an American Idol-eqe contest to find out who made the best music demo in 2009. This year they are continuing this approach with the development of the “Toyota Music Rock the Space 2,” promotion that is focused around Toyota and the MySpace Records, where potentially the next big band might be found. Toyota wants to assuage all negative thoughts associate with their brand, aside from this social outreach their local Camry Urbana dealerships have been open extended hours to fix the recall debacle.

They are pushing for fans to visit Toyota’s MySpace Music site at MySpace.com/ToyotaMusic, and submit an MP3 demo where it will ride the wave around the web. Virtual demo tapes that look like cassette-tapes have been sent from artist to listener for the past couple months

Bands and artists had until June 7, where then a music industry panel selected 10 semifinalists who were given top billing on the Toyota Music profile providing both the auto company and MySpace Records with an advantageous outreach program.

The effort, which ran through June 7, aimed to get artists and fans to visit Toyota’s MySpace Music site at MySpace.com/ToyotaMusic. Bands had an opportunity to submit an MP3 demo and spread their music around the social web. Fans were provided with the opportunity to vote on which brand deserves a shot at 15 minutes of fame. The competition is down to 10 so now the MySpace community has to vote on their five favorite finalists.

MySpace will vote for a “fan favorite” for the sixth finalist. Fans vote the winner and the winner gets a recording contract and $10,000 worth of musical instruments from Fender. The 2009 win was Call the Cops which has their debut album coming out this summer as they will be promoting it on the Vans Warped Tour.