Hanson do it for the fans

06/22/2007 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Dotmusic

Pop band Hanson have launched an online competition where the winner will have a song written personally about them.

The trio of brothers, who have sold more than 15 million albums and whose most famous hit was "MMMBop" in 1997, are using the contest to publicise their forthcoming album The Walk.

The contest, which is part of a pre-sale, will reward those fans who help drive traffic to the band's website by placing customized banner ads, click-throughs, and links.

The person who drives the most hits will be rewarded with the song. A download of the track will be given away for free to anyone who enters.

In a statement, drummer Zac Hanson explained that the competition highlighted how bands have to be creative when marketing their music.

He said: "We are all music fans first so we know that inviting people to get a hold of the record early can only excite and motivate. If we are doing something we think is unique, it is only natural to encourage our fans to help spread the word."

His brother Isaac added: "Being independent makes it possible to build a stronger relationship with our fans. Doing the pre-sale is simply about giving our fans more."

The album is apparently part inspired by the band's recent trip to South Africa and Mozambique, where they recorded with two children's choirs.

The band has donated their proceeds from the downloads of the single, originally released last November in honor of World AIDS Day, to the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa.

The Walk is released on July 24.