OurStage who sponsored the music interview suite Studio SX at South by Southwest 2008 and co-sponsored the packed SXSW Film Closing Party (where Moby and Addictive TV played) has announced a strategic partnership with AOL Music.

On OurStage.com, independent bands can upload music and videos and compete for prizes, with site members voting for the winners. This content, including new music by top-ranked artists, interviews, streaming audio, and videos will now be available for distribution on AOL Music.

"Our partnership with AOL Music has given us international exposure on the world's largest music site," says Dean Tsouvalas, VP of Product for OurStage.

OurStage has also announced a slate of music festival partnerships for the 2008 festival season. Bonnaroo, Noise Pop, and Bumbershoot, among others, will tap OurStage to help fill out their line-ups using the company’s fan-driven music filters to identify the best emerging talent on their site.

Since its inception in 2007, OurStage has developed relationships with dozens of music industry partners to create career-launching opportunities for artists who are charting on the site.

PHOTO: EJ Alyssa Jane Hale is interviewing OurStage band American Babies at SXSW Studio SX. From left to right the band members are: Scott Metzger (guitar, vocals), Tom Hamilton (vocals, guitar, piano), and Jim Hamilton (bass, guitar, vocals).