Sydney, Australia – May 30, 2011 – Australia’s longest running and largest free education and entertainment tour, Logitech Rock the Schools, has just announced internet security software company Norton by Symantec as one of its major sponsors. Now called Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton, the massive tour will visit 90 schools around the country, reaching over 70,000 high-school students all around Australia.

Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton will provide our country’s future music and entertainment professionals with a unique insight into the industry’s many careers. The action packed day will include hands-on workshops for senior music students with industry professionals from the Australian Institute of Music. The whole school will then be treated to a lunchtime concert from the up and coming Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton bands.

The internet is an fundamental tool for music and artist promotion. It’s therefore vital that all students wishing to forge a successful career in music take a proactive approach to their ‘digital tattoo’ to enhance their own virtual reputation for the future. Norton aims to help raise awareness with students about their digital tattoo and its imprint, discussing how online actions can have offline consequences, potentially impacting a student’s future career development.

“It’s a well-known fact that potential employers, universities and even potential dates look online to get more information about us. Even if you’re not a rock star being hounded by the paparazzi, we’re now living in a world where social interactions increasingly occur online; one comment, image or moment can live forever through a blog post, photograph, viral video or Internet meme,” said Michele Thompson, Norton’s Online Safety Advocate for Australia and New Zealand.

With National Cybersecurity Awareness Week commencing today (30 May-3 June), it’s also a timely reminder to students to be cautious about how much personal information they expose online.

“The popularity of social networking sites and mobile devices allow people to post their thoughts and whereabouts in real-time to an ever-growing network of people,” said Michele Thompson. “Although most students may not have an entourage of fans, their personal status updates, comments and photos can be just as fascinating to a different crowd. Many teenagers post without giving a second thought to how they might be putting themselves at risk for losing out on a future job or potentially exposing personal details to criminals or cyber thieves.”

Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton which kicked off in Sydney on May 2nd has visited schools in NSW and VIC. Four up and coming bands scheduled to perform for a leg of the tour each: Adelaide’s five piece Delamare has just completed the first leg of the tour, Melbourne band Red Ink takes over on 30th May, followed by Sydney’s Feeding Edgar. The fourth and final leg will see the tour head cross-country to WA with Brisbane band Finabah, who are the 2011 winners of the of the Nova I am with the Band competition. Finabah were also on the Rock the Schools tour in 2010. Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton provided the WA leg of the tour as part of the Nova competition.

Norton joins a plethora of sponsors who all come together to make such a successful and unique tour possible. Logitech joined the tour for the first time in 2011 as naming rights sponsor, while international smash hit Wii game, Just Dance 2, has also come on board as a sponsor for its first year.

Returning for a second year as the tour’s official education partner, the Australian Institute of Music (AIM) is providing students with rare hands-on experience in the industry workshops that give students an insight on how to run Front of House Sound for a live show. Students also learn about industry recording software Protools and their Music Business Workshops explore the many different career paths available in the commercial music industry.

Also returning as a major sponsor of the Logitech Rock the Schools powered by Norton tour for a second year is the Australian Government’s National Drugs Campaign. In 2011 the campaign has aligned with the theme of ‘music’ to engage young people in ways that are meaningful to them and encourage them to face facts on the risks of ecstasy use.

This year also sees long-term media partners Habbo.com, Channel [V] and Girlfriend magazine returning as media partners.