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[[quoteright:345:[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/battleofthebands_3375.jpg]]]]

->''"So the Rainbooms want to turn this into a real Battle of the Bands? Then let's'' '''battle!'''"
-->-- '''[[OurSirensAreDifferent Adagio Dazzle]]''', ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks''

A contest where two or more musical bands (usually HardRock or HeavyMetal) decide who is the best. In RealLife, this is usually determined by a judges panel, but in fiction, it often gets turned into an ''actual'' battle, especially when MagicMusic, InstrumentOfMurder, and the literal [[ThePowerOfRock Power of Rock]] get involved.

A staple in MusicStories, being the only type of direct conflict that can take place between musical bands. Everything else is either indirect competition (selling more records, gathering more concert audiences, etc.) or off-stage brawls.

SubTrope of TeamBasedTournament. Compare DanceOff. In some cases characters may enter to win the attention of a LoveInterest, in which case this trope overlaps with ArtistsAreAttractive.

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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Anime/ShowByRock'' has one between the Protagonist band Plasmagica and a band of middle-schoolers called Criticrysta, which ended with the latter winning by the nose. Eventually they had a rematch in which Plasmagica wins, [[spoiler: [[YouHaveFailedMe much to Criticrysta's manager's rage]].]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/MarvelRisingBattleOfTheBands'', as the title suggests, has ComicBook/GhostSpider's band The [=MJs=] entering one, although the story ends with their performance, so we don't learn who actually won. But their main rival, [[ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}} Screaming Mimi]], had already been defeated in regular battle and missed the contest altogether.
* The entire plot of ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks'' involves the Dazzlings turning a friendly school musical showcase into a competition; it is an example of both the proverbial (in the form of the overall battle), and the literal (with the Dazzlings and the Rainbooms using magic-enhanced musical attacks against each other in the climax). The Creator/{{Hasbro}} website includes a promotional game for the movie that's actually titled "[[http://www.hasbro.com/equestria-girls/en_US/play/details.cfm?R=F794D393-5056-9047-F5A0-45D2FDD64CC3:en_US Battle of the Bands]]", providing the page image. Also the very title of the Dazzlings' first song in the film is "Let's Have a Battle (of the Bands)":
-->''Battle!\\
You want to win it!\\
Let's have a battle!\\
Battle of the bands\\
Let's have a battle!\\
We'll go on in it\\
Let's have a battle, battle, battle!\\
Battle of the bands!''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/BillAndTed'':
** In ''Film/BillAndTedsExcellentAdventure'' they dream about being in the school's battle of the bands.
** In ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney'' they end up at the battle, battling the [[EvilTwin Evil Robot Usses']] band.
* ''Film/BluesBrothers2000'': The film ends with a Battle of the Bands between the title characters and the Louisiana Gator Boys. Unusually for this trope, the title characters LOSE, but band leader Elwood Blues is on good terms with the Gator Boys' leader, Malvern Gasperone (portrayed by {{Blues}} legend B.B. King) after an earlier encounter with him, and so the two bands decide to team up and play one more song together to close out the film.
* ''Film/{{Crossroads}}'' climaxes with a [[SeriousBusiness high-stakes]] guitar duel between Eugene and Jack Butler (real life guitar god Music/SteveVai), the latter of whom made a DealWithTheDevil and now works for him.
* In ''Film/SchoolOfRock'', the one with Jack Black, the climax of the movie is a competition which is called, well... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Battle of the Bands]].
* In ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'', the Battle of the Bands between Sex Bob-omb and the Katayanagi twins turns into an epic showdown between {{Energy Being}}s representing each side.
* In ''Film/VoyageOfTheRockAliens'', the aliens show up at the cotillion as ABCD and the EFGHI JKLM NOPQR STUVWXYZ and pit their '80s techno music against the Pack's '50s-style rock and roll.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Goosebumps}}'': ''My Hairiest Adventure'' has the main protagonists as part of a band, who are preparing for a Battle of the Bands at their school when the weirdness begins. [[spoiler:They win, in part due to their "special effects": the hero starting to turn into a dog during the performance.]]
* ''Literature/KingDork'': Tom & Sam's band enters the school [=BotB=] and [[StylisticSuck sucks on purpose]].
* In ''Literature/RockStar'' the protagonist's band gets into a nationwide Battle of the Bands, but the protagonist himself is grounded from playing because he's failing math. When his replacement gets injured he does it anyway and the band wins, which leads to him running away from home to become a rock star. [[AnAesop It doesn't work out]].
%%* The Creator/GraemeBase book ''Literature/TheWorstBandInTheUniverse''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* ''Series/CHiPs'' once had a battle of the bands between a number of punk rock bands, one of which resorted to some illegal moves in their effort to win. One review site for the show claimed this would have been acceptable punk behavior if it hadn't been to win a battle of the bands. This is an unusual application of the trope in that the show's regular characters weren't participants in the battle.
* MTV Brazil had a game show, ''Covernation'', featuring a duel between two cover bands, with contests ranging from knowledge (quizzes on the original artist, identify songs from short snippets on the piano) and ability (playing a song from the other band with just a tab, playing in sync with one of their band's music videos when the sound cuts off) to just plain whimsical (VolleyingInsults between bands, the singer trying to enter on his cue in spite of fans delaying him), all culminating in [[GoldenSnitch a rock-off]] between one member of each band.
* ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'' had one of these in "That Thing You Don't". Drew's band, the Horndogs, went up against Satan's Penis, a band fronted by a rival from high school. Two other bands involved were the Underprivileged (played by Music/TheReverendHortonHeat) and the Unreliables (who [[MeaningfulName didn't show up]]).
* ''Series/{{Portlandia}}'' had a the "Battle of the Gentle Bands" skit, a battle between an acoustic band, a band that didn't use microphones because they don't want to hurt insects, two women kissing a large bell, and the winner: a woman blowing on some hanging feathers.
* The majority of season 1 of ''Series/SchoolOfRock'' revolves around one and the preparations for it.
* ''Series/SoAwkward'': In "The Band", Ollie, Rob, Jas and Sid enter Battle of the Bands along with the tuneless Mr Malone.
* ''Series/XenaWarriorPrincess'' had this for one of it's musical episodes; Xena convinced warbands fighting over a magical lyre that it was more appropriate than an actual battle. She ended up winning it herself by accident by busting out a metal version of the theme song during a fight scene, so it ends up being a mix of the two styles.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* Music/TheTurtles: In the wake of the success of Music/SgtPeppersLonelyHeartsClubBand , The band did a concept album of their own hoping to capitalize on the success of their most popular album "Happy Together", The result was Music/TheTurtlesPresentTheBattleOfTheBands
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[[folder:Music Videos]]
* Music/TheHappyFits: The video for [[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RIIV5A-Sj_Q "Hold Me Down"]] takes place at a battle of the bands, with the band playing every single group of competitors.
* The video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvipPYFebWc "Roundtable Rival"]] by Music/LindseyStirling features a musical duel, [[TheWestern Old West]]-style, between Lindsey and her girls versus the Durango Black gang.
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[[folder:Podcasts]]
* One of the dimensions that the ''Podcast/{{Sequinox}}'' girls get clapped to in Episode 10 starts in the middle of one, with the Sequinox team going up against Stars Pollux and Castor.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* There is a Wii game called ''VideoGame/BattleOfTheBands''.
* In ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'', the Battles of the Bands are called "Stage Battles" and are actual ''battles'', with music and instruments used for indiscriminate murder.
* ''VideoGame/CharlieMurder'' features the titular PunkRock band battling against the rival DeathMetal band Gore Quaffer, lead by Charlie's ex-friend.
* In ''VideoGame/GoodbyeVolcanoHigh'', an annual Battle of the Bands takes place at the local music venue Lava Java, and the winner gets to perform at the prestigious music festival [=CalderaFest=], where young bands get their first big break. One of the plot threads of the first five episodes involves Fang trying to ensure their band, Worm Drama, excels at their audition and then wins the Battle.
* ''VideoGame/MySingingMonsters'': A "battle of the bands" is what the turn-based "[[ElementalRockPaperScissors combat]]" of the [[UnexpectedGameplayChange Collisingum]] essentially boils down to, with teams of up to three monsters each, duking it out against other teams of monsters - using their musical talent.
* In the third episode of ''VideoGame/StrongBadsCoolGameForAttractivePeople'', ''Baddest of the Bands'', Strong Bad hosts and later even enters one of these. Unfortunately, once he enters, his bandmates are ''terrible'', and the other three acts far better, causing him to resort to sabotage in order to win.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* Season 2 of ''WebAnimation/RWBYChibi'' has a storyline revolving around the various teams gearing up for a "Battle of the Bands", each of them decking themselves out in band apparel and instruments. The villains decide to get in on this with their own band, only to realize too late that this was [[spoiler:a literal ''[[ExactWords Battle]]'' of the Bands. Despite using instruments and dressing as musicians, the various teams compete not in music, but in combat. All of their instruments have hidden weapon capabilities. Except for the villains, who were the only ones to show up with ''actual musical instruments'', and get pounded as a result.]]
* ''WebAnimation/TeenGirlSquad'' issue 8 sees the girls forming a band called "Kissyboots" to perform in their school's Battle of the Bands. [[HilarityEnsues Naturally]], it leads to The Ugly One getting attacked by her own floor tom during rehearsal, So and So getting crushed by a giant twenty-sided die, and What's Her Face's bass guitar turning into a shark (which eats her, and later Cheerleader).
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* This is the central premise of ''Webcomic/BandVsBand''.
* The webcomic ''[[http://battlecreeknecomic.com/ Battle Creek, NE]]'' is all about a "less than talented no-name pop punk band" from Nebraska who wind up representing earth in an interplanetary Battle of the Bands.
* During a crossover sequence between ''Webcomic/MenageA3'' and its [[SpinOff spin-off]] ''Webcomic/StickyDillyBuns'', "Zii and the Troublemakers", the band led by one of the three main characters from the former comic, gets into an informal but serious duel with "Pretty Boyz with Electric Toyz", who are led by Zii's old rival, Angel, who usually shows up in the latter comic. (Angel used to work with Zii, but the relationship broke down when Zii had sex with Jerzy, who was Angel's boyfriend, at least in Angel's eyes, at that time.) Angel looks set for victory, as the other two Troublemakers are fighting each other as usual, but then Angel makes the mistake of gloating over Zii in their earshot, and if there's one thing that can unite them, it's their loyalty to Zii...
* How the historic battles are fought in the American Revolution webcomic ''Webcomic/ThePaulReveres''.
* The webcomic ''Webcomic/ScaryGoRound'' has a whole chapter named "Battle of the Bands".
* The subplot of ''Webcomic/SoulSymphony'' revolves around John and his heavy metal friend Charlie forming a band to compete in their school's Battle of the Bands. Of course, Charlie just really wants to win to defeat his [[JerkAss bitter rival.]]
* Happened in ''JustForFun/TVTropesTheWebcomic'' arc "Heavy Meta", between [[MeleeATrois the Troper Crue, Lady of War, and Burn the Witch]].
* A major part of the world of ''Webcomic/Nova44''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* The ''WebVideo/JoueurDuGrenier'' episode "Des Jeux et du [[HeavyMetal Métal]] !", about games inspired by music, has Fred and Seb in a musical fight against the group "Wet Fingers" for the right of passage through Shiny City.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* The ''WesternAnimation/CatDog'' episode "Battle of the Bands" had the titular duo enter said competition with Cat playing guitar and Dog playing the drums. However, due to Cat's insistence that they play really, really soft, they were nearly booed out of the competition, until the Greases showed up, having mistaken the competition for an actual battle, which results in [=CatDog=] finally winning the Battle of the Bands.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCrumpets'' episode "[=CrumStep=]" has Lil-One and Granny's music act partnership fall apart, and they duel in a concert in Ma's workshop with recruited family members in their sides and entertain with hammer pounding or saw blades. The concert ends when Ma arrives and she and Pa remind the family of her ForgottenBirthday, and the duo reunites at the end.
* In Episode 6 of ''WesternAnimation/{{Detentionaire}}'', A. Nigma High has one, featuring several acts of [[StylisticSuck questionable quality]] alongside the school's own rock band, the Dudes of Darkness. When Lee accidentally and indirectly causes the [[InSeriesNickname DoD]]'s frontman [[TheRockStar Cyrus]] to break off, it's up to him to get the band back together in time to perform.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' had an episode titled "Battle of the Bands". In it, Grim chooses to join Sperg's band, making Billy jealous. As revenge, Billy and his dad decide to sneak into the competition with the latter disguised as "MOOOGAAARRR!!!"
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Grojband}}'' often had these as episode plots. Given the surreal nature of the show however, none were ever ordinary, including a scary campfire song contest featuring a HumanoidAbomination, one against alien invaders where the destruction of Earth is at stake, and even an extreme curling competition.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw'', Milo and his friends compete in one, with Murphy's Law in full effect throughout their performance. They also end up having to compete against Zack's old BoyBand, the Lumbermaxes (formerly the Lumberzacks).
* ''WesternAnimation/SeaPrincesses'': In "Battle of the Bands", the three princes have started a band so they can enter the 'Battle of the Bands' competition. Tubarina, Polvina and Ester decide they'll start a flute-playing band, and beat them. But who will win the 'Battle of the Bands'?
* The 1935 Creator/{{Disney}} ''Silly Symphony'' "Music Land" involved a Saxophone from The Isle of Jazz having a StarCrossedLovers romance with a Violin from Symphony Land, which culminates in the two different styles having an all out musical artillery duel.
* ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'' had the episode "Battle of the Boy Bands". [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed Justin Beaver]] uses MindControlMusic that enslaves girls. To stop him, Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles pose as a boy band and challenge Justin to a musical showdown. In reality, they are stalling for time until one of Tails' gadgets can analyze Justin's music and create a counter frequency to free the girls.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wishfart}}'' features one in the episode "We Are Cheetah Face!", with Dez, Puffin, and Akiko having to play against the {{Jerkass}} God of Rock and [[BrokenPedestal their former idol]], Hairy Smilez.
[[/folder]]
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