MUMBAI: XM and MySpace have launched Show Us What Ya Got!, a coast-to-coast online search for the hottest unsigned hip-hop and R&B music talent.
Aspiring hip-hop and/or R&B artists can submit their original song for the opportunity to perform at The Mix Show Power Summit, the industry’s premier event, in October, where one grand prize winner will receive a mix tape created in coordination with a high profile DJ, on-air XM appearance and more.
Unreleased artists are invited to visit the XM MySpace site at http://www.myspace.com/xm to review contest details, and enter their original song with the opportunity to become the next hip-hop star. All entries for the competition must be submitted between now and 31 August, 2007.
The entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of music editors and industry artists who will select five finalists and post their entries on the XM MySpace community page for open voting.
Video blogs will be posted regularly, featuring advice and trends in the urban music industry from DJ Enuff, founder of Heavy Hitters DJs; Rene McLean, chief executive officer of The Power Summit; and Bryan Leach, senior vice president of Urban J Records and president of Polo Grounds Music. Video blogs with behind-the-scenes advice on hip-hop and radio industry will also be available by on-air talent from XM’s urban channels, including: Mz. Kitti, DJ “Funkregulata” Celo and DJ Furious Styles from RAW (XM 66), XM’s uncensored hip-hop channel; Lisa Lisa, Tiff Square, and Nina Nine from The City (XM 67), XM’s hip-hop and urban channel. Members from the MySpace community can then view blogs and vote for their favorites among the top five finalists.
Three finalists will then be selected for superstar treatment, including a free trip to The Power Summit, held 24 – 27 October in the Dominican Republic, to perform for an intimate audience of the top record industry elite and biggest DJs in the country. Past performers include Kanye West, Eminem, 50 Cent and Alicia Keys. Leo G, program director for XM’s RAW channel, will be among the panel of on-site judges to watch the performances, provide on-the-spot commentary and award a grand prize finalist. The live performance will be broadcast live on the XM MySpace community page reaching MySpacers around the globe.
“XM is all about discovery. With more than 170 radio channels, we are committed to providing our subscribers with access to the hottest new music and new artists first. Show Us What Ya Got extends the love of music discovery to the MySpace community. This national talent search is poised to discover the urban superstars of tomorrow,” said XM Satellite Radio executive vice president and chief marketing officer Vernon Irvin.
“With more than four million registered urban musicians on MySpace, this contest offers an amazing opportunity to any talented artist seeking to build a fan base. It’s like a one-two punch — MySpace Online and XM Satellite Radio partnering to discover and slingshot an urban artist’s career. It’s a refreshing twist on an art form that balances awareness and talent,” said MySpace vice president marketing Josh Brooks.
One grand prize winning artist or group will be selected by The Power Summit audience, and will receive superstar treatment, including:
A mixtape created with a high profile DJ
Opportunity to appear as the opening act on the MySpace Secret Show, a series of music performances only available to “friends” of the page
A local grassroots sniping promotional campaign
All expense paid trip to be a guest on XM Radio in Washington, DC, and two weeks XM airplay
MySpace Music Feature
