The entertainment and media companies announced Radio Star, a joint fourteen-week talent search slated to launch on February 16th.
The Radio Star grand prize is a one way ticket to fame. Waiting at the end of the contest for the talented and as-yet unknown artist is a Sony Music recording contract.
The Prizes
Clear Channel will kick in a $50,000 bonus for a celebrity wardrobe and makeover. The winner will also appear as an opening act in two live Clear Channel radio station concerts in New York and LA: at New York’s Z100 Jingle Ball 2004 and at Los Angeles’ KIIS-FM Jingle Ball.
Just in case he or she needs some help managing the new fame and fortune, The William Morris Agency will stand by with a management contract for the new artist. And there are other prizes for the runner ups, including demo deals with Sony Music.
Contest Details
Clear Channel radio stations in approximately fifty markets, both large and small, will begin sharing details on how to enter Radio Star on February 16th.
The stations will promote the contest for three weeks on-air, on-line and in some cases at special remotes or “live auditions.” Contestants will be directed to a special “Radio Star” website with more information on how to submit their entries.
Each week, participating stations each select an act to submit to Sony Music's panel of judges. The review panel includes professionals from Sony Music’s A&R team, recording artists, radio programmers, and industry professionals.
A Weekly Radio Show
Beginning in March, “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest and New York’s Z100 morning air personality Elvis Duran will host a weekly, one-hour Radio Star special on selected Clear Channel stations nationwide.
Each week for ten weeks the broadcast will feature seven ‘semi finalists’ selected by the Radio Star judges. Listeners will vote for their favorite artists featured on that week’s show, using online polling, powered by Ratethemusic.com via the dedicated Radio Star website accessed from participating stations’ sites.
The sites will also feature pictures, bios and other information about the artists. The weekly online winner advances to the ‘quarter finals,’ one step closer to stardom.
A Grand Finale
The country’s newest Radio Star will be selected in true “superstar” style. Radio Star judges will study each of the finalists and select three to move on to the Grand Finale and a shot at the Sony Music recording deal. Seacrest and Duran will host a two-hour “live” Radio Star special featuring the three finalists and other Sony Music/Epic Records recording artists.
The country’s newest “Radio Star” will be selected live on-air during the program.
- From A Clear Channel Press Release
