UNSIGNED ONLY MUSIC COMPETITION ANNOUNCES JUDGES AND MENTORS

Friday, November 30, 2012

Unsigned Only Music Competition today announced its judging panel for the 2013 competition, which is now accepting entries. The panel of judges consists of the top echelon of recording artists and music journalists, representing the ten categories of popular music covered by the competition.

Founders/Directors Candace Avery and Jim Morgan noted, "We are gearing up for another great year of Unsigned Only with even more judges, bigger cash prizes, and another great opportunity to bridge the gap between unsigned artists and the music industry executives who could potentially influence and elevate their careers."

Designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major label record company, Unsigned Only's goal is to find an outstanding, talented performing artist: a band, singer, or solo artist...a newcomer or veteran...raw or polished - the "gem" that needs to be discovered.

Unsigned Only is looking for the total package. The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $10,000 in cash (plus additional prizes) and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category. Entries are being accepted now until March 14, 2013.  Categories include: AAA (Adult Album Alternative), AC (Adult Contemporary), Christian Music, Country, Folk/Singer-Songwriter, R&B/Hip-Hop, Rock, Pop/Top 40, Teen, and Vocal Performance.

Launched in 2011 by the founders of the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Unsigned Only is a fresh and novel approach to other music competitions. Not only does it offer great prizes, recognition, exposure, and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals, but it also takes it a step further and offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps, and more. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for an artist to directly network with the highest level of record company professionals and get guidance, advice, feedback, and networking opportunities.

2012 Grand Prize winner Lara Johnston states, "being the Grand Prize winner of Unsigned Only has been a definite high point of my career thus far. The mentoring opportunities provided by Unsigned Only are nothing short of incredible: I've had in-depth conversations and meetings with the uppermost gatekeepers and leaders of the music industry. Since winning Unsigned Only, I've garnered invaluable advice from a rich variety of perspectives, and I've had the chance to start relationships with people who can truly help me in my career. I'm excited to see where this all takes me and I would urge any aspiring artist to enter this year's competition - you never know, you might be the next Grand Prize winner!"

The judging panel is comprised of an impressive group of recording artists and top-level music journalists. They include: Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders); Cyndi Lauper; Iggy Pop; Carly Simon; John Oates (Hall & Oates); Eve; 3 Doors Down; Neon Trees; Brandi Carlile; Hunter Hayes; Manchester Orchestra; Black Francis (The Pixies); Ryan Bingham; Faith Evans; David Crowder; Craig Morgan; Robert Smith (The Cure); Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC); Of Monsters and Men; Wynonna; Aaron Shust; Kirko Bangz; G. Love; Jason Gray; Dustin Lynch; The Mountain Goats; Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Vanessa Satten (Editor-In-Chief, XXL Magazine); Christopher Weingarten (Senior Editor, Spin); and Chris Richards (Pop Music Critic, The Washington Post).

The panel of mentors who have signed on to participate is equally impressive. Included are: Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic Records); Pete Ganbarg (Executive VP/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records); Shawn Holiday (Senior VP of A&R, RCA Records and Sony/ATV Music Publishing); Josh Bailey (Sr. VP of A&R, Word Label Group); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment and A&R/Capitol Music Group); Allison B. Jones (VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group); Lisa Ramsey-Perkins (Senior Director of A&R, Sony Music Nashville); and more to be announced.

All entries must be original music except for the Vocal Performance and Teen categories, which allow original or cover songs.

 

SPONSORS
D'Addario, The Music Business Registry and Mrs. Fields Cookies

For entry and general information, please go to http://www.unsignedonly.com

 

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Fashion Designer Reality TV Series: Mission Catwalk Season Two

Monday, January 30, 2012

Mission Catwalk is an exciting reality TV series aimed at discovering and developing talented fashion designers. Season One showcased 15 designers in fierce competition for top prizes.This year, the series shortlisted 20 designers from across the Caribbean (including:Barbados,Belize,Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana,and Jamaica). These 20 designers will meet a swift and ferocious first round of challenge in which 5 designers are eliminated in the first episode.

This TV series tests and nurtures the talents of the contestants through numerous challenges and  exercises geared at identifying and honing a range of creative skills and abilities. The series is set in
Kingston, Jamaica and each hour-long episode comprises of four segments: the challenge, the design production,the runway show, and the elimination of a designer. The series lasts thirteen weeks and culminates with three designers at a live showdown in Kingston. One designer will win the ultimate prize–to show their collection at London Fashion Week 2012.

The winner will receive the following prizes:

• An opportunity to show a collection at the London Fashion Week 2012.
• JMD$500K funding to start their clothing line courtesy of NCB.
• Industrial sewing equipment valued at JMD$200K courtesy of Singer Jamaica.
• A contract to sell their designs at SOHO Boutique.
• A six-page fashion editorial in Ocean Style Magazine.
• A scholarship to pursue fashion program at London College Of Fashion.
Season two of Mission Catwalk will premiere on Tuesday March 20,2012 at 8:30 PM.


CAST

Host/Exec Producer: Keneea Linton-George

Judges: Novia McDonald-Whyte
              Carlton Brow


Guest Judges: Sonia Noel -Guyana Fashion Week, Nadia Khan -Actress, BarryMoncrieffe-
Designer, Marcellas James-Milliner, Lady Saw-Singer, Dr. Charlene Jarrett-MOH, Dexter Pottinger- Designer/Celebrity Stylist, Douglas Gordon-Ocean Style Magazine,Celia Levy-Designer,Thalia Lyn-Entrepreneur, Michele Coulton-Soho Boutique, Meiling Esau-Designer,Claudia Pegus-Designer.



Contestants: Kesia Estwick, Janelle Forde, Ryan Chan, Ryan Berkeley, Rebecca Stirm, Shannon
Kwong,Shellane McFarlane, Kerin Scott, Gregory Williams, Crystal Powell, Kimbally Smith, Janelle Jolly, Keshon Hawthorne, Natalie Rochester, Maria King-Beadle

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Casting for "Mission Catwalk" Season Two

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

After a successful first season, Jamaican reality TV show "Mission Catwalk" is now in full gear to find the best Fashion Designer in the Island.

 

If you are a Fashion Designer with a lot of edge this is your chance showcase your talent to the international market.

The  second season will be hosted by Keneea Linton-George, and will aired on TVJ.

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Digicel Rising Stars - Season eight first six semi-finalists

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Kingston, Jamaica, - The eighth season of Digicel Rising Stars boasts the promise of an all new show, with a new host, all new judges, an all new set, all new Chill Room and the return of the Saturday night elimination show

Since it is usually reserved for the third week of the competition, we have yet to see the all new Chill Room, but all of the other changes were warmly welcomed by the Courtleigh Auditorium audience.

The competition said bye, bye to the faithful judges Jamaicans had come to know and trust over the past seven seasons, but said hello to new judges, the multi-talented recording artiste, and queen of Reggae-Fusion, Tessanne Chin, and the multi-faceted radio personality, Disc Jock, producer and artiste, Bambino.

Each week a guest judge will fill the third spot, hopefully bringing a little more variety to the judges’ comments. This week the third judge's spot was filled by the lyrically ingenious, Reggae-Dancehall recording artiste, Tanya Stephens.

Season eight also says hello to a new host, the equally bubbly and beautiful Miss Jamaica World 2005, Terri-Karelle Reid. Reid dropped out of last year's race to be the competition's host, stating that it would a conflict of interest with her job at the time. We are just happy to see that she has finally made it onto the show.

Sunday night's show saw the introduction of the first six semi-finalists, Jermain Burford, Latoya Jackson or 'Latty J', Delando Colley, Annette Fraser or 'Anna', Stephanie Barnes and the five member Reggae-Jazz harmony, VOH. All of the semi-finalists gave it their all, but only a few really shone bright enough to be stars.
Outstanding PerformancesThe spunky girl with the big voice, Latty J gave a convincing performance of I Want to Know What Love Is by Mariah Carey. Her unique and soulful voice filled the auditorium and gained her points with the audience and judges alike. The crowd favourite and Diva-in-the-making, Anna, showed off her powerful voice with her rendition of Adele's Rolling In the Deep, another convincing performance that was received positively by the crowd.

And though it seemed like the ladies would take the night, it was the five distinct voices, blended harmoniously of the members of the vocal band Voice of Harpers or VOH that got the audience on their feet and cheering after their rendition of Barrington Levy's Too Experienced.

Their feel good vibe lead to a feel good performance that rocked the night. While Tessanne commented on the group’s ability to impress an audience with or without music, Bambino said "you definitely ago get the girls wid dah one deh." he continued "they were on point and very in unison, and I like that."

Tanya Stephens then made mention to the importance of Barrington Levy to Jamaican music and ended her comment saying "Where ever he is... I'm sure him feel proud, I'm sure you didn't hurt his feelings at all with this one, it sound wicked, and me love it!"
FashionWhen the series' stylist T'rone Buchannan decided he wanted the Rising Stars host in a long sleeved, red cocktail dress, he went to the perfect, newly crowned fashion designer to come up with the dress's concept, and bring his basic idea to life.

Shenna Carby, the recent winner of TVJ's Mission Catwalk designed Terri-Karelle's first dress of the season, a red ultra-mini cocktail dress which clung to the host in all the right places, and whose zebra print sides and long sleeves gave the appearance of an equally well fitting blazer.

Terri-Karelle, who also rocked a pair of silver studded peep-toe sling backs, received cat-calls and wolf-whistles from audience members all night. As for the contestants, it could be seen that the stylist's aim was to let their talent shine through, with most of the contestants rocking a simpler look, one more of personal style than of fashion.

Hits for the night were Jermain Burford's black, velvet blazer with silver detailing, Anna's black, patent leather peep-toes with silver stiletto heels, and Latty J's entire outfit: a khaki shirt dress with black leggings, and gold peep-toe ankle booties with black appliqué. Stephanie Barnes' too short and too tight, little black dress however was leaning closer to a miss.

Judges CommentsAfter 16-year-old Delando Colley's off rendition of Daniel Beddingfield's If You're Not the One, Bambino expressed his disappointment stating that the song was not an easy one to sing, having too many falsetto's and that he had hoped the young contestant would have done something more suited to his voice, like the Michael Jackson song he performed in his Calling Card.

Tessanne went into a bit more detail when she said, "I thought this maybe wasn't the right song, and even if it was the right song it should have been in a different key so that you could have better managed the low and high parts.. there is no doubt that you have a voice."

Tune into TVJ this Saturday at 9pm to see which four contestants will stay and which two will go home from the first 6, and Sunday at 8pm to meet your second set of semi-finalists. And don't forget to vote!

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"Gaza Talent Search" by Vybz Kartel

Thursday, September 16, 2010

A new talent search  "Gaza Talent Search"  organized by Vybz Kartel and Corey Todd will be launched The Building Nightclub starting September 17th.

The show will be aired on Hype Tv and hosted by Boasy Boy Floyd. Every week a winner will be chosen and then move on to the monthly final. All winners for each month will then compete for the final for the contest is set for December where the winner will walk away with  $500,000 and will be signed to a recording contract with the Portmore Empire.

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