Unsigned Only is a unique international music competition designed for artists who are not signed to a major label record company or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, or imprints. The Grand Prize Winner will win $5,000 in cash 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. Winners will be announced in July, 2012.
The goal of Unsigned Only is to find an outstanding, talented performer – a band 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.
Judges include: Robert Smith (The Cure); Jeremy Camp; Craig Morgan; Kelly Clarkson; Manchester Orchestra; Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Matt and Kim; Cyndi Lauper; St. Vincent; 3 Doors Down; The Mountain Goats; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Scott Lapatine (Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Stereogum); Lorraine Ali (Pop Music Editor, Los Angeles Times); and many more to be announced.
Mentors include a group of high-profile record company executives, including Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic); Pete Ganbarg (Executive Vice President/Head of AR, Atlantic Records); David Wolter (Senior VP of AR, RCA Records); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment and AR/Capitol Music Group); Trevor Jerideau (VP of AR, RCA Records); David Wilkes (VP of AR, eOne Music); Pete Giberga (Head of AR, Razor Tie Records); Jason Geter (President, Grand Hustle Records); and more.
Judging Criteria: originality, songwriting, vocals, performance, and overall likeability. All entries must be original music except for the Vocal Performance category which allows original or cover songs. Judging criteria in the Vocal Performance category will be based solely on the quality of the vocals. So, if you’re an artist and you don’t write your own songs – or if you do write your own songs and want to show off your singing – this is the category for you.
Conceived of and produced by the team who brings you the prestigious International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Unsigned Only offers a fresh and novel alternative to other music competitions. Yes, it offers 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, Unsigned Only also takes it a step further and puts the Grand Prize winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision-makers.
For the first time ever, a music competition offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, AR reps, and more.
Submit to this opportunity here http://www.musicxray.com/profiles/904
