The Internet has made simple music acts into stars.
Before YouTube and “American Idol,”Performers made demo tapes and CDs in the hope that they would be heard on radio and get a record deal. Finding an audience today can be as simple as uploading a song or video to a community site.
When computers can produce high-quality demos, artists no longer have to rent studios. Artists can even sell their digital music files and CDs directly to their fans via Web pages. Traditional media outlets use the Internet to search for the next big stars.
“There are two phenomena currently at play in the music industry: The rise of consumer-generated music content on the Internet and the success of artists participating in national talent competitions,”Sarah Trahern is the senior vice president of programming for Great American Country (GAC).
GAC created The Next GAC Star, an artist development company, with Music Nation to search for new talent. You have many options to reach talented country singers, struggling or fresh-faced.
Next GAC Star contest requires aspiring singers submit videos, MP3s, and photos online. The GAC Summer Tour Bus allows singers to record audition tapes.
However, the contest goes beyond the Internet. The title will be decided by online fans. Internet users will select eight of 16 semi-finalists. Then, they will vote online after viewing the contestants. “The Next GAC Star”Specials and television series.
Says Trahern, “Viewers can upload their favorite performances online in the hopes of seeing themselves on the network and possibly winning it all.”
What do the winners get? A recording deal and a video music that will be published on GAC -; as well as its Web site.
For more information, please visit www.gactv.com/star.
