Psst! wanna win a six-figure chunk of change just for playing in a band?
If you are a hungry musician you may want to think twice before adapting the uncut lyrics of Chee Lo Green’s latest hit to fit what your thoughts are about your local Hot AC or Rock FM that studiously ignores your calls or playing your new single that friends all tell you is a smash hit in waiting.
True, it might seem Ludacris for radio programmers to uniformly go Gaga over Justin Bieber when your song is so much hotter, but don’t despair. For several reasons which we won’t go into here now, Canadian FM broadcasters are generous with their cash and often times willing to invest some of their ill-gotten gains in developing emerging Canadian talent.
Take Live 88.5 for example. In conjunction with owner NewCap Radio, the Ottawa FM is literally offering a $250,000 cash purse to 10 bands with 10 cheques being cut in the amounts of $150,000 and $5,000. A couple of $500 giveaway prizes are also on offer to fans that come out in support the Big Money Shot showcase in Nov. Meantime, a trio of past winners get to strut their new material at an all-industry showcase in Toronto at The Rivoli on Queen W. on Sept. 23. Last year’s runner-up, Amos The Transparent are set to take the stage along with ‘08’s grand prize winner, The Draculas, and ‘06’s runner-up, St Joe’s Mission will be on-hand to play tracks from their latest, funded by their winnings. Wherever you live, make sure to find out what Canadian talent development initiatives your local stations have on offer…
