Are U neXt2Rock?
Cumulus Media just kicked off neXt2rock 2017 — a national and local grassroots mission to discover America’s newest rock star. neXt2rock 2017 is the latest installment of the company’s “Next” franchise, which was launched last year with NASH Next Country competition. While television boasts several talent competitions, only the “Next” franchise contests offer its winners coveted radio airplay, which is the most effective medium to cultivate an artist and propel a major music career. To that end, 61 Cumulus stations in 47 markets, including Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Minneapolis, will conduct local grassroots searches, with additional national participation made possible by Cumulus Media’s digital properties and syndicated rock shows.
The neXt2rock 2017 contest is being announced on-air by Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, and the winner of this four-month competition will receive a record deal with Big Machine/John Varvatos Records, as well as substantial exposure, commensurate with a major label release, on Cumulus radio stations nationwide.
Emerging artists will first be rated by Cumulus listeners and judged by local music industry pros. The finalists — and the 2017 winner — will be selected by a panel of music industry luminaries, including Gavin Rossdale, Scott Borchetta, Founder, President & CEO of Big Machine Label Group, famed music producer Bob Ezrin, Hall of Fame songwriter Desmond Child and legendary rock guitarist Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols.
Local artists may enter the competition via participating local station websites. Three local music industry vets will judge each competitor’s fan-rated original song. Local markets will then host live events or select their finalist by judging the contestants in a video performance of that original song. Local winners will move on to the national challenge, submitting a live performance video showcasing their best original song, with the top five artists selected by rock industry pros. Those national finalists will compete at a live concert event at the famed Viper Room on the Sunset Strip on December 12, where the panel of celebrity mentor judges will select the neXt2rock 2017 winner.
