For Aspiring Stars, Recognition On the Web

(NewsUSA) - The Internet has changed the way in which simple music acts become stars.

Before YouTube and "American Idol," performers made demo tapes and CDs and hoped that radio exposure might land them a record deal or contract. Today, finding an audience can mean uploading a song recording or video to a community Web page.

Artists no longer need to rent professional recording studios when computers can create a high-quality demo. Some artists even sell their CDs and digital music files directly to their fans on Web pages. Some traditional media outlets look to use the Internet, along with more advanced media outlets, to find the next 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," says Sarah Trahern, senior vice president of programming at the television network Great American Country (GAC).

GAC, in collaboration with the artist development company Music Nation, created a nationwide talent search, The Next GAC Star, to find new talent. Talented country singers, both fresh-faced and struggling, can use any number of media to make their voice heard.

The Next GAC Star contest asks aspiring singers to submit videos, MP3s and photographs online. Other singers can record their audition tapes in person by visiting the GAC Summer Tour Bus.

But the contest doesn't just use the Internet to find talent. Online fans will also determine which hopeful wins the title. Internet users will determine eight of the 16 semi-finalists, then select the winner through online voting after watching the contestants on "The Next GAC Star" television series and special.

Says Trahern, "Viewers can upload their favorite performances online in the hopes of seeing themselves on the network and possibly winning it all."

And what does the winner get? A recording deal and a music video that will appear on GAC -; and its Web site.

For more information, visit www.gactv.com/star.