Oh look! Another TV music competition! This one will air on the USA network and will feature country music. Helmed by country stars Shania Twain and Jake Owen, there’s no voting, and it seems like the winner(s) don’t actually win anything. “A chance to be country music’s next breakout star” whatever that means… Oh. There is a possible cash prize.
- Singers will not be asked to sign a record label, a publishing deal or Management deal; they can have pre-existing songwriting and recording contracts, management or other representation.
- Performances will have award show level production and sound.
- The acts on the show can be individual singers or groups of vocal performers (e.g., duos or trios), but no bands, please.
Here’s the press announcement.
USA Network today announced Real Country, a new country music showcase series featuring multi-platinum, five-time GRAMMY Award®-winning trailblazer Shania Twain, and ACM Award-winning and platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jake Owen. Premiering this fall on USA, the eight-part Real Country will film this summer in Nashville and is produced by Wilshire Studios, with Twain, Nicolle Yaron, Stijn Bakkers and Leslie Garvin set to executive produce.
In each hour-long episode, Twain and Owen hand-select emerging solo artists, duos and groups to perform in showcases that spotlight the rich traditions, songs and themes of specific country genres. The best artists from each showcase will perform in a grand finale, for the chance to be named one of country music’s next breakout acts.
“Real Country celebrates everything we love about country music, while providing a unique platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent,” said Heather Olander, Senior Vice President, Alternative Development and Production, USA Network. She added: “We are extremely lucky to work with both Shania and Jake. Shania is a true international icon who remains the best-selling female country artist of all time and whose music broke barriers across genres, and Jake is an ACM Award-winner who consistently dominates the country charts with some of today’s biggest hits.”
Twain shared: “It’s been an incredible year for me, releasing my new album and coming back to country music. I feel it’s time for me to add my own support in finding our greatest undiscovered talent. It’s beyond thrilling to be leading the charge with Real Country and I’m on a mission to find artists who will keep country music diverse and dynamic. The kind of diversity that inspired all of us.”
Added Owen: “Country music truly seems to be the healing factor in a lot of people’s lives. I will always be grateful for music, whether I’m performing or listening, and I want to encourage up-and-coming artists to tell their stories, find their audiences and make their mark in country music with the same guidance that artists have given to me throughout my journey.”
Anyone interested in being invited to perform on one of REAL COUNTRY’s showcases can apply at http://realcountry.castingcrane.com or via email at RealCountry@castingduo.com.
