Psst! Wanna Be A Star? Season 2 Of The Launch Is Open For Casting
Hot on the heels of a breakthrough inaugural season that delivered a series of consecutive #1 hit songs, amassing more than 12 million streams internationally – and triggering one certified platinum single – CTV has announced that casting for Season 2 of its original hit series is open today.
By External Source
Hot on the heels of a breakthrough inaugural season that delivered a series of consecutive #1 hit songs, amassing more than 12 million streams internationally – and triggering one certified platinum single – CTV has announced that casting for Season 2 of its original hit series The Launch is open today.
Production of the original series, a new format that garnered an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT), is set to begin filming once again in Toronto this fall for the 2018/19 season.
Aspiring stars can prep their auditions for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in music and to record a new original song written by some of the best songwriters in the world.
The deadline for submission is Monday, June 11 at 11:59 pm ET. For all casting details and updates, including instructions on how to apply, fans can visit CTV.ca/TheLaunch, the CTV Facebook Page, and follow @TheLaunchCTV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“As The Launch continues to attract attention around the world, we’re thrilled to be back in production with this unique Canadian format,” says Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media and Executive Producer of the hit show. “We can’t wait to discover the next group of hit-making artists in Season 2.”
“As the media landscape continues to change ever so rapidly, some things never change as innovation, proof of concept, great talent, great songs and great story-telling are cornerstones to great opportunity and great entertainment,” co-creator and executive producer Scott Borchetta, founder/President/CEO of the Big Machine Label Group, chimes in. “The first season provided all of that, and I can’t wait to meet the next wave of incredible talent to take on Season 2!”
Among the 30 artists cast to appear in last season, the series’ six singles by chosen artists continue to hit the high notes with audiences across Canada and around the world:
· Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine’s “Ain’t Easy” was certified Platinum in Canada in early May and is still growing in popularity among listening audiences. The pop/jazz/hip-hop/R&B duo are slated to perform at the Sony Pictures Television Upfront event in Hollywood later this month.
· The first four singles from series 1 chosen artists (POESY’s “Soldier of Love”, Logan Staats “The Lucky Ones”, Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine’s “Ain’t Easy”, and The Static Shift’s “Wide Awake”) rocketed to #1 on iTunes Canada immediately following release.
· The sixth and final single, “Giants” from 13-year-old Toronto resident Ethan Young, vaulted into the Top 5 on iTunes’ pop chart and Top 10 in all genres following release, while Jayd Ink’s “Codes” debuted at #7 on iTunes’ pop chart.
· Breakout artists from Season 1 have secured single representation deals with Big Machine Label Group, including Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, The Static Shift, Logan Staats, POESY, and Ethan Young
· In addition, Episode 1 shortlisted aspiring artist Vivian Hicks was officially signed to a development deal with Big Machine Label Group in April 2018, with artist Zack Lane also optioned to a single deal.
All songs released have surpassed close to 12 million streams internationally to date.
Reinventing the music television series genre, in each stand-alone episode, unsigned emerging artists audition for the opportunity to learn, record and perform their version of a new original song by a world-famous songwriter/producer. The artists are mentored by a panel of internationally renowned music industry legends, who then decide which version of the song will be released across the country immediately following the broadcast of the episode each week.
A roster of musical A-listers joined Borchetta as mentors in Season 1, including international Shania Twain, Culture Club’s Boy George, Fergie, Alessia Cara, Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx, Grammy-nominated Best New Artist of the Year Julia Michaels, and Sugarland co-founder Jennifer Nettles.
Award-winning producers/songwriters cast alongside Borchetta in the breakout season included OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, busbee (P!nk, Shakira, Blake Shelton), Dann Huff (producer behind more than 50 #1 hit records ), Grammy-nominated record producer Ian Kirkpatrick (behind multi-platinum hit songs from Jason Derulo and Selena Gomez), and Oscar and Grammy-nominated producer Stephan Moccio, the music mastermind behind hits like the quintuple-platinum “Wrecking Ball”.
The Launch format was put into development in January 2016 and was co-developed by Randy Lennox and Bell Media in association with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group, and Paul Franklin of Eureka (Masterchef, the Biggest Loser), in partnership with John Brunton and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions.
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