NEW
YORK (MTV) Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, the man responsible for the careers
of some of the biggest female artists of our generation, including Mary
J. Blige,
Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott, announced that he has
reunited with MTV:
Music Television to create the greatest all girl
group ever produced for "Making the Band." The season premieres on
Thursday, March 3rd at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) and will chronicle Combs
applying his "golden touch" as he forms and develops his all new girl
pop group.
Under Combs' masterful eye, 19 of America's most
talented females have been chosen to live together in a loft in New
York City's Soho to compete for their lifelong dream to become pop
stars. Living and auditioning under fierce competition, the girls are
judged based on their dancing ability, vocal talent, star power and
willingness to be part of a group. With no advance notice of when the
dreaded cuts will occur or when P.
Diddy may spontaneously drop by, the
girls face an uncertain future and find out that it takes sweat and
tears to reach the high standards that Combs demands from all his
artists.
"I
take pride in being a starmaker and having had the chance to work with
the biggest and most successful women in the music industry. But there
is nothing like finding and nurturing new talent and watching their
rise to fame," said Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
"In the last season
of 'Making the Band,' we watched the members of the hip hop group Da
Band struggle under P. Diddy's tight supervision until the group was
ultimately disbanded," said Lois Curren, Executive Vice President, MTV
Series Entertainment "This new season brings us a completely different
dynamic as P.
Diddy sets out to form a pop group and the drama is sure
to ensue with 19 girls living under one roof and fighting for a chance
of a lifetime. "
The last season of "Making the Band II," was
watched by more than 40 million viewers, and ranked number one in its
time period vs. all basic cable among P12-34.
Background on the judges follows:
Sean "P. Diddy" Combs
Mr.
Combs' has established himself as a music pioneer, producing
chart-dominating hits for superstar artists like Aretha Franklin,
Sting,
Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige,
Jennifer Lopez and Notorious
B.I.G. As a solo artist and performer, he's released four
multi-platinum albums and is a three-time Grammy Award winner. In
addition to music, Combs has broadened the Bad Boy brand to encompass
publishing, management, marketing and advertising, films, restaurants
and the highly successful Sean John clothing line, which won him CFDA's
Perry Ellis Menswear Designer of the Year Award last year. Mr. Combs
was named one of Time & CNN's "25 Global Business Influentials of
2004" and recently appeared in the Tony-Award winning production of a
"Raisin in the Sun" on Broadway.
Johnny Wright
Mr.
Wright is the founder of Wright Entertainment Group (WEG) and is best
known for managing the careers of many of today's chart toppers
including NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears,
BoyzIIMen,
Christina Milian, and Nick Cannon.
Laurie Ann Gibson
Ms.
Gibson is one of the most sought after choreographers in the
entertainment industry, and has more than four-dozen videos and
televised shows under her belt. Through her dedication, unique style
and skill, she has helped transform artists including
Mary J. Blige and
Brandy into superstars.
Doc Holiday
Doc Holiday's
methods have been taught and employed by some of the biggest names in
music including Britney Spears, Brandy, O-Town,
Tyrese and the
Backstreet Boys. Doc has earned a reputation for his unique ability to
motivate and mold young artists. His creative talents as a songwriter
and producer have made him one of the most sought after vocal coaches
in the industry.
Phil Robinson
Mr. Robinson has guided
the personal management of Sean "P.Diddy" Combs for the last four years
and has been a master at building superstar careers for the last 10
years. He counts Magic Johnson, Jay-Z,
Mary J. Blige and
Usher as
clients that he has consulted with in the last year.