New York, NY (TOP40 Charts/ KIDZ BOP) -- KIDZ BOP, the #1 kids' music brand in the US, today announced the launch of the first annual KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, a national talent competition for kids and teens ages 15 and under. The online talent search is hosted on KIDZ BOP's leading social networking and video sharing website and gives aspiring young singers a shot at fame, right from home.
Now through August 31st, kids can upload a :90 second performance video to KidzStarUSA.com to compete for a chance to win a recording contract, a starring role in their own music video and a special appearance in the next KIDZ BOP TV commercial. A panel of celebrity judges, including Jason Castro, American Idol semi-finalist and Atlantic recording artist, and Sherry Kondor, award-winning pop music producer and manager of artists such as Jesse McCartney, will mentor the contestants and help select the winners. Additional Judges will be announced shortly. Fans will also have the opportunity to vote online for their favorites to help determine the semi-finalists and grand prize winner. In the first weeks of competition, almost 10,000 kids have submitted video entries to KIDZ Star USA.
"With the success of shows like 'American Idol' and 'America's Got Talent,' millions of today's kids dream of sharing the spotlight and becoming a star, but there is no major talent search designed specifically to showcase talented young performers," said KIDZ BOP Co-Founder, Cliff Chenfeld. Craig Balsam, Co-Founder of KIDZ BOP, added, "KIDZ Star USA gives kids across the country an extraordinary opportunity to be seen by millions and compete for the prize of a lifetime, a recording contract."
Fans can follow the contestants' audition videos and progress online at KidzStarUSA.com and watch weekly KIDZ Star USA webisodes, including contestant highlights, audition tips and celebrity judge comments. The three KIDZ Star USA finalists will be flown to New York City where they will receive a superstar makeover and perform a song that will be professionally recorded. The final fan voting period runs from October 19�28 and determines the winner of the recording contract. A special finale web event featuring the three finalists and celebrity judges will be broadcast online at the end of October.
Judges
Jason Castro: With his rich tenor voice, distinctive looks, and endearingly innocent charm, Jason Castro won over millions of viewers as a contestant on the seventh season of American Idol, parlaying his substantial singer-songwriter appeal into a third-place runner-up finish. He may not have won the competition, but the 23-year-old Texan earned himself a devoted fan base. Castro's critically-acclaimed self-titled debut album was released this April on Atlantic records. Jason is currently touring the country with his band, and has a live EP coming this fall.
Sherry Kondor: With pop music running through her veins, Sherry Kondor first appeared on a top 10 song when she was a kid, singing backgrounds with her mom, Grammy Award-winning singer / songwriter Carole King, on the hit single "Nightingale." "I get the musical ear from my mom, and my work obsession from my dad [songwriter Gerry Goffin]." Later she became a jingle singer, and created a niche for herself developing young singers for her own children's record label, discovering future stars including her most successful find, Jesse McCartney. She produced his career-launching song, "Beautiful Soul," and continues to work with McCartney as manager and executive producer. "There are singers and there are stars. When I look at talent I look for a whole package. Once you know they can sing, the questions are, 'do they interest me, are they musical, are they special in some way?'"
Additional judges are expected to be announced shortly.
