Canada’s hunt for the next big musical act is back. And I’m honoured to be one of the judges.
CBC Music’s annual contest, Searchlight 2017, is officially open to submissions. To enter, applicants must submit a video of themselves performing one original song, as well as one high-quality MP3, before the deadline Feb. 7.
Musicians of all types including solo artists, duos and groups from all genres are encouraged to enter the competition, which will eventually come to life on CBC when the top four finalists compete on a live broadcast for the Searchlight title.
This year’s grand prize will include an original song commission for Canada’s 150th anniversary celebration and a two-week song writing residency with a celebrity mentor from the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.
The winner also will have the opportunity to debut the song at the 2017 CBC Music Festival in Toronto, followed by a Searchlight concert with the other top four finalists on July 2 in Ottawa as part of the National Arts Centre’s concert series.
Additional prizes include a Canadian Musician Magazine Career Booster package valued at more than $25,000, provided by media partner Canadian Musician Magazine.
More information and contest guidelines can be found at cbcmusic.ca/searchlight.
