Pioneering, chart topping producer Paul Hardcastle, launches a £100,000 prize to win a recording contract with his new label NUA Entertainment via a UK wide talent search with Radio network UTV Media (GB)
UTV Media (GB) and NUA Entertainment have joined forces in a new venture to find the next big singing sensation. The winner will be awarded a recording contract worth £100,000, which will include an advance, recording costs, marketing, videos and promotional costs. The first single from the winner will be released before the end of the year and be added to the UTV Media stations playlists.
Starting on May 27, listeners will be invited to submit demos to their local UTV station’s website, and executives from both companies will choose the best ones to go forward to regional heats. From there, finalists will be chosen to perform in front of a judging panelmade up of industry experts.
NUA Entertainment’s chairman, Ivor Novello winning and Grammy nominated musician Paul Hardcastle, says: “I’m really looking forward to seeing the performances at the judging stages which I feel sure, with UTV’s involvement, will be of a high quality.”
Hardcastle, had the ground breaking international number one hit single ‘19’, which launched the media empire of Simon Fuller and eventually led to American Idol – he has continued to have a prolific and successful recording career in the US, winning countless awards for his Jazz Master Series. Paul joined the newly formed NUA Entertainment label earlier this year to take up an A&R and label management role.
NUA’s co founder, the highly successful international entrepreneur Neil Utley, who created the Hastings Insurance Group and recently purchased Victoria and David’s Beckingham Palace is looking forward to bringing his business expertise into this exciting project.
Terry Underhill, Group Programme Director for UTV Media local stations, said: “This is the biggest prize that UTV’s local stations have ever given away and we know our talented listeners will be really keen to win it.”
UTV Media (GB)’s local stations are Juice FM in Liverpool, The Pulse 1 and 2 in Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale, Signal 1 and 2 Staffordshire and Cheshire, Swansea Sound and The Wave in South Wales, Peak FM in North Derbyshire, Radio wave in Blackpool, Tower FM in Bolton and Bury, Wire FM in Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn, Wish FM in Wigan and St Helens, and Signal 107 in Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Kidderminster.
