YouTube Goes Underground for Music Talent

YouTube is holding a talent contest - called The YouTube Underground - to try to find the most entertaining and creative unsigned artists in the United States.

Think you have what it takes to be a rock star? Think you have what it takes to make a splash on YouTube? Then you’ll want to know about The YouTube Underground, a new talen contenst being held by YouTube and sponsored by Cingular Wireless.

Here’s the idea: unsigned bands and musicians can submit their original videos from October 2 to October 18, 2006. The YouTube user community will vote to select the finalist, and Chop Shop Music Supervision founder Alexandra Patsavas will select the winners for best song, best music video, best live performance, and best creative work. (Chop Shop does music supervisor work for hit dramas like The O.C.,Rescue Me,Grey’s Anatomy,Without a Trace, etc.).

What do winners receive, besides the idolation of the scintillating YouTube community? A roundtrip ticket to New York City for the top four bands (including a live spot on ABC’s Good Morning America), new music gear from Gibson and Epiphone, use of the Gibson Guitar tour bus while in NYC, a photo shoot for a “top” music publication, and—of course!—your video pimped to the YouTube community. There are also shots at placement through Chop Shop, a ringtone deal with Cingular, and maybe a live gig in NYC…but they aren’t exactly promising.

“We strive to find unique ways to help our community be recognized and this promotion is the first of many such online events. Becoming a part of The YouTube Underground will help the independent musicians that broadcast to the YouTube community rise up and be discovered as some of the greatest music talents today,” said Julie Supan, senior director of marketing at YouTube, in a release. “We are excited to partner with Chop Shop Music Supervision, Cingular Wireless, Gibson Guitar and ABC’s Good Morning America to reward the four winning bands. Through video they have a new opportunity to connect in an intimate and personal way with their fans to build and grow their audiences virally on YouTube.”

Each video entry has to contain a complete song, and all contestants have to be U.S. residents. Hurry up now, the deadline is just weeks away.