Open Mic UK is a live music competition for singers, vocalists and solo artists run by Future Music Management[2] in the UK. Competitors compete at regional auditions to qualify to perform live at live music showcases and reach an annual national final, which is held at Indigo at The O2 complex in London and The National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.[3][4] The event, which offers a recording contract and investment to the final winner, was described by Joel James of BBC York & North Yorkshire as "one of the toughest competitions in the country."[5]
According to its organizers, Open Mic UK is the largest music search in the United Kingdom for vocal groups and solo artists.[6] The competition was originally devised by Chris Grayston as a spin-off from the Live and Unsigned competition as a result of the high number of solo singers and vocalist entrants to that competition, who were without their songs.[7] Entrants compete in a series of local and regional heats to qualify to perform at the National Grand Final, and the chosen acts in each category compete at the final event.[8] The competition attracts around 10,000 competing acts each year,[8][9] but in recent years has substantially grown; with an estimated 12,000 acts set to compete in 2015.[1][10][11] Between 2013 and 2020, UK video production company HNE Media filmed the UK-wide competitions.
Winner Hatty Keane (third from right) with 2010 judges
Singers, rappers, groups, and acoustic singer/songwriters of all genres are accepted as competitors. The competition used to be divided into three age categories; 16 and under, 17–23, and 23 and over.[8][9] However, since the 2013 competition these age categories have changed to Under 16, 16 to 20 and 21 and over.[16]
Judging
Acts can perform either covers or their own original material live, and demos and recorded material are not accepted.[9] Judges from the music industry, celebrities and record labels score all performances on the basis of vocal/musical talent, stage performance, star quality, and individuality, and the winning acts in the age categories must earn the most points from judges. An audience vote is also held in order to aid those in the judges' top scores to make it to the next round of the competition.[8]
Prizes
Each year the different category winners are invited to go on the Open Mic UK Tour, performing up to 100 different gigs across the United Kingdom.[9] Other regular prizes include master classes and a music video.[17]
The annual grand prize for winning the overall competition includes a management deal and an investment. In 2009, this included recording an album in professional studios with an industry vocal specialist.[9] The winner also received a £25,000 investment, a recording contract and a management deal.[5][8][18] In 2010, there was an overall £50,000 pool of prizes for winners, with a grand prize investment of up to £30,000. the prize was the same for the 2011 & 2012 competitions.[19]
Since the 2013 competition, the main prize has been £5,000 for the winner to spend on music development, as well as an extensive publicity & development package.[20] In addition to giving all acts feedback from the judges,[21] the competition also awards prizes across the board regionally; including recording studio time[22] and singing lessons.[23]
Annual competitions
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2019)
2008
The first Open Mic UK took place in 2008. After a series of localized and regional finals, the National Grand Final took place at the Portsmouth Guildhall on 29 November 2008.[24]
The 12-year-old singer/songwriter Birdy won both the under 18s category and the overall contest.[24] She performed her own song at the competition called "So Be Free" in front of 2,000 people, both singing and playing keyboard.[25] Her prize was to record her album in a studio, and she subsequently signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. In 2011, her version of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" reached the top twenty of the UK music charts.[26] The single entered the UK Singles Chart Top 40 on 13 March 2011[27] at number 25 and in the same week reached number 10 on iTunes' UK singles chart.[28]
Among the performers at the National Grand Final were Vicky Gladwin,[7] Heath Lanzillotti, and Lisa Crawford.[5][18] Sixteen-year-old pianist and singer Megan Thomas was unanimously voted the winner of the Under-18 category in the North Grand Final,[30] and soprano Kirsty Michele Anderson, an 18-year-old from Hinckley, won her age category as well,[8][31] with the Over 25 North Final being won by Paul Speak-Heaton. Anderson later went on to perform at Walkers Stadium on Boxing Day,[32] and in April 2010 became the youngest soprano in history to play Mimì in Puccini's operaLa bohème.[33][34] The South Grand Final winners were Londonbusker Jon Curtis who won the over 25-category, Luke Banot who took the 18-24 category, and Under 18 winner Esther Boxell. The Overall winner of Open Mic UK 2009 was the singer/songwriter Luke Banot.[7]
In 2010, the regional finals again took place throughout the United Kingdom in October.[19][35] The National Grand Final was an all-day event on 15 January 2011 at The O2's indigO2 venue in London.[6]
Among the final participants were Katie Benbow of Dyserth.[17]Hatty Keane from Macclesfield was the winner of the Under-18 category, and 12 years young Rosanne Hamilton runner up. Hatty was crowned the overall runner-up.[1] Keane afterwards signed with Future Music and the music company BGM,[36] and later toured as the support for Britain's Got Talent 2010 winners Spelbound.[37] She counts names such as Taio Cruz and producer Deejay amongst her fans.[1] The overall winner was Fran Classic, who also won the 18-25 category.[38] Since winning her category, Hatty Keane has gone on to secure a management contract with BGM (Baby Girl Music).[39]
2011
The 2011 final took place on 22 January 2012 at the Indigo2.[40] A 16 year old MC named Shak from Coulsdon[41] won both the under-16 category and was named overall winner.[42] He performed a version of Mac Miller's "Best Day Ever"[43] and was given a recording contract for a single[10][44][45] and a development contract with Future Music.[40][46] Shak also won the award for the Urban Pop genre, which was selected by Flavour Magazine.[47]
Sham from Brixton won the 17-22 category, and Sheena McHugh from Coalville won the 23 and over category.[40][42][43] Runner-ups included Vicky Turner, Tayla-Blue, and Quackhouse, from youngest to oldest. Caroline Eve and Karla Bernardi won Exposure Awards, and won studio time. Beth Penrose won the MUZU exposure award, and was given resources to shoot a music video.[47]
The 2011 Open Mic UK competition also saw a very young Lauren Thalia go far in the contest[48] who later got to the Grand Final of ITV’s Britain's Got Talent (series 6) show receiving over 2 million views on YouTube.[49]
Also making a second appearance in the Open Mic UK competition in 2011 was The X Factor (UK TV series)' runner up Jahméne Douglas who won his Bristol Regional Final only to get a bout of nerves in his Area Final.[15]
Siana Open Mic UK winner 2012
2012
The 2012 Grand Final took place in January 2013 at the Indigo2[50] after auditions started in August that year.[51] The tour guest act was Lucy Spraggan[14] and was the most searched musician on Google in 2012.[52]
The overall winner was Siana Schofield[50] who went on to have success in series ten of the X Factor later that year.[53] Siana first won her category in the Under-16s.
Shaz Rahman won the 17-20 and Rickey & The Hats won the 21 & Over category.[50]
2013 was the first year that the National Grand Final took place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham[60] and was also the first time that the winning act came from the highest age category; with 28-year-old Heidi Browne from Shropshire taking the overall title.[60][61]
The Open Mic UK Grand Final took place at The NEC in Birmingham and gave acts the chance to perform in front of a music industry judging panel which included record label representatives from Sony and Universal. All acts were competing for the title of ‘Open Mic UK Champion 2014’.[72]
South and City's music department is the latest to produce an award-winning student, as Richard Jones won the Open Mic UK music competition for 2014.
Richard Jones was crowned champion in front of a capacity crowd and a prestigious music industry judging panel at The NEC in Birmingham. His original song called "Temptation" won over the competition industry judges making him the overall winner of Open Mic UK.[73] Tom Auton won the under 16’s age category and later that year went on to win the Future Music Songwriting competition at Dingwall’s in Camden.[74]
The 2015 Open Mic UK Grand Final took place in January 2016 at The NEC in Birmingham.
15-year-old Lola Young from South London was crowned Open Mic UK winner for 2015, fending off stiff competition from artists across various age categories. It marked a huge personal achievement for the young singer-songwriter, who had entered the competition numerous times previous, including running off stage in tears in her earlier years.[76] Lola attends the Brit School who are no strangers to having successful pupils with acts such as Adele and Jessie J and Lola also recently appeared on CBBC show Got What It Takes?. Lola's original song called "Never Enough" won over the competition industry judges making her the overall winner of Open Mic UK.[77]
2016
The Open Mic UK 2016 Grand Final was held at The NEC in Birmingham. The overall winner of the competition was Sam Clines, who won recording studio time to record their album and a video of the best single plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company.[78]
The Open Mic UK 2017 Grand Final was held at The NEC in Birmingham on Saturday 20 January. James Neilson was the overall winner, and he was awarded recording studio time to record his album and a video of his best single plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company.[79]
The judging panel included; platinum selling artist Dane Bowers. Celebrity vocal coach and TV judge CeCe Sammy, who has worked with celebrities such as Diana Ross, Simon Cowell, Will Young, and Leona Lewis. Head of talent at Syco Music Barney Addison. Preye Crooks from Columbia Records. James Ellett from Modest Management. Head examiner at RockSchool (RSL) Stuart Slater[80] and Head of Future Music and responsible for discovering Birdy (singer), Lucy Spraggan, Luke Friend, Chris Grayston.[79]
Open Mic UK 2018 winner Reuel Elijah
2018
The Open Mic UK 2018 Grand Final was held at indigo at The O2 in London on Sunday 20 January. Reuel Elijah was the overall winner of the music competition, receiving studio time to record his album and a video of the best single, plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company.[81]
The 2018 judging panel included; celebrity vocal coach and TV judge CeCe Sammy, who has worked with celebrities such as Diana Ross, Simon Cowell, Will Young, and Leona Lewis. James Ellett from Modest Management. Head of talent at Syco Music Barney Addison. Jayne Collins, Artist Manager and founder of the very successful pop groups, including The Wanted and The Saturdays. James Sinclair, A&R Manager at Atlantic Records and A&R Manager Leon Haynes of Polydor Records, whose artists have included Girls Aloud, The Saturdays, Take That and Ellie Goulding. Lawrence Hobbs, producer and songwriter signed to Notting Hill and 23rd Precinct Music, and Head of Future Music and responsible for discovering Birdy (singer), Lucy Spraggan, Luke Friend, Chris Grayston.[81]
Overall winner of the music competition, receiving studio time to record her album and a video of the best single, plus extensive media promotion from a professional PR company and a one on one vocal technique session with celebrity vocal coach CeCe Sammy.
The 2019 judging panel included; BAFTA award-winning presenter and vocalist Carrie Grant, A&R Manager Leon Haynes of Polydor Records, whose artists have included Lana Del Rey, Billie Eilish and Ellie Goulding, Capital Xtra DJ Ras Kwame, singer, songwriter and producer, Suzanna Dee and Head of Future Music and responsible for discovering Birdy (singer), Lucy Spraggan, Luke Friend and more Chris Grayston.[81]
Overall winners
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2019)
The X Factor is an Australian television reality music competition, based on the original UK series, to find new singing talent. The first season of the show premiered on Network Ten on 6 February 2005. Ten dropped The X Factor after the first season due to its poor ratings. In 2010, the Seven Network won the rights to the show, and a second season went into production. The X Factor was renewed after the highly successful Australian Idol was no longer broadcast on Network Ten. The X Factor was produced by FremantleMedia Australia, and was broadcast on the Seven Network in Australia and on TV3 in New Zealand. The program was cancelled after its eighth season in 2016.
BBC Young Musician is a televised national music competition broadcast biennially on BBC Television and BBC Radio 3. Originally BBC Young Musician of the Year, its name was changed in 2010.
A music competition is a public event designed to identify and award outstanding musical ensembles, soloists, composers, conductors, musicologists or compositions. Pop music competitions are music competitions which are held to find pop starlets.
The X Factor is a British reality television music competition, and part of the global X Factor franchise created by Simon Cowell. Premiering on 4 September 2004, it was produced by Fremantle's British entertainment company, Thames, and Cowell's production company Syco Entertainment for ITV, as well as simulcast on Virgin Media One in Ireland. The programme ran for around 445 episodes across fifteen series, each one primarily broadcast late in the year, until its final episode in December 2018. The majority of episodes were presented by Dermot O'Leary, with some exceptions: the first three series were hosted by Kate Thornton; while Caroline Flack and Olly Murs hosted the show for the twelfth series.
The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) was a contest sponsored by Amazon.com, Penguin Group, Hewlett Packard, CreateSpace and BookSurge to publish and promote a manuscript by an unknown or unpublished author. The first award was given in 2008 and in 2015 Amazon announced that they would not be continuing the award and would instead focus on the Kindle Scout program.
Got to Dance, originally titled Just Dance, is a British dance competition that was broadcast on Sky 1 in the United Kingdom from 20 December 2009 to 28 December 2014. Auditions for the show were held in specially built "Dance Domes" and are open to all dance acts of any age, style or size but must be of an amateur level.
Live and Unsigned is a music competition in the United Kingdom for unsigned bands and vocal groups to perform live for substantial prizes. It was founded 2007, and has attracted over 40,000 entrants annually since its inception. Competitors perform in their own genre and style to a paying audience and judging panel. The competition tours the UK holding auditions and finals in various areas and regions, and the Grand National Final is held in London The O2 in London being the last used.
Jasmine Lucilla Elizabeth Jennifer van den Bogaerde, better known by her stage name Birdy, is a British singer-songwriter. She won the music competition Open Mic UK in 2008, at the age of 12.
"Skinny Love" is a song written by American musician and songwriter Justin Vernon. It was originally released by indie folk band Bon Iver, of which Vernon is a member, in 2007. A cover version by the British vocalist Birdy was released in 2011. Both versions charted internationally and have been featured in multiple television and film soundtracks. The song has since become a popular tune for various singing competition shows around the English-speaking world.
Chris Grayston is an English music promoter, event organizer, record producer, musician, label owner and talent scout. He is currently employed as a music consultant including working for acts and record labels.
Live Fest is a bi-annual music festival held at The O2 in London. According to its organizers, it is the largest indoor music festival in the United Kingdom. In the first festival on 23 July 2011, some of the headlining acts included Zane Lowe, Tinchy Stryder, Roll Deep, The Hoosiers, and Funeral for a Friend. Prominent genres of music at the festival include urban, pop, rock, and indie.
English musician Birdy has released five studio albums, four extended plays, fifteen singles and six music videos in MP3 format. She began her career at the age of 12 when she won the Open Mic UK music competition, singing "So Be Free", a song she composed herself. The competition brought Birdy to the attention of 14th Floor Records, which signed her in 2008.
The X Factor Philippines is a Philippine television reality competition show broadcast by ABS-CBN. The show is based of British reality television series of the same title. Hosted by KC Concepcion, it aired on the network's Yes Weekend evening lineup from June 23 to October 14, 2012, replacing Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4.
Hatty Keane is an English singer-songwriter.
The X Factor also known as The X Factor USA, is an American reality television music competition show created by Simon Cowell and produced by FremantleMedia North America and SYCOtv, a partnership between Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, which aired on Fox. Based on the original UK show, and an addition to The X Factor franchise, the series found new singing talent, drawn from public auditions, and they competed against each other for votes. The winners were determined by the show's viewers via telephone, the Internet, and SMS text voting, and were awarded a recording contract with Cowell's record label Syco Music, worth $5 million in seasons one and two, and $1 million in season three. America voted for the following winners: Melanie Amaro, Tate Stevens, and Alex & Sierra, respectively.
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The ninth series began airing on ITV on 18 August 2012 and ended on 9 December 2012. Dermot O'Leary returned as presenter of the main show on ITV, whilst Caroline Flack and Olly Murs returned to co-present The Xtra Factor on ITV2. Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Tulisa returned as judges. Nicole Scherzinger was confirmed as the fourth permanent judge after Geri Halliwell, Leona Lewis, Rita Ora, Mel B, Anastacia and Scherzinger herself stood in as guest judges for the vacant position left by Kelly Rowland. After the show of 8 December, two of Scherzinger's acts, James Arthur and Jahméne Douglas, became the top two, meaning that Scherzinger was guaranteed to win. Arthur was announced as the winner on 9 December, and released a cover of Shontelle's "Impossible" as his winner's song. As of 2016, it is the most successful winner's single in the show's history.
Lucy Honour Ruby Spraggan is an English singer-songwriter. Spraggan was a contestant on The X Factor in 2012, and she was the first contestant in the show's history to score a Top 40 single and album before the live shows aired, with her independently released album Top Room at the Zoo. Following the show Spraggan signed a recording contract with Columbia Records, and she has released seven studio albums in total.
Jackie Thomas is a New Zealand singer who won the first New Zealand season of The X Factor in 2013. Competing in the Girls category, she was mentored in the series by Daniel Bedingfield. Her winner's single "It's Worth It" was released on 22 July 2013 and debuted at number one on the New Zealand Music Charts. The song became certified Gold in its first week and eventually reached Platinum by its third week.
TeenStar is a singing competition in the United Kingdom, it is run by Future Music. The competition is open for singers, vocalists and solo artists to enter either in their teenage or pre teen years. Participants compete in regional auditions to get the chance to perform at live music showcases to reach an annual national final. The first Grand Final in 2013 was held at the indigo at The O2 in London, and more recently at The NEC in Birmingham, The Beck Theatre in Hayes, and in 2019 the competition returned to The O2.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
