After spending a few months in beta, growing online talent community OurStage has officially launched. An online American Idol without the biting criticism, the site serves as a portal for musicians and filmmakers looking to attract industry exposure. Songs and films are put in a series of four one-on-one competitions, with winners selected through a democratic voting process, open to anyone, that determines who proceeds to the final competition at the end of the month. Competition winners receive $100, and grand prize winners who float to the top of their respective categories each receive $5,000 cash prizes.
In conjunction with its official launch, OurStage also recently introduced Artist Access, a mentor program for the site’s top-ranking artists to receive advice from, and even get the opportunity to work with, big name musicians and filmmakers, such as John Legend, John Cameron Mitchell and David Burke. While MySpace Music will likely continue to be the premier venue for aspiring artists looking for exposure, OurStage’s financial incentives and industry connections may lure in some of the same users.
