The Unsigned Only Music Competition has announced its 2018 winners. Unsigned Only is open to all artists who are unsigned to a major record label, and over the years it has become an important source for discovering new talent. Since Unsigned Onlys inception in 2012, four Grand Prize winners have been signed to major label record deals.
Winners were selected from over 6,000 entries submitted from 95 countries. One overall Grand Prize winner (as well as a First and Second Place winner in each category) was selected by a prestigious panel of judges comprised of celebrity artists and industry excutives, including: Aimee Mann, Grouplove, O.A.R., Frank Foster, David Crowder, Aaron Shust, Jack Ingram, Lydia Loveless, and many more. Additionally, one artist was selected by an online public vote as the Fandemonium winner.
The 2018 Grand Prize has been awarded to Canadian country artist Eric Ethridge. The past few years have seen Ethridges career gaining momentum; he was mentioned in Rolling Stone, won the CCMA Discovery Program, charted on the Canadian Country charts, and most recently was debuted on SiriusXMs The Highway. His much-anticipated debut EP was released in July of 2018 and peaked at #1 on the iTunes Country chart and #3 on the all-genres chart. His impressive catalogue of material, including the winning song Girl On Fire,” proves that he is an artist who consistently stamps his songs with the same melodic and vocal prowess. A doctor-turned-country-artist, Ethridge has a strong connection with his fans and listeners, evidenced by his songs being streamed over three million times in the short time since the EP was released.
Being named the Grand Prize winner of the 2018 Unsigned Only Music Competition has truly been an incredibly humbling and life changing experience. said Ethridge. This opportunity has truly given me the chance to take my career to the next level and live my passion, and for that, Ill be forever grateful.
In addition to winning $20,000 in cash (US) and $20,000 (US) in merchandise and services, Ethridge also receives one-on-one mentoring from a group of upper-echelon music industry executives, including: Dan Chertoff (VP of A&R, RCA Records); Riggs Morales (VP of A&R and Artist Development, Atlantic Records); Nick Haussling (Sr, Director of A&R, Concord Music); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment); Zoe Young (VP of A&R, Epic Records); Doug Johnson (VP of A&R, Black River Entertainment); and Allison Jones (Sr. VP of A&R, Big Machine Label Group).
Canada has produced many great artists, and this years Grand Prize winner, Eric Ethridge, is its newest artist to emerge on the scene, said UO founders, Candace Avery and Jim Morgan. The Grand Prize winner needs to be an artist who possesses extraordinary talent and is ready to take the next step in his or her career. We are always on the lookout for that artist who not only creates music that will be in demand but also makes music that is enduring. Ethridge embodies these traits, and he is one of the most exciting artists Unsigned Only has been privileged to discover. We are proud to honor him with the 2018 Grand Prize.
The complete panel of 2018 judges includes: Aimee Mann; David Crowder; Frank Foster; Jack Ingram; Aaron Shust; Lydia Loveless; O.A.R.; Grouplove; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine); Anthony DeCurtis (Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone); Lyndsey Parker (Managing Editor, Yahoo Music); Jed Gottlieb (Music & Theater Writer, Boston Herald); Kevin McNeese (President, NewReleaseToday); David Sikorski (Sr. Editor, EARMILK Media Inc.); Hardeep Phull (Music Editor, NY Post); Jeff Zuchowski (VP, Artist Marketing / Industry Relations, Pandora); John Dibiase (President, Jesus Freak Hideout); Miriam Di Nunzio (Arts Editor / Entertainment, Chicago Sun-Times); David Silbaugh (Talent Buyer, Summerfest); Brandon Chitwood (Assistant Director, EDM Joy); Matt Maher (Artist Manager, ROAR Mgmt); Chad Jensen (Artist Manager, Jensen Artist Mgmt); Brinson Strickland (President, Collective Music Nashville); Deborah Klein (JV Partner and Artist Manager, Primary Wave Ent); Chris Sampson (EVP, Programming Superfly Presents); Kristyn Ciani (Talent Buyer, C3 Presents); Alicen Schneider (Sr. VP, Music Creative / NBC Ent); Connie Farr (Music Supervisor / Creative Director, ThinkSync Music); Evan Stein (Owner, Experience Music Group); James Kempner (Owner, JMK Connections); Jennifer Taunton (Music Supervisor, Level Two Music); Jessica Cole (Founder/President, Lyric House); Samantha Carew (Music Creative, Sky TV); and Velma Barkwell (Music Supervisor, East End Music Productions). Unsigned Only is sponsored by: Berklee College of Music; Celebrity Access; DAddario; Eventide; Eventric; Groove 3; Hybrid Studios; Lurssen Mastering; Magix; Merch Cat; Musician Wellness; Musicians Institute; PRA Systems; Pro Tour Nutrition; Radio Airplay; Shure; Symphonic Distribution; The Music Business Registry; and Vocal Eze.
Unsigned Only is now accepting entries for the 2019 competition. This year, Unsigned Only has added five new categories for artists to enter. The complete list of categories includes: AAA (Adult Album Alternative); AC (Adult Contemporary); Americana; Blues; Christian; Country; EDM; Folk/Singer-Songwriter; Instrumental; Jazz; Latin; Pop/Top 40; R&B/Hip-Hop; Rock; Screen Shot (songs suitable for placment in film, tv, etc.); Teen (for artists 18 years old and younger); Vocal Performance; and World Music.
More information can be found at: https://www.unsignedonly.com
2018 UO WINNERS
Grand Prize
Eric Ethridge (Sarnia, ON, Canada) Girl On Fire
AAA (Adult Album Alternative)
First Place- DENNY (Minneapolis, MN, USA) Girls Like You
Second Place- O-SHiN (Berlin, Germany) Aimless
Adult Contemporary (AC)
First Place- Sahara Beck (Fortitude Valley, QLD, Australia) Here We Go Again
Second Place -Da Candy (Kiev, Ukraine) Runaway Ft. Nathaniel
Americana
First Place -Todd Tyler (Aiken, SC, USA) Run
Second Place -Brad Anderson (Manchester, England) Death Do Us Part
Christian
First Place Drew Greenway (Henderson, TN, USA) Walk In The Light
Second Place Dave Pettigrew (Ridgewood, NJ, USA) Undertow
Country
First Place Kaylee Bell (Waimate, New Zealand) Getting Closer
Second Place Virginia Creek (Chincoteague, VA, USA) Kiss Me Sober
EDM
First Place- Reign (Oshawa, ON, Canada) Make Me
Second Place- Pokki DJ (Imperia, Italy) Remember This Night
Folk/Singer-Songwriter
First Place -Leon Of Athens (Athens, Greece) Aeroplane
Second Place- Ezra Vancil (Dallas, TX, USA) Complicated Man
Pop/Top 40
First Place- Adrielle Bow Belle (New York, NY, USA) Runaway
Second Place -Carrie Lane (Montclair, NJ, USA) Drowning
R&B/Hip-Hop
First Place -Denzil Porter (Bronx, NY, USA) Time Soon Come
Second Place -Mayah (Cairns, QLD, Australia) XO Girl
Rock
First Place- The Royal Foundry (Sherwood Park, AB, Canada) Lost In Your Head
Second Place -Glass Mansions (Columbia, SC, USA) Just Friends
Screen Shot
First Place -Big Little Lions (Royston, BC, Canada) Find Your Tribe
Second Place -Jayde (Port Hope, ON, Canada) Perfect Strangers
Teen
First Place -Hailey Belle (Santa Clarita, CA, USA) Fall So Easily
Second Place -Under The Radar (Memphis, TN, USA) Boom
Vocal Performance
First Place -Paul Loren (New York, NY, USA) I Know A Place
Second Place -Elinor Sitrish (Dimona, Israel) One Reason
Fandemonium Winner (winner selected by online public vote)
Haddon Cord (Boise, ID, USA) A Million Songs
https://unsignedonly.com/winners
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