Fun Freetime: KIDZ Star USA Talent Search

KIDZ BOP, the #1 music brand for kids ages 5-12 in the U.S., has partnered with RCA Records and Ben Silverman’s multimedia studio Electus (Fashion Star) to premiere the KIDZ Star USA Talent Search, today across VEVO, the world’s leading all premium music video and entertainment platform. KIDZ Star USA is America’s biggest national talent competition for kids 15 and under. The seven episode web series follows the musical journey of eight KIDZ Star finalists as they compete for an RCA Records recording contract. Two new episodes will premiere every Wednesday leading up to the grand finale event on January 30^th where the new KIDZ Star winner will be announced. Multi-Platinum selling recording artist, Gavin DeGraw, mentors this year’s contestants. Nickelodeon star, Ashley Argota, hosts the series. Click here to watch the first and second episode on VEVO: KIDZ Star USA. 

 

Nearly 50,000 kids from across the country entered the competition by uploading a :90 second performance video to KIDZBOP.com, the leading safe social network and video sharing site for kids and tweens. The KIDZ Star USA web series follows eight talented young performers— Ally Bross (14, Windermere, FL),  Jayna Brown (11, Laurel, MD), Rylie Brown (15, Lees Summit, MO), Kyle Lambdin (13, Leesburg, VA), Lelea Fonua (11, Phoenix, AZ), Dallas McFadden (15, Dallas, TX), Tina Siciliano (12, Lincroft, NJ), and Lauren Taveras (13, Burbank, CA)—on location in Hollywood as they face off in a series of musical challenges to win a RCA Records recording contract.

 

Last year’s grand prize winner, Kiana Brown, released her debut video “HEY CHICA” on RCA Records last summer.  The video debuted on VEVO and has generated over 600,000 views to date.  This past fall, Kiana released several cover videos for her fans totaling over 900,000 views. Her most recent cover video of One Direction’s “Live While We’re Young” has received over 390,000 since it was posted on 11/29. Kiana recently appeared in the 86^th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, performed at several festivals with the KIDZ BOP kids and is currently in the studio recording new music.