Over the course of nine years, LiVE 88.5 FM put over seven million dollars into the Canadian music scene through the LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot project. This money helped hundreds of artists generate viable careers by means of creating and performing original music. Utilizing Newcap Radio’s unique resources, bands have also been able to leave their basement and hit the main stage.
The program allowed artists to get in front of the best ears in the business. With a combined twelve Grammy and Juno Award nominations, such prized Canadian producers as Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith), Nick Blagona (The Police, Bryan Adams, Tea Party), Gavin Brown (Three Days Grace, Metric, Billy Talent), David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel , Tool, Muse) and Dave Ogilvie (Nine Inch Nails, Motley Crue, Marilyn Manson) have worked with artists to create exceptional recordings.
With a professional recording in hand, Newcap Radio helped present performers to the music industry’s best and brightest by coordinating LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot showcases at such preeminent music festivals as Canadian Music Week and North by Northeast in Toronto and South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. With the help of Newcap Radio, competing artists have been able to perform both across the country and around the world – from Halifax to Victoria, Toronto to Austin, China to Iceland, and Afghanistan to South America.
Not only did Newcap Radio provide financial support, but the contest also brings in experienced luminaries from across the industry to work with competing bands. Judges and consultants for our contest have included leaders from great companies like Universal Music, EMI Music, Warner Music,Sony Music, Maple Music, The Agency Group, SL Feldman, Arts & Crafts, Dine Alone Records, Last Gang Records and Coalition Management.
An additional benefit to the program was the fact that Newcap radio owns stations across Canada. Newcap Radio has added 10 artists in full rotation and 100 artists in feature spins on its radio stations, putting unsigned Canadian artists next to the world’s best bands like U2, Nirvana, Kings of Leon and The Black Keys.
The LiVE 88.5 Big Money Shot combined money, expertise and radio to launch the next great artists.
Here are just a few of our past winners:
Hollerado
Amos the Transparent
The Balconies
Cannons
My Favourite Tragedy
Amanda Rheaume
The Goodluck Assembly
Loudlove
The Cardboard Crowns
Rebelle
The Lionyls