Looking Back at Essence & Pebblesโ Unforgettable Search for โThe Next R&B Starโ
As we reminisce about the past few years in the music industry, one event stands out vividly โ The โNext R&B Starโ Launch Party hosted by ESSENCE.com and Grammy nominated, platinum recording artist Pebbles. This remarkable talent competition back in 2011 sought to discover and elevate fresh R&B talent. The winner would receive an artist management contract with music industry veteran Kevin Lilesโ KWL Enterprises, a feature in an ESSENCE issue, and an incredible chance to perform at the 2011 Essence Music Festival. Letโs take a walk down memory lane and revisit the highlights of this groundbreaking event.
Pebbles and Liles, both revered figures in the music industry, leveraged their expertise in talent development to create this unique platform. The competition kicked off in Atlanta with a private celebration attended by the cityโs most influential tastemakers.
The Audition Process
The Essence R&B Star competition held live auditions in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City, with surprise celebrity judges and online submissions. By May, judges had narrowed the field to six contestants who then embarked on a week-long artist boot camp in Atlanta.
The Final Stretch
Three finalists were chosen to take the final journey to New Orleans to the Festival. Over three days, attendees and essence.com readers cast their votes for the final winner, who was announced at the Convention Center, followed by an exclusive performance that Sunday night.
Reliving the Journey
The exciting journey of ESSENCE Presents: R&B Star unfolded online, featuring photo galleries, interactive webisodes, judgesโ commentary, boot camp highlights and the finale performance. Looking back, this event truly marked a pivotal moment in the music industry, setting the standard for talent competitions to come.
As we continue to celebrate black music and its undeniable talent, we look forward to more events that embody the spirit of this unforgettable competition.
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