WEEK-BY-WEEK BREAKDOWN

WEEK ONE:

• The audience gets to "Meet The Judges" and learns of the acts/songs they have produced over their careers.
• One songwriter after another performs their "best song" for the judges knowing that if they proceed in the contest to become a "finalist" that the song will be recorded.
• The Judges vote on a scale of 1 to 10 on the quality of each song. If the songwriter is ultimately selected, the song is one of FOUR they will record for the program. This way, the audience gets to hear and become familiar with the song(s) for the first time in a "naked" format of the songwriter performing on guitar or piano accompaniment only.
• At the end of the program — based on the Judges votes — 24 contestants will be selected to come back for Week Two.

WEEK TWO:

• RECAP: The previous weeks' songs will be re-played so the viewing audience becomes more and more familiar with the songs.
• The 24 selected songwriters play a SECOND song for the judges. Again, if they advance to the final 4, the song will be recorded.
• Again, the judges vote.
• At the end of the show, the group is whittled down to 12 contestants — based on the judges votes — to return for Week Three.

WEEK THREE:

• RECAP: The previous weeks' songs will be re-played so the viewing audience becomes more and more familiar with the songs.
• The 12 Remaining songwriters play a THIRD song for the judges.
• Again, the judges vote.
• At the end of the show, the group is whittled down to the 4 final contestants to return for Week Four.

WEEK FOUR:

• The 4 Remaining songwriters by this time are well-known to the viewing audience.
• Each Songwriter is profiled in-depth; each songs' lyrics are profiled and the "inspiration/story" told.
• At the end of the show, the contestant with the MOST OVERALL VOTES selects which of the four producers he/she wishes to work with to record their songs.
• The contestant with the next most overall votes chooses the producer he/she wishes to work with and so on until all four remaining songwriters are paired with a producer.
• The MEAT of the Show begins at this point.
• The rules are laid out:
  1. Each contestant must record:
     • A Ballad
     • A Rock Song
     • An R&B Song
     • Artists/Producers Choice song
  2. Over the course of recording the four songs — to "even out the playing field" — each contestant will have 100 points to expend. For example, a 4-piece studio session band will "cost" them 10 points. If they want Eddie Van Halen (for example) to do a solo on their song, it expends another 12 points; a real string section is 8 points; if they want a background vocal group of "unknowns" it's 6 points; if they choose The Miracles (from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, for example), it's 10 points.
  3. They will have 10 hours to rehearse, record and mix each song to completion. If they go OVER that time, it'll cost them 3 points for every extra hour. Points carry over to the next week/song.
  4. Mystery Instrument: Each contestant has the OPTION of choosing one of three "mystery instruments" they must add to their track. If they opt to view the mystery instruments prior to choosing, they will get points only and not the downloads. Two of three competing judges must "validate" that they hear the mystery instrument on the final track for the reward to be approved.
     • Mystery Instrument #1: 5 points + 200 download credits (example: Accordion)
     • Mystery Instrument #2: 8 points + 400 download credits (example: Kazoo)
     • Mystery Instrument #3: 10 points + 600 download credits (example: Slide Whistle)
  5. The "winner" each week is the songwriter whose song gets the most downloads on iTunes.

WEEK FIVE:

• The studio recording sessions begin with the recording/filming of Song #1 of 4 for each of the four artists/contestants.
• This is where filming and editing expertise and creativity comes in. Each song will end up essentially as a "live video" of the song. This part is intended to be SO MUCH MORE CREATIVE than simply filming the recording process. Everyone knows that most people "listen with their eyes", so it will be important for each song to be:
  • Visually interesting
  • Edgy
  • Highly stylized
  • Entertaining
  • Humorous
  • Engaging
  • Capture the "essence and drama" of the recording process & character of the song/songwriter
• The viewing Audience will experience TWO THINGS:

  ONE) The "under the hood" filming of the song:

  • The drums and bass alone along with the "scratch" vocal.
  • The the piece-by-piece addition of every track.
  • The slow building process of each track being added and mixed in along with "sweetening" effects.

  TWO)

  • The "human element" of the producer working with the artist — a process that can get very heated and involved.
  • The interaction between the artist, the musicians, singers, with ALL the angst that inevitably ensues during the average recording session.
  • The sense of urgency that arises as "the clock is ticking" plus the anxiety of the artist making creative decisions on how to allocate the use of their allotted points.
• The FINAL PRODUCT as edited into the ACTUAL SONG/Live Studio Video that viewers will be able to purchase on iTunes.

WEEK SIX / SEVEN / EIGHT:

• The show opens up with a TALLY of the number of downloads of the previous weeks' four artists songs. The Songwriter with the most downloads WINS for that week. Winning gives them an advantage of 10 EXTRA points to expend moving forward.
• The studio recording sessions continue with the recording/filming of the next of four songs for each of the four artists/contestants — keeping in mind the requirements of the specific types of songs required (ballad, rock song, R&B song & artists choice).
• The recording/filming process proceeds as with the first song.
• The Final Product for the four songwriters is previewed as in the previous week.
• Each of the judges "weighs in" on the process of the session and the strengths/qualities of their artist.
• Viewers are urged to purchase their favorite song on iTunes to support their favorite artist/song.

WEEK NINE:

• The show opens up with a TALLY of the number of downloads of the previous weeks' four artists songs. The Songwriter with the most downloads WINS for that week.
• The FINAL TALLY is tabulated taking into account ALL downloads for ALL four songs. The artist with the most overall downloads WINS the "You Pick The Hit" competition.
• Winning the WHOLE CONTEST allows them to complete their "album" of songs with the recording of 6 more songs — with NO Time Limit — for a full record of 10 songs. Given the exposure they've received, there's a good chance they will have a HIT among their songs. They will have the opportunity to put a band together and stage a tour.
• This launches their careers!
• The show makes "stars" out of otherwise "behind the scenes" record producers.
• The show opens up a WHOLE NEW INSIGHT into how a Hit Song is created.