NBC Greenlights Digital-Inspired Music Competition The Stream

UNIVERSAL CITY: NBC is prepping a new competition series called The Stream, which taps into the power of the internet and social media to identify the next big music superstar.

Based on a successful Norwegian format, The Stream is produced by Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Monster, TV2, Nordic World and Little Hill. The show invites aspiring musicians to upload their audition video to an online platform. The 100 most-streamed musicians will be invited to perform in front of a bevy of music-industry luminaries. From there, 30 artists will be chosen to work closely with mentors for one week. After that week, each will choose their three favorites. The signed artists will compete in a live weekly show, where the audience determines who stays based on the number of streams they receive.

“The Stream brilliantly uses technology and social media to draw music lovers in and make them a part of the process,” said Paul Telegdy, the president of the alternative and reality group at NBC Entertainment. “We’re excited to discover talent in this modern way and connect the best artists with the industry’s top starmakers.”