Oh, Oh, Oh! International Musical Icon and Reigning “Queen of Country Pop” Shania Twain Confirmed for THE LAUNCH, CTV’s New Original Music Series and International TV Format
– THE LAUNCH is currently in production in Toronto with audience tickets to attend tapings of the series still available –
TORONTO (September 20, 2017) – CTV announced today that international musical star and reigning “Queen of Country Pop” Shania Twain is confirmed as the latest mentor on the inaugural season of CTV’s new original music series and international TV format THE LAUNCH. The top-selling female country artist of all time and five-time Grammy® Award-winning artist joins forces with previously announced recording superstars Fergie, OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, along with world-renowned music mogul Scott Borchetta as musical mentors shaping the creation of new releases by undiscovered artists.
“Shania is one of the world’s most sensational artists – a brilliant songwriter, a powerful vocalist, and a show-stopping live performer who has commanded audiences at sold-out concert arenas around the planet,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “We are honoured to welcome this stellar, category-defying, homegrown talent on board THE LAUNCH.”
Recognized as the top-selling country artist of all-time, five-time Grammy® Award-winner, Canadian-born, and internationally acclaimed musical artist Shania Twain has sold 90 million albums worldwide. The undisputed “Queen of Country Pop”, Twain is the powerhouse voice behind a string of hits including “You’re Still The One”, “From This Moment On”, and “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” to name only a few. A Canadian-born artist and author of the best-selling memoir From This Moment, Twain has achieved an unprecedented three Diamond-certified albums; headlined a show-stopping, two-year Las Vegas residency in 2012; and was recognized as the 2016 Billboard Women in Music Icon Award-winner. Shania NOW, Twain’s fifth full-length album led by the declaratory first single “Life’s About to Get Good”, is slated for release on September 29.
Reinventing the music television series genre, THE LAUNCH debuts a new and unique format, documenting an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to break a new artist and bring a song to life. In each hour-long episode, a group of unsigned emerging artists are mentored in the creation of a new original song by a panel of internationally renowned hit makers and mentors – from discovery to stardom in just two days. THE LAUNCH takes viewers on a fresh journey every week, unveiling new talent and new songs in each episode.
CTV is giving viewers in the Greater Toronto Area an opportunity to experience the excitement first-hand by attending a taping of THE LAUNCH. The studio is located just east of downtown Toronto, and is accessible by TTC with free parking available within a five-minute walk from the studio. Participants interested in attending a taping can visit CTV.ca/TheLaunch for ticket information or RSVP by emailing LaunchAudience@InsightTV.com with subject line “THE LAUNCH Tickets”. Note: include the number of guests, along with full names of everyone attending. All audience members must be at least 11 years of age and those under the age of 16-years-old must be accompanied by an adult.
Following in the successful footsteps of CANADIAN IDOL, THE IHEARTRADIO MMVAs, THE JUNO AWARDS, the MuchMusic and Coca-Cola Covers competition, and most recently, the launch of iHeartRadio Canada, THE LAUNCH was put into development in January 2016. The series was co-developed by and is produced in association with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group, Paul Franklin of Eureka, and Bell Media, in partnership with John Brunton and Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions. The format is currently being readied for an upcoming international roll-out.
THE LAUNCH is executive produced by Scott Borchetta, Randy Lennox and John Brunton; Lindsay Cox and Paul Franklin are Showrunners and Executive Producers; Executive producers for Bell Media are Robin Johnston and Corrie Coe, who is also Senior Vice-President, Original Programming, Bell Media. Pat DiVittorio is Vice-President, CTV and Specialty Programming, Mike Cosentino is President, Content and Programming, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Bell Media.
About Big Machine Label Group
Led by Founder, President and CEO Scott Borchetta, the Big Machine Label Group encompasses Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., BMLG Records, Nash Icon Records and publishing company Big Machine Music as well as its own digital radio station, Big Machine Radio. BMLG artists include superstars ?Taylor Swift, ?Rascal Flatts, ?Reba McEntire, ?Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, ?Brantley Gilbert, ?Hank Williams Jr., ?Ronnie Dunn, Cheap Trick and ?Jennifer Nettles; chart-topping acts ?Justin Moore, ?Eli Young Band, A Thousand Horses, Brett Young, ?Aaron Lewis, THE VOICE winners ?Cassadee Pope and ?Danielle Bradbery, AMERICAN IDOL Season 15 winner Trent Harmon; up-and-comers ?The Cadillac Three, Drake White, ?Tucker Beathard, Tara Thompson, Midland, Carly Pearce and ?Delta Rae. BMLG also helms soundtracks for the hit TV show NASHVILLE. BMLG artists have received multiple GRAMMY, CMA, ACM, AMA, CMT, Teen Choice, MTV, Billboard, People’s Choice, and Brit Awards. Big Machine is the first-ever American label to align with terrestrial radio for performance royalty rights for its artists and is an industry leader in fighting for artist, songwriter, publisher and record company rights. Visit BigMachineLabelGroup.com for more information.
About Eureka
Eureka is a next-generation production company combining the expertise, credibility and key relationships traditionally found within large multi-national production companies with the energy and nimbleness of a startup. Launched in January 2016, Eureka has offices in Los Angeles and Sydney and produces both unscripted and scripted programs. Within less than a year of opening Eureka has over sixty hours of programming commissioned in 2017 with more series to be announced soon.
About Insight Production Company, Ltd.
Insight Productions, known for its award-winning ratings juggernauts, is Canada’s most established content producer. Headed by CEO John Brunton & COO Barbara Bowlby, Insight is an industry leader in the development, financing, and production of hit programming, both scripted and unscripted. The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration; The JUNO Awards; Canada’s Walk of Fame; Big Brother Canada; How To Change The World; and The Amazing Race Canada – the most watched Canadian series on record – were collectively nominated for 29 Canadian Screen Awards in 2017 taking home 14 statues. Year after year, The Amazing Race Canada wins the Golden Screen, the CSA for the highest-rated reality program in Canada. Other productions include: Canadian Idol; Battle of the Blades; Never Ever Do This At Home; Intervention; Top Chef Canada; Ready Or Not; Falcon Beach; and A Christmas Fury. Recently, Insight produced The Tragically Hip: A National Celebration, a live concert special watched by one in three Canadians. Insight Productions was founded in 1979 and has since created thousands of hours of ground-breaking and multiplatform content for the global market in every genre. In 2015, Insight received the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television’s inaugural Icon Award in recognition of its 35th anniversary. For more information visit www.insighttv.com.
About Bell Media Original Programming
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada’s most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit series commissioned by CTV include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, the record-breaking THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, MASTERCHEF CANADA, hit drama CARDINAL, and upcoming original series THE DISAPPEARANCE, THE INDIAN DETECTIVE, and THE DETAIL. Among the original series on Bell Media specialty and streaming platforms are Space’s internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK as well as KILLJOYS, WYNONNA EARP, and DARK MATTER; Bravo’s award-winning and most-watched original drama 19-2; CraveTV hit comedy LETTERKENNY; Discovery’s first-ever drama FRONTIER; Comedy’s satirical news series THE BEAVERTON, CORNER GAS ANIMATED; and multiple series and specials for food and lifestyle channel Gusto, including ONE WORLD KITCHEN and A IS FOR APPLE. Discovery is also home to Bell Media’s hit factual franchise HIGHWAY THRU HELL, COLD WATER COWBOYS, and CANADA’S WORST DRIVER, among others. Bell Media is one of the first media companies in North America to commit to producing all new original scripted series in 4K.
About CTV
CTV is Canada’s #1 private broadcaster. Featuring a wide range of quality news, sports, information, and entertainment programming, CTV has been Canada’s most-watched television network for the past 16 years in a row. CTV is a division of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. Bell Media is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company. More information about CTV can be found on the network’s website at CTV.ca.
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