THE SING-OFF: A Capella Challenge Returns!

In a press release today, NBC announced that it will be returning it’s singing competition hit, “The Sing-Off” to the network by renewing it for another run. Open casting calls for the show will begin in the middle of May.

NBC’s a capella group challenge show “The Sing-Off” has been renewed and starts casting in May!

Hosted by former 98 Degrees boy band member, Nick Lachey, the show originally aired for four-nights back in December. The best a capella groups from around the country compete for a chance to win a Sony Music Contract and $100,000. Groups are challenged to perform popular songs with a spin in a style never heard before. Home viewers vote for their favorite group night-after-night as one group gets voted-off at the end of each episode until the most popular one remains. The winning group last season, Nota, walked with an exclusive recording agreement with Sony Music US Latin along with the $100,000. Nota is currently developing their new album for Sony.

Singers and musician judges, Nicole Scherzinger (“The Pussycat Dolls”), Shawn Stockman (“Boyz II Men”), and Ben Folds (“Ben Folds Five”) it was announced will be returning to critique the talent.

Requirements to audition are a capella groups must be made up of 4 to 12 members, any male to female ratio, and all members must be 18 years and older. If you’re interested in applying, there’s less than one month to prepare, so you had better form your group (if you don’t have one yet) and start rehearsing now! Last season, a group wrangled itself on the fly within a couple of weeks of the auditions and made it to the stage. They didn’t accelerate far in the competition, so I wouldn’t recommend it.

Open casting calls will be held on these dates and at the following locations: “Kimmel Center at NYU” in New York, NY on Saturday, May 22nd; “SIR-Nashville” in Nashville, TN, on Saturday, May 29th; “Superior Street” in Chicago, IL on Monday, May 31st; and “Center Staging” in Los, Angeles, CA on Saturday, June 5th.

ALL open call lines start at 8am. For more information, go to: www.SINGOFFCASTING.COM, or call 877-701-SING [7464]

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: Holding Casting Calls Via YouTube!

NBC and the producers of “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) announced today that their partnership with YouTube will allow talented hopefuls all across the country to audition via online on the show’s new YouTube channel.

Got talent? Upload it to AGT new YouTube channel and maybe you'll be on the LIVE show!

The fifth season of “America’s Got Talent” open casting calls have taken place in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Orlando, Atlanta, and Portland. But, now, talented hopefuls can audition for the show by making their own video and uploading it to the “America’s Got Talent” brand new YouTube channel for submission to be on the show. Twelve acts will get the chance to perform LIVE on the “AGT” stage, but only one will be chosen by the YouTube community by popular vote. AGT producers will select the other eleven acts to also perform on the show.

Video submission uploading starts today, April 26th through June 16th. According to an NBC press release, “America’s Got Talent” is an “online sensation with some of the most viewed videos on YouTube.” America’s favorite talent show returns June 1 (8-10pm ET).

Submit your video now by going to: http://www.youtube.com/americasgottalent