Jamaican “KK Holliday” Receives 2nd Place At Inaugural US-Based Unsigned Only Music Competition

The Unsigned Only Music Competition is pleased to announce its 2012 inaugural winners. Nearly 7,500 songs were submitted and of those, Jamaican artist KK Holliday was awarded second place in the Pop/Top 40 category. Holliday’s song “Shugga Daddy” showcases the Reggae Pop genre and puts Jamaica “on the map” in Unsigned Only’s debut year–a trend that will hopefully continue in future years of the competition.

Raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Holliday is a young, vibrant artist spearheading the up and coming genre of reggae pop. Her music is produced by her husband, CEO of Monstarz Ink., Doc Frank, and she has previously collaborated with artists such as Coolio and Pretty Ricky. Holliday is currently in the studio recording her debut full length album, “Beauty & The Beast,” including her hit singles, “Shugga Daddy,” “Jamaican Jerk,” and “Watch Me Dance.”

Launched only a year ago and judged by a roster of celebrity notables such as Cyndi Lauper, 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Rogers, St. Vincent, and many more, Unsigned Only is a unique music competition designed for solo artists, bands, and singers who are not signed to a major label. With 36% of the entrants and 47% of the winners coming from outside the USA, Unsigned Only has quickly established itself as the international music competition for unsigned artists. In addition to the high-profile artists, the roster of judges also included record label presidents as well as other industry leaders, offering songwriters the unprecedented opportunity to have their music heard by influential decision-makers. See below for the complete list of judges.

For a complete list of Unsigned Only winners and to hear the winning songs, visit HERE.

The Grand Prize, Unsigned Only’s highest honor, goes to San Francisco, CA artist Lara Johnston with the song, “K.I.S.S.” Johnston was the highest scoring artist overall in the competition and a favorite among the judges. Only 22 years old, she has shared the bill with such acts as Willie Nelson, Huey Lewis and the News, Journey, Heart, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Miller, Don Henley, rapper J. Dash, and many others. Over the past three years she has toured throughout the world, writing and co-writing songs in LA, London, and Nashville, and balancing her career pursuits with her time as a student at USC’s Thornton School of Music.

2012 Judges include: 3 Doors Down; Kelly Clarkson; Robert Smith (The Cure); Kenny Rogers; Jeremy Camp; Musiq Soulchild; St. Vincent; Manchester Orchestra; Angie Stone; G. Love; Craig Morgan; Aaron Shust; Charlie Daniels; Steve Lillywhite (Producer); Matt and Kim; Cyndi Lauper; The Mountain Goats; Josh Jackson (Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Paste Magazine) and Scott Lapatine (Founder/Editor-In-Chief, Stereogum.

2012 Mentors include: Monte Lipman (President of Universal Republic); Pete Ganbarg (Executive VP/Head of A&R, Atlantic Records); David Wolter (Senior VP of A&R, RCA Records); Kim Stephens (President, Forward Entertainment and A&R/Capitol Music Group); Trevor Jerideau (VP of A&R, J Records); David Wilkes (VP of A&R, eOne Music); Pete Giberga (Head of A&R, Razor & Tie Records); and Jason Geter (President, Grand Hustle Records).

Sponsors include: Posse, Steamboat Ampworks, Verve Management, Music Business Registry, Mrs. Fields Cookies, and Spider Capo

Unsigned is now accepting entries for 2013. Many new judges will be added, as well as a new Teen category for artists 18 years old and younger. Information on how to enter can be found at www.unsignedonly.com.

Source: CEM