Capitol Records to Sign “Rising Star” Winner

The singing competition, based on a record-breaking Israeli format, will premiere on June 22.

“Rising Star” just got shinier. According to Billboard, a recording contract with Capitol Records – the label of big-name artists such as Elton John, Beastie Boys, Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry – will be the grand prize for the winner of the US version of the interactive singing competition, which starts airing on June 22, on ABC.

The show, based on Israeli Keshet Broadcasting’s format, begins with 30 contestants performing in front of a wall and vying for approval from the viewing audience. As viewers at home vote on whether the contestant should go on to the next level, the wall will either rise – if they get enough votes to pass on to the next round – or stay down. The show will feature a panel of experts – multiple Billboard Awards winning singer Kesha, and three-time Grammy Award winning musicians Ludacris and Brad Paisley – who will mentor the contestants, and will be hosted by multi-platinum musician Josh Groban.

“What’s very unique in ‘Rising Star’ is its transparency”, Keshet Broadcasting’s CEO Avi Nir tells The Hollywood Reporter. “We didn’t invent talent-show voting, of course, but the fact that on our show it happens in real time and is totally transparent makes it a very zeitgeisty show.”

“Rising Star” – whose interactive voting has made it the fastest-selling format of all time – is one of the eight shows developed, produced or executive produced by Keshet Broadcasting to be included in the upcoming US television schedule. Other shows by the Tel Aviv-based broadcaster and production company will include the spy thriller “Allegiance” on NBC, the political drama “Tyrant” on FX, the archeological epic “Dig” on USA and the game-show “Boom!” on Fox, all of which join the Emmy-winning “Homeland” on Showtime.

Regarding the show as its best shot at summer success, ABC is going so far as to tweak its traditional programming hours to launch the new two-hour interactive live telecast. The show’s producers have reportedly consulted with mathematicians and statisticians in order to figure out how to deal with the US’ four contiguous time zones, and make sure that every viewer will be able to vote and take part in the process.

Capitol Music Group chairman and CEO Steve Barnett praised “Rising Star” as a concept that “utilizes the best of television and social/mobile media to introduce new artists to the public”, Billboard reports. “Our involvement with this exciting platform will help broaden the reach of these just-discovered artists and share their music with their newly won fans nationwide”, says Barnett.

Capitol will also be releasing full studio recordings of the songs performed on each episode. The downloads will be available at the end of each show. It is the first time Capitol has aligned itself with a singing competition show.

Keshet Broadcasting is a media group and leading television program maker licensed in Israel. Keshet operates under the auspices of the Second Israeli Broadcasting Authority (SBA), and it is one of two operators that have run the main Israeli commercial television channel, Channel 2, since 1993.

It shows original drama series, news, entertainment and lifestyle shows, and foreign programs.

Under CEO Avi Nir’s leadership, Keshet’s TV shows and formats have been widely embraced by international markets. Many Keshet properties have been adapted, sold and produced in the US and Europe, such as NBC’s talent competition show “Phenomenon”, the International Emmy Award winning ‘buddy comedy “Traffic Light”, and the Golden Globe & Emmy winning hit show “Homeland”, based on the Israeli drama “Prisoners of War”, which has been sold to more than 20 territories internationally.

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