(Top Row L-R: Basil Phoenx, Ethan Young, Ezra Jordan, Jaryd Stanley, Jayd Ink) (Second Row L-R: JP Maurice, Noelle Maracle, Poesy, Raymond Salgado, Sons of Daughters) (CNW Group/CTV)

Following the announcement unveiling the first 10 artists participating in the inaugural season of THE LAUNCH, CTV today revealed the second wave of 10 artists out of the 30 selected to participate in the all-new, six-part musical series slated for broadcast in mid-season. 

Hand-picked from more than 10,000 emerging performers following an international casting call and completion of an extensive A&R and review process, the aspiring artists are vying for the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to record and perform a new original song, mentored by a panel of internationally renowned music industry legends. The selected artists face the life-changing prospect of being propelled from discovery to stardom in just 48 hours. CTV will announce the remaining 10 teams tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 9).

Representing wildly diverse musical tastes, styles, and genres running the gamut from R&B to soul, Hip-Hop to Acoustic Pop, Reggae, Alt-Country, Alt-Rock, Indie Rock, EDM, Classical/Jazz, musical theatre, and more – THE LAUNCH‘s emerging artists illustrate a vast array of styles and hybrids of genres both vocally and instrumentally, indicative of the platinum standard of talent taking part in the series’ inaugural season.

“The calibre of talented artists participating on THE LAUNCH is simply extraordinary,” said Randy Lennox, President, Bell Media. “Our mission – to rewrite the musical television genre and propel new songs and artists to the world as we merge broadcast television and music. We have carefully partnered with the artists being announced this week to achieve this vision.”

Supporting today’s announcement across @CTV_PR social platforms is a companion #MeetTheArtists video – a compilation introducing Canadians to today’s wave of 10 announced artists for THE LAUNCH, available on Instagram and Twitter. Click here to view today’s artist video.

– CTV announces second wave of 10 artists out of 30 selected to participate in the new six-part, hour-long series –
– Aspiring artists featured on THE LAUNCH represent diverse musical genres, styles, and unique hybrid sounds ranging from R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul, Reggae, Alt-Country, Alt-Rock/Indie Rock, Acoustic Pop, EDM, Jazz, Classical, musical theatre, and more –
– @CTV_PR delivers first glimpse at the second round of artists via its #MeetTheArtists videos on Instagram and Twitter –
– For more on each of the 10 artists announced today, visit CTV.ca/TheLaunch–
– Each episode of THE LAUNCH takes viewers on an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to break a new artist and launch a new original song to the world –
– The inaugural edition of THE LAUNCH premieres on CTV in mid-season –

More information about the 10 artists announced today and participating in THE LAUNCH is included below. Bio pages showcasing all of the artists announced thus far are also available on CTV.ca‘s dedicated artist pages (available via links below).

Basil Phoenix
Instagram: @basilphoenix
SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/basilphoenix
Hometown: The Pas, Manitoba
Current City: Toronto
Musical Genres: R&B, Hip-Hop
Basil began singing and writing music after an accident at the age of 13 left her hospitalized and bedridden for months. She began writing songs to instrumental beats she found on YouTube™, recording ideas to her phone, and eventually working with a producer to create original compositions. With smooth vocals and introspective lyrics reminiscent of Lauryn Hill mixed with Sade, Basil has amassed a strong following on Instagram and has begun recording songs for the release of her debut EP.
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Basil-Phoenix

Ethan Young
Instagram: @Ethany0ung
YouTube: Ethan Young
Hometown: Toronto
Musical Genres: R&B, Pop
Ethan’s love for performance and songwriting began at a very young age. While attending Karen Kain School of the Arts, Ethan became one of the famed Mini Pop Kids, performing for sold-out audiences across Ontario. He was featured on three Mini Pop Kid albums that were sold in retail stores internationally. Ethan regularly performs for charitable events including ThreeToBe, Covenant House, Children’s Wish Foundation, and Jacob’s Ladder.
Dream Musical Venue to Perform in: Air Canada Centre
Top 3 Favourite Musical Artists: Whitney Houston, Adele, and Miley Cyrus.
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Ethan-Young

Ezra Jordan
Website: ezrajordan.com
Facebook: @EzraJordanMusic
Instagram: @ezrajordan
YouTube: Ezra Jordan
Hometown: Toronto
Musical Genres: R&B, Pop
Ezra Jordan took up piano at the age of four. A graduate of the Independent Artist Program at the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA, Ezra blends the genres of R&B and alt-pop with his keyboard-oriented approach to songwriting to create a style that is soulful, refreshing, and authentic. At the age of 18, Ezra suffered a traumatic and life-threatening leg injury. Forced to put a hold on his classical piano training during his 18-month recovery process, he turned to singing and songwriting as a musical outlet. Back on his feet with his newly honed talents, Ezra joined Juno nominated singer-songwriter Scott Helman as his keyboard player and backup singer.
Musical Bloodlines: Surrounded by music his whole life growing up with parents Marc Jordan and
Amy Sky – both in the music industry.
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Ezra-Jordan

Jaryd Stanley
Website: jarydstanley.com
Facebook: @JarydStanleyMusic
Instagram: @JarydStanley
Twitter: @JarydStanley
Hometown: Rothesay, N.B.
Genre: Pop, Soul
An acoustic guitar-playing singer-songwriter at heart, Jaryd Stanley mixes elements of rock, hip-hop, soul, pop, dance, and folk into his songs. Jaryd’s versatility is paramount in creating his ever-evolving sound, earning him “Fan Favourite” status for CBC’s 2017 National Searchlight song writing competition, as well as being named the 2017 Grand Prize Winner of Canada’sWalk of Fame Emerging Artists Music Mentorship Program. A small town “Maritimer” with big city dreams and boundless potential, his debut EP “sixteen ten” was released in mid-2017.
Top 3 Favourite Musical Artists: Ed Sheeran. Joel Plaskett. Carole King.
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Jaryd-Stanley

Jayd Ink
Twitter: @Jayd_Ink
Instagram: @jayd_ink
YouTube: Jayd Ink
Hometown: Toronto
Music Genre: R&B, soul, hip-hop, pop, and reggae
As an independent artist, Jayd Ink has accomplished a great deal of success with her music. The R&B singer-songwriter has been releasing music since 2013, with her background in poetry allowing her to effortlessly move through a myriad of musical genres. Jayd has been headlining shows in Toronto since the release of her first EP “Invitation Only” in 2015. Capturing listeners around the world with her unique voice, Jayd has also performed in Japan alongside K.Camp, DJ Whoo Kid, and Silento, and is recognized as “Toronto Musicians to Watch in 2017” by NOW Magazine.
Dream Duet: Janet Jackson
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Jayd-Ink

JP Maurice
Twitter: @jpthemaurice
Instagram: @jpthemaurice
Facebook: @Maurice
YouTube: JP Maurice
Hometown: Vancouver
Musical Genres: Pop/rock/alt-country
After touring Canada and Europe, a loss in the family caused JP to focus on channeling his emotions into his music. The tragedy resulted in his “Girls” EP, which sweeps from cinematic pop-noir into slinky neo-soul, all tied together with JP’s powerfully emotive vocals. Challenges haven’t stopped JP Maurice – if anything, they have made him stronger.
Dream Musical Venue to Perform in: Coachella, or main stage of the Sasquatch! Music Festival
Full Bio: CTV.ca/JP-Maurice

Noelle Maracle
Twitter: @noellemaracle
Instagram: @noellemaracle
Facebook: @noellemaraclemusic
YouTube: Noelle Maracle
Hometown: Tyendinaga, Ont.
Musical Genres: R&B, soul, acoustic pop, EDM, all with jazz influence
When Noelle Maracle was eight years old, her brothers convinced her to audition for the television show KARAOKE STAR JR., an experience that helped her realize how much she enjoyed performing. Later that year, Noelle won YTV’s “Virtual Next Star” singing contest and presented Justin Bieber with his first Platinum Award in Toronto. To date, Noelle has had the honour of singing at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards, Andrea Menard’s TV Christmas special, and being backed up by an amazing children’s choir at “Reach for the Rainbow”. Noelle also wrote the ballad song for Dance for Kindness 2016. Her YouTube™ channel currently has 27 million views and over 92,000 subscribers.
Dream Musical Venue to Perform in: Carnegie Hall, with an amazing piano player and jazz band.
Dream Duet: Daniel Caesar
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Noelle-Maracle

Poesy
Website: poesyofficial.com
Facebook: @poesyofficial
Instagram: @poesyofficial
YouTube: POESY
Hometown: Ancaster, Ont.
Musical Genres: Alternative rock/indie rock
After being inspired to write her first song at the age of nine, Poesy is now fully immersed in the alternative indie world of music. With her named derived from an archaic word for poetry, and a callback to her time as an English and Creative Writing major at Western University, Poesy finds inspiration in literature, 1970s rock, thrift stores, and bus rides, to create the narratives present in her own songwriting. Poesy’s infatuation with all types of art is behind the short story she wrote to accompany each track on her debut EP, “The Spotless Mind”. With her piano skills in her pocket, she dabbles with anything she can get her hands on – guitar, ukulele, you name it – in order to make her cathartic style of music.
Musical Influences: Freddie Mercury, Katy Perry, Florence Welch, Kurt Cobain, and Stevie Nicks.
Dream Musical Venue to Perform in: Wembley Stadium
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Poesy

Raymond Salgado
Instagram: @raymondsalgadoofficial
Twitter: @raysalgadomusic
YouTube: Raymond Salgado
Hometown: Nanaimo, B.C.
Current City: Lantzville, B.C.
Music genres: Pop/R&B, classical, musical theatre
Raymond Salgado’s love of music came at a very early age, inspired by a large Filipino community that loves to sing, dance, and perform. A veteran of competitions, festivals and concerts, Raymond has been the representative for Provincial Performing Arts of B.C. for the last six years and recently won the Senior Classical at Provincials 2016. For the last nine years, Raymond has been a student of voice lessons at Andrea Bertram Studio. He has combined those skills with his passion for musical theatre, with roles in musicals such as Benny in the production of Rent, Donkey in the musical Shrek, and Valjean in Les Misérables.
Top 3 Favourite Musical Artists: Mariah Carey, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes
Nicknames: Slaymond, Baemond, Ray-Ray, Ray Bae
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Raymond-Salgado

Sons of Daughters
Twitter: @sonsofdaughters
Instagram: @sonsofdaughters
YouTube: Sons of Daughters
Hometown: Vancouver
Current City: Nashville
Meet The Band: Chrystal Leigh and Jimmy Thow
The Band’s Sound: Country
Since their move to Nashville, Sons of Daughters have collaborated with numerous Grammy®-nominated songwriters, helping them to expand their musical repertoire. They have recorded a six-track debut EP entitled “Pick your Poison”, which was created with legendary Grammy®-nominated Producer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith); and Juno-nominated, CCMA winner, Writer and Producer Jeff Johnson (Wes Mack, Dallas Smith). The duo is committed to carving their own unique sound in the modern country scene through captivating vocal harmonies, swampy guitar riffs, and catchy lyrics.
Dream Duet: The Rolling Stones because I’m in love with Keith Richards(Chrystal Leigh)
Favourite Personal Performance to Date: Playing for AC/DC at a private dinner party (Jimmy Thow)
Full Bio: CTV.ca/Sons-of-Daughters

Today’s announcement will be followed up tomorrow (Thursday, Nov. 9) with the release of the final 10 artists selected to participate on THE LAUNCH. In addition, viewers are invited to catch interviews with some of the series’ participating artists today across Bell Media properties.

THE LAUNCH was put into development in January 2016. The series was co-developed by and is produced by Bell Media in association with Scott Borchetta of Big Machine Label Group, Paul Franklin of Eureka(MASTERCHEF, THE BIGGEST LOSER), in partnership with John Bruntonand Lindsay Cox of Insight Productions (THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, CANADIAN IDOL, THE JUNO AWARDS).

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.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

Twitter:
@TheLaunchCTV
@BellMediaPR
@bigmachine
@CTV_PR 
@CTV_Television
@insightprod
@iHeartRadioCA

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/CTV
www.facebook.com/TheLaunchCTV
iHeartRadio Canada

Instagram:
@TheLaunchCTV
@CTV_PR
@ctv_television
iHeartRadioCA

Website:
www.ctv.ca/TheLaunch

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, Brett Young, Aaron Lewis, THE VOICE winner Danielle Bradbery; up-and-comers Midland, Carly Pearce, Delta Rae, The Cadillac Three, Drake White, Tucker Beathard, and Tara Thompson. 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 31 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 groundbreaking 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 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.

TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2017 /CNW/ – CTV