MTV Talks Live and Unsigned

MTV.co.uk writer Joanne Dorken will be judging some of the Live and Unsigned Area Finals including Basildon. With a wealth of knowledge of the current charts and having interviewed some of the biggest stars today, Jo tells us what she’ll be looking for in this years competition;

“In an industry that has become incredibly competitive in recent years, I am really looking forward to being a judge for Live and Unsigned. Working for MTV has given me an insight into all different genres of music from Indie, Rock, Grime Music, Hip Hop and good old fashioned Pop! But no matter what genre of music you are into, passion and originality are key to being successful in an industry where talent shows, like this one, have paved the way for some of the most successful acts of this generation.

As well as talent, originality is crucial to thrive in the music industry as the videos of legends such as the late Michael Jackson and Madonna prove. They have paved the way for other artists like Eminem and Lady GaGa to hog the screens of MTV and have enabled others, much like those who I might meet throughout this judging process, to be as creative as they wish in order to succeed.

I’ve recently interviewed artists such as JLS, Taio Cruz, Jason Derulo, Marina and The Diamonds and Chipmunk, and it’s clear that these acts are doing so well in the industry not only because of their catchy tunes, but because of their originality. Another key factor is image – having a stand out image that no one else has will get you noticed and ensure people remember who you are after you’ve performed.

As a judge for Live and Unsigned, I will be looking for not only an innovative performance but also self belief.

I love listening to new music. I’ve already worked the red carpet at the NME Awards this year, will be working at the Camden Crawl and I’m looking forward to joining the Live and Unsigned panel and spotting new talent!”