Winner Takes $1m

A new social networking site has launched today, offering users a $1m prize for posting the best clip. The site, Clipstar.com, is said to be a “democratic global talent contest” that combines the idea of social networking with the ambitions of any artist, hoping to be scouted by music and entertainment agents.

The site enables users to upload video clips of any performance in one of nine categories: singing, band or group, dance, music, comedy, acting, director or film, animation or “any other”. Users will vote (for free) for the best clip. Then, once every three months a winner from each category will be chosen and will win $10,000. At the end of the year, a “grand final” will be held, where the winner of each category will be automatically entered for the million-dollar prize.



Paul Barnes, Clipstar’s managing director, says, “Clipstar.com was created to ensure that undiscovered talent was found, recognized and shared with the world.”

Users will be forced to take part in the social networking experience, and engage in different relationships in order to be considered a competitor for the grand prize.

Brand new social networking sites are literally being launched every day. Creators of this particular site, however, have tried to organize a community that takes social networking to a whole different level. Competitors will need to seriously consider what they can do to get people to vote for their clip. Self-promotion will be a huge factor in determining the winners, and those who do it best will succeed. Winning the money is obviously the ultimate goal, but I have a feeling that for most of the competing artists, this site and contest is really about getting their name and their talent recognized.

This post is in response to an article found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/oct/30/web20.digitalmedia?gusrc=rss&feed=media