Alongside every successful musician is an industry mentor guiding the way. We've assembled six music business experts to get you the information you'll need in a series we call Industry 101.
Get ready for Toyota Searchlight 2021.
Our hunt for Canada's next great undiscovered talent.
Toyota Searchlight is CBC Music's long-running hunt for Canada's undiscovered musical talent. Could that undiscovered talent be you? Or a Canadian musician you know?
Starting on Monday, April 19, at 9 a.m. ET, all you have to do is upload an audio file or video to YouTube — what you consider to be your very best original song in any genre.
You'll be able to sign up using our new easy-to-use Toyota Searchlight entry form. Get a head start by uploading your best song (audio or video) to YouTube now, before the competition officially opens. Please note that you will be judged on the audio of your song only, not the video. And with expanded prizes, Toyota jumps in as the title sponsor this year to support the search.
The Toyota Searchlight 2021 grand prize is bigger than ever before:
1. Allan Slaight Juno Master Class
By winning Toyota Searchlight, you will have earned your spot in Canada's premier talent development program — the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class — for a week in Toronto (or its virtual equivalent), surrounded by the music industry's best. It will all cumulate in a live industry showcase, plus a trip to Canada’s national music award show in 2022. (COVID restrictions may apply.)
2. A recording residency at the National Music Centre in Calgary:
Studio time is expensive, but if you win Toyota Searchlight, you'll spend five days in Calgary at the National Music Centre's Studio Bell, where you will be given access to more than 300 musical instruments, a recording studio and a recording engineer to create your next album.
3. Play MPE Distribution Deal:
Your single or album will get a full promotional distribution campaign sent out by the most widely used secure digital distribution system available in the music industry. Play MPE is used by all major labels, as well as thousands of independents, promoters and artists globally.
4. CBC-TV/radio/digital feature on your song/band:
Your winning song and story will be turned into a dynamic Toyota Searchlight feature hosted by CBC Music Top 20 host Grant Lawrence. The feature will air nationally on CBC Television, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and on digital platforms.
5. Prize pack courtesy of Toyota Canada:
$2,500 worth of recording studio time.
$2,500 worth of musical equipment/instruments.
6. There will be 4 Toyota Searchlight runner-up prizes:
The submission period starts on Monday, April 19, at 9 a.m. ET and ends Monday, May 3, at 3 p.m. ET. This is when all entrants can register for Toyota Searchlight 2021 and upload a song.
Round 1: Voting begins on all eligible songs on Tuesday, May 11, at 3 p.m. ET and ends Thursday, May 20, at 3 p.m. ET.
Round 2: Top 100 revealed and voting begins on Top 100 Tuesday, June 1, 3:00 p.m. ET and ends on Tuesday, June 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
Round 3: Top Ten revealed on Tuesday, June 15 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
FINAL: Judges reveal Grand Prize Winner and Runners Up on Tuesday, June 22 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
Toyota Searchlight2021 Frequently Asked Questions.
Do you have a question about entering Searchlight? Find the answers here.
Find all the answers to the most commonly asked questions about Searchlight below.
Registration for Searchlight opens on Monday, April 19, 2021. In order to enter, you need to upload your song to your own YouTube page as part of the submission process. Once this has been completed, you can fill out the entry form, on this site once submissions open.
To enter, you must be the owner of the YouTube account where the song exists, or the song must be uploaded on behalf of your record label. If your song is deleted on YouTube after you have entered, this will void your entry. It is important to perform the upload yourself and ensure that your video cannot be tampered with, or be in an agreement with a label who is managing your songs for you.
First, you will need to have your Google account ready. If you don't have a Google account or are not sure and would like to check, click on "Create an account on YouTube."
Once you can log into your account, go to YouTube, where you will find the option to "Create Account" where you log in.
Once you have created your YouTube account, upload your video using the steps provided via the "Upload videos" page.
There are a number of tools available to help you create your entry. All that you'll need is an image of your band, an MP3 file and your YouTube account.
There are step-by-step instructions that will guide you through logging into your Google account, selecting your YouTube account, uploading your MP3 file and uploading your band image.
Once this has been completed, you can fill out the entry form, on this site once submissions open (April 19th to May 11th)
Yes, but your label must consent to our rules and regulations in order for you to do so. The onus is on you to ensure you are not breaking any copyright laws by entering.
No, the song will always be yours. By entering, you agree to our rules and regulations, though, which allows the CBC to use your song for broadcast and editorial purposes.
If you have found a problem with your entry, we are not able to make any changes to it. You will need to re-enter with the correct information before the submission deadline, and contact us at searchlight@cbc.ca to have the incorrect entry removed from the contest before voting starts. Please be warned that the link for sharing and voting will change so be careful before you share the link with your fans!
Because advancing in the contest will be partially based on popular vote. The rest of the artists who advance in Searchlight — and the ultimate winner — will be determined by a judging panel. Use your social channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and ask people to vote for your song. Don’t forget to tag it #Searchlight2021, but don’t worry if you don’t have a big social reach — the judges will be listening for great songs throughout.
To vote you will need to go to our voting page where all the entries are listed. Each video will have a button to vote, along with options to share the page on social media. Our hashtag this year is #Searchlight2021. You can also tag us @cbcmusic to let us know who you’re voting for.
Every entry has a direct link option. Click on the 'Tweet' button on your video page and that will generate a link which you can copy and paste to use in other applications.
The winning artist(s) of Searchlight 2021 will receive a prestigious placement at the weeklong 2021 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class in Toronto, as well as an industry showcase to cap your week. The winning artist(s) will also win a trip to Canada’s national music awards show in 2022. The Grand Prize also includes weeklong recording residency at Studio Bell in the National Music Centre in Calgary, a Play MPE Global Music Promotion Distribution Package, and funding for instruments and studio time courtesy of Toyota Canada.
No. If your entry has an error in it we cannot edit any information in it. Instead, please submit a new entry form and email us at Searchlight@cbc.ca to let us know we should delete your first entry.
CBC Music's annual hunt for Canada's next undiscovered talent is back for 2021!
If you're an ambitious Canadian musician with a great original song, our Toyota Searchlight 2021 prize package will provide you with incredible opportunities to take your career to the next level of songwriting, album production, marketing, networking and live performance. Check your incredible list of prizes below.
The Grand Prize
Allan Slaight Juno Master Class:
As the Grand prize Winner, you will have earned your spot in Canada's premier talent development program — the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class in the fall of 2021 — for a week in Toronto or virtual equivalent, surrounded by the music industry's best plus a trip to Canada's national music awards in 2022.
This prize includes:
Return airfare for up to four band members to Toronto to attend the Master Class, hotel accommodations, and a per diem. All travel and accommodation will be pending government COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions.
A performance spot at a music industry showcase night in Toronto. Dates and location TBA, pending government COVID19 guidelines and restrictions.
A trip to the biggest award show in the canadian music industry in 2022 (dates TBA), including accommodation and return airfare pending government COVID19 guidelines and restrictions.
A recording residency at the National Music Centre in Calgary:
Studio time is expensive, but if you win Toyota Searchlight, you'll spend five days in Calgary at the National Music Centre's Studio Bell, where you will be given access to more than 300 musical instruments, a recording studio and a recording engineer to create your next album.
This prize includes:
A five-day residency at National Music Centre (NMC) in Calgary, Alberta for one artist / a group of up to four musicians.
Access to the NMC’s recording facilities for up to 10 hours each day, including access to an engineer, a technical assistant, and to the NMC’s vast collection of musical instruments.
Return airfare and accommodation.
Residency must be initiated by Nov. 30, 2021.
Play MPE Global Distribution Package:
The Grand Prize winner of Toyota Searchlight will receive a curated full-service global music promotion distribution campaign for one release (single or album) by the most widely used secure digital distribution system in the music industry.
This prize includes:
Single or album distribution across all territories to radio programmers, music curators, media, bloggers, music supervisors, and more.
A dedicated email blast to Play MPE’s global marketing email lists sent to over 39,000 music industry professionals (record labels, music promoters, radio programmers, music curators etc.)
A feature blog post on Play MPE Book.
An interview with David G. on Play MPE’s YouTube channel.
A post across all Play MPE social media channels promoting the winner and their release.
CBC TV / Radio / Digital feature on your song / band:
Your winning song and your story will be turned into a dynamic Toyota Searchlight feature hosted by CBC Music Top 20 host music Grant Lawrence which will air nationally on CBC Television, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, and on digital platforms.
Toyota Searchlight prize pack courtesy of Toyota Canada
$2,500 worth of recording studio time at the studio of the performer’s choice, provided by Toyota.
$2,500 worth of musical equipment/instruments provided by Toyota.
Four Runners Up will each win
Play MPE Global Music Promotion Distribution Package:
Two promo distribution packages for each runner-up to promote your single to be used within 1 year of winning.
Toyota Searchlight prize pack courtesy of Toyota Canada
$1,000 worth of recording studio time at the studio of the performer’s choice, provided by Toyota.
$500 worth of musical equipment/instruments provided by Toyota.
$500 sync licensing fee for a one-year licence for Searchlight promotion across CBC and sponsor channels, provided by Toyota.
Allan Slaight Juno Master Class
A recording residency at the National Music Centre in Calgary
Play MPE Global Distribution Package