GigUrban Announces 2005 Nationwide Hip-Hop/R&B Showcase Series Houston Rapper 'Kiotti' Signed at Houston Showcase

NEW YORK (GigUrban.com) GigAmerica has launched GigUrban.com as an urban artist development offshoot and announced plans for a multi-city Showcase Series in partnership with newly minted Asylum/Warner label imprint UnAuthorized Entertainment. The series will visit numerous U.S. cities and will feature the top unsigned artists in each market appearing in front of an UnAuthorized A&R Representative. Houston-based rap artist "Kiotti" was recently signed to the UnAuthorized label after a stellar performance at the GigUrban showcase recently held in Houston.

GigUrban founder Scott Egbert said the 2005 Urban Showcase Series will build on the success of the 2004 Showcase Series, which featured A&R Representatives from Sony Urban Music.

"Working with Sony Urban Music A&R was an incredible experience," said Egbert, "but an aggressive new label like UnAuthorized, with major distribution, is perfectly suited for the purpose of showcasing undiscovered artists." GigUrban will produce the showcase event series in markets throughout the U.S. with grassroots promotions, radio tie-ins, and (in key markets) local television support.

The showcases will be co-produced by local hip-hop or event promoters in each market. Invited participants will be screened and selected through a music submission process administered by UnAuthorized/Asylum/Warner label reps and showcase production partner GigUrban. Aspiring artists are encouraged to visit www.gigurban.com for submission guidelines and other details. The submission period will vary according to the showcase schedule. Showcase dates and locations will be announced as they become available on the GigUrban Web site and various news sites later this month. The entire Showcase Series will run through 2005.

"GigAmerica/GigUrban continues to be one of the premier independent music resources in the country," said UnAuthorized president and A&R executive Selim Bouab. "There are plenty of worthy artists who are operating under the traditional major label radar, and I'm looking forward to getting out to some cities not normally frequented by A&R representatives."

"Kiotti got signed as a direct result of the Houston showcase last month, "commented Prodigy, who manages the artist. "People in the industry knew of Kiotti, but it took a solid event to get A&R's to come to Houston to see him." Kiotti is presently working on completion of his debut album for UnAuthorized/Asylum, due this summer.

Roughly 20 acts per night will be heard by UnAuthorized/Asylum/Warner A&R reps, who will travel from New York City to attend each of the 10 showcases. Announced cities that will host GigUrban showcases include Salt Lake City, Boston, Phoenix, Virginia Beach, Charlotte, Jackson, Louisville, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, Memphis, San Antonio, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. More cities may be announced later.