Kenny Cook

Congratulations to our Season 5 winner: Kenny Cook!

Finale Video
  • Winner: Kenny Cook!

Opening Act Contest Rules

 

Here's how the contest works:

  1. Opening Act is an individual vocalist competition for contestants age 13 and up. Contestants who meet eligibility requirements (see below) may enter the competition by attending any of the following live auditions:

    By entering WIBI’s Opening Act, the contestant grants permission for Family Friendly WIBI, New Life Media, and any promotional partners to use audio/video/photographic likeness and/or content for promotional means.

    WIBI is not responsible for any internet, server, or other transmission error in sending an e-mail, submitting an online audition registration form, or posting to the internet.

    Unless otherwise decided by Family Friendly WIBI, there will be no other means of entry into WIBI’s Opening Act.

  2. Individuals must pre-register here by 5:00 pm on the Thursday preceding the live audition event that they wish to attend. Family Friendly WIBI will confirm the registration via email by 5:00 pm on the Friday prior to the audition. The contestant must arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the beginning of the audition time for their specific location (Audition times are listed above.) All contestants must provide a government issued photo I.D. for verification. All contestants will have their picture taken at the time of registration. The auditions will be open to viewing of anyone present at the venue(s). The contestant will be given no more than three minutes to share their vocal selection (however the length of the audition may be less than three minutes at the discretion of the judging panel). Individuals may only audition once for the competition. Once you have pre-registered for a location, you are only eligible to attend that specific audition. The audition will be reviewed by both live judges at the audition, as well as video tape review of the audition.

    Contestants auditioning may select one of the following options for their audition:
    • A vocal audition with no accompaniment (a cappella).
    • Contestants may play a guitar to accompany themselves. A direct box and cable will be available for use. We WILL NOT provide a guitar or additional microphones to capture accompaniment. No one else may play for the contestant. Should he/she select this option, the contestant must be the one to sing and play the guitar.
    • Contestants may play a keyboard/piano to accompany themselves. The instrument will be available for use. No one else may play for the contestant. Should he/she select this option, the contestant must be the one to sing and play the piano/keyboard.

    The judges at the live auditions may, or may not, choose to provide feedback, coaching, etc. to a performer after they have completed their audition. At no time will the judging sheets, judge’s comments (in written form), or written feedback be provided to a contestant or representative, and will remain the property of New Life Media and Family Friendly WIBI Radio.

    Each audition will be videotaped for archive purposes, promotional use, and for additional judging and review as needed. These videos will become the property of Family Friendly WIBI Radio and New Life Media, and are not available for duplication or distribution. Contestants may have someone video record their auditions for their use should they wish.

    All individuals entering WIBI's Opening Act will be notified, by e-mail or phone, by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 and informed of their status in the competition. Eight contestants will be selected as Semi-Finalists.

    If you have not received word of your status by this time, please complete the following steps:
    • Check any spam or junk folders on your email server.
    • Send a confirmation request email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
    (Please note. Phone calls for this purpose WILL NOT be acknowledged.)
  3. Those eight will participate in the following components:
    • They will complete assigned projects in the areas of audio/video development, social networking, and marketing. These projects will be ranked and scored. The total composite score for this project phase will factor into the scoring to determine which contestants will become the four finalists for Opening Act Season 5.
    • They will record a radio quality demo of a song selected from a pre-determined list of praise and worship songs. The recording will feature the accompaniment of Mark Roach and his band.
    • Each Semi-Finalist will be featured in their own segment of "A Positive Start to Your Day" with Melody Miller and "The Family Friendly Afternoon Show” with Rob Regal.
    • They will compete in a live performance competition as the Opening Act for Mark Roach, Josh Wilson, and Sidewalk Prophets (artist subject to change without notice) on Friday, April 13, 2012 at Church on the Rock, 900 Birdie Hills Road, Saint Peters, MO 63376.

  4. At the semi-final competition on April 13, 2012, each semi-finalist will perform a song that evening, accompanied by Mark Roach and his band. The song will be the praise & worship song that was recorded for radio/web play. The audience in attendance that evening will vote for their favorite vocalists. Each audience member will cast a vote for three contestants.

    The four contestants to move to the finals will be the four with the number of points according to the following process:
    1. 40% of the overall total will be based on the total contestant score from the Opening Act: Season 5 projects. The contestant with the best score on the projects will receive 80 points. 70 to the second place contestant, and so forth down to 10 points awarded to the contestant to finish last in the project phase.
      • The tie breaker in this section will be based on the head to head comparison of the totals for the contestants’ three video scores combined.
    2. 60% of the overall total will be based on the live audience vote from the April 13, 2012 Semi-Final Event. Again, the contestant with the most audience votes will receive 80 points. 70 to the second place contestant, and so forth down to 10 points awarded to the contestant to finish last in the audience voting.
      • There will not be a tie breaker in this category. Should two (or more) contestants receive exactly the same amount of live audience votes, they will both receive the performance points for that level. The next contestant will then receive the next levels allotment, eliminating as many bottom levels as needed.
    3. These two sections will be combined and the four contestants with the most points will be declared the finalists for Opening Act Season 5. The other four contestants will be eliminated form Opening Act Season 5 at this point.
    4. Individual point totals or vote counts will not be released by WIBI, New Life Media, or by any participating partner, volunteer, or representative of Opening Act Season 5.

  5. Online voting will run each week from Monday 8am to Friday 8am with the elimination being announced on air during the final hour of the Friday edition of “A Positive Start to your Day.” The winner of WIBI’s Opening Act will be announced live just prior to their performance on Saturday, May 6, 2012 at AgapeFest, held at the Bond County Fairgrounds in Greenville, Illinois.

  6. That finalist will be our winner and receive the following:
    • The opportunity to perform with Mark Roach for the finale of WIBI’s Opening Act as AgapeFest 2012 (May 4 and May 5, 2012) on Saturday, May 5, 2012.
    • The opportunity to continue to have his or her contest demo played on WIBI throughout the year.
    • The opportunity to perform the National Anthem at a Gateway Grizzlies Baseball game on June 3, 2012.
    • The opportunity to perform the National Anthem at a Southern Illinois Miners Baseball game on July 21, 2012.
    • The opportunity to perform during Powerlight Festival at The 2012 Illinois State Fair on Sunday, August 19, 2012.
    • The opportunity to spend a week in an immersive business/educational experience at InPop Records and Patton House Entertainment in Nashville, TN during the summer of 2012.
    • The opportunity to represent Family Friendly WIBI and perform at various station/public events throughout the year.

    7.  

    Eligibility

    - Contestants must meet all eligibility requirements and sign an eligibility confirmation waiver.

    - Family Friendly WIBI retains the full right and ability to refuse or eliminate any contestant for any reason without explanation or possibility of legal ramification. Contest judging will be done entirely by WIBI's predetermined panel of judges, unless otherwise noted (such as in the case of live audience voting during semi-final phase of the contest).

    - Only those contestants who meet all requirements will be selected to continue onward throughout the Opening Act Competition and promotion.

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Contestants must be at least 13 years of age as of January 8, 2012.
      • Contestants under age 18 must have a parent or guardian complete an “Acknowledgement and Acceptance of Opening Act Rules on Behalf of a Minor” form and the parent/guardian must be present at the audition. This form will be provided at the live audition.
    • Contestants must be available for the following:
      • At least one of the four live auditions.
      • To complete the various projects associated with the competition.
      • To record their contest demo in Saint Louis, MO sometime during the period of March 16 to April 1, 2012.
      • One day to appear at the WIBI studios an be a live guest on "A Positive Start to Your Day" with Melody Miller and "The Family Friendly Afternoon Show” with Rob Regal during the period of April 2 to April 12, 2012.
      • Complete availability for Load in, Sound Check, rehearsal, performance, etc. at the Semi-Final event on April 13, 2012 in Saint Peters, MO.
      • For live voting eliminations (WIBI Studios, Carlinville, IL) on Friday, April 20 and April 27, 2012.
      • And for rehearsal and appearance/performance at AgapeFest the week of April 28 to May 5, 2012.

      The following are ineligible from participation:

      • Employees, interns, or immediate family of The New Life Radio Network, its stations, entities, and parent organizations.
      • Any individual to reach the following levels in past WIBI Opening Act Events:
        • 2008 - Winner - Andy Whitten
        • 2009 - Winner - Katie Brown
        • 2010 Winner - Kayce Kraut
        • 2011 Winner - Lexie Montgomery
        • 2011 Finalists – Camee Burdin , Crystal Groscost, Marc Patterson.
      • Any individual who currently has, or has had, a signed contract with a record label.
      • Any individual younger than 13 years of age as of January 8, 2012.

       

      More Important Details:

      - Contestants may be asked to participate, either in-person, via telephone, or through electronic means (such as e-mail), with on-air talent in promotional segments (with such segments being either live or pre-recorded).

      - In the event of a tie between any of the said contestants during any voting event, a panel of station representatives will then determine the tie-breaker. Should a contestant become unable to perform, Family Friendly WIBI will determine if a replacement is suitable. If a replacement is required,will have sole control of selecting the replacement.

      - In the event of a tie between any of the said contestants during any voting event, a panel of station representatives will then determine the tie-breaker. Should a contestant become unable to perform, Family Friendly WIBI will determine if a replacement is suitable. If a replacement is required, WIBI will have sole control of selecting the replacement.

      - Contestants in the April 13, 2012 semi-finalist competition will each perform the song that was recorded in studio with Mark Roach and his band. While the band will attempt to provide accompaniment in a key fitting to each contestant, the band will in no way be liable or held responsible for any results or perceived damages on the part of any contestant. Should a contestant become unable to perform, Family Friendly WIBI will determine if a replacement is suitable. If a replacement is required, WIBI will have sole control of selecting the replacement.

      - None of the said prizes are in any way to be construed as a guarantee of future success, agreements, or arrangements with the contestant. All contestants assume total and complete personal liability and responsibility for contest involvement, with absolutely no liability or responsibility on the part of any entity involved in the promotion of any part of this total event.

      - All prizes in this contest, advertised or implied, are not guaranteed. Whether by decision, or circumstances beyond control, Family Friendly WIBI is in no way legally bound to deliver or make good on any prize (or portion of the grand prize).

      - Family Friendly WIBI can, in no way, be legally held for any perceived damages to contestants and contest participants, or anyone related in anyway to such persons (regardless of the nature of such damages). WIBI is in no way legally liable or responsible to any contestant or participant, as all such persons are considered voluntary participants without right to any form of compensation. WIBI is in no way required to give intellectual domain to any contestant for any product or by-product of this promotion, even if such product is found existent prior to the said promotion.

      - Any applicable taxes as a result of any and all prizes awarded in this competition are the sole responsibility of the contestant.

      - By entering WIBI’s Opening Act, the contestant grants permission for Family Friendly WIBI, New Life Media, and any promotional partners to use audio/video/photographic likeness and/or content for promotional means.

      - All of Family Friendly WIBI’s regular contest rules also apply. These rules may be accessed at www.wibi.org or may be obtained by written request to Family Friendly WIBI P.O. Box 140 Carlinville, IL 62626 Attn: Contest Rules.

      - Any pre-knowledge of Opening Act events, processes, personalities, and/or results in considered confidential until such time as broadcast on WIBI or posted at www.wibi.org. Revealing such information prior to its announcement is grounds for disqualification and removal from the competition.

      - Family Friendly WIBI reserves the right to edit, delete, or otherwise amend these rules at any time, or for any reason, with or without notice, and without consequence. Also, WIBI is not responsible for errors, misinformation, or omissions in these rules.

      - Opening Act is made possible by a generous gift from Compassion International. Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical verty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults. Find out more on how to sponsor a child at www.compassion.com.

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