Australian DJ competition Your Shot launches in US with Tiësto

Australia’s six-year-old DJ competition Your Shot has launched in the United States, with DJ superstar Tiësto as its main judge and figurehead.

Aside from its proven success and credibility in Australia, the involvement of Tiësto and his sponsor 7UP is the strategy for Your Shot to be embraced by the American EDM community. It has rejected overtures from Simon Cowell for a global DJ competition using the American Idol and X-Factor format.

The six-week UScompetition will be screened as a 10-part web series on Vevo. Thirty Americans get extensive training at the Your Shot Training Academy in Los Angeles, May 16 to June 24, and then showcase before a panel of judges including Tiësto. The Dutch DJ is credited with launching the careers of Hardwell, Martin Garrix and Oliver Heldens. Last year, Forbes had him tie with Avicci for third highest paid DJ in the world with $US28 million.

The top six finalists head to Las Vegas from late June for a week of intensive DJ challenges and mentoring with Tiësto and other DJs. The winner will perform with Tiësto in Las Vegas and show off their skills at the Ultra Music Festival 2016 in Miami.

“I’m so excited about Your Shot because it takes the idea of the DJ competition and turns it on its head," said Tiësto. "This contest really provides aspiring DJs with an opportunity to realize their dreams. Many times people don’t know how or where to get started with DJ’ing but the great thing about Your Shot is that, win or lose, they get a platform to learn, grow and achieve great things as long as they are focused and dedicated.”

Los Angeles-based Trium Entertainment will produce the USseries. It will be sponsored, as it is in Australia, by soft drink 7UP, which markets itself as the drink most associated with EDM and hosts the 7UP Stage at Ultra Music. It also works with Nielsen’s EDM research panel to study the adoption, lifestyle and spending habits of EDM fans in the U.S.

As part of his 7UP sponsorship, Tiësto collaborated with his protégé Martin Garrix on a track The Only Way is UP. It is aired on the festival circuit (and will be during Your Shot) and released on May 7 on his Musical Freedom label.

The Australian Your Shot is currently being held with 82 contestants. Aside from Stereosonic 2015, the winner can play at either Snowbombing (Austria), BPM (Mexico), Groove Cruise (USA), VH1 Supersonic (India), Chasing Summer (Canada), or Your Paradise (Fiji).

Over six years, it attracted over 2,000 applications from future steel wheelers angling to play at Stereosonic and overseas club parties. Up to 61% now hold residencies and perform regular gigs, including Tigerlily, J-Trick, New World Sound, Brooklyn, 15 Grams, Gemellini and Angus O'Loughlin.