CTV officially unveils today the 30 artists vying for their chance to record an original song on the upcoming second season of CTV’s smash-hit music series, THE LAUNCH, premiering January 30. Handpicked from thousands of applicants, these widely gifted artists represent some of the best talent that Canada has to offer across a variety of musical genres, including pop, rock, country, soul, folk, and more.
The six-episode second season of THE LAUNCH kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT in super simulcast on CTV, VRAK, and the CTV app. Weekly episodes of THE LAUNCH will also air day-and-date with CTV on VRAK, subtitled in French. Encore presentations of THE LAUNCH air Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and Sundays at 11 a.m. ET on Much (visit CTV.ca and Much.com to confirm local listings).
Guiding artists through the audition, performing, and recording process are Scott Borchetta, world renowned music executive and CEO/Founder of Big Machine Label Group, and new permanent mentor Marie-Mai (STAR ACADÉMIE, LA VOIX), who join a weekly rotating panel of music industry powerhouse celebrity mentors and producers. Fan favourite entertainment reporter Liz Trinnear (ETALK) also joins Season 2 in a new hosting role.
Episode 1 – Airing Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor/Producer: Ryan Tedder
Amber J, Trail, B.C. – Pop, R&B
Cassiøpeia, Burnaby, B.C. – Alt-Pop
Dey, Toronto – Soul
NOA, Richmond Hill, Ont. – Pop
Vi, Ottawa – Alternative, Dark-Pop
Episode 2 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor: Sarah McLachlan
Song Producer: Alex Hope
Alexandra Porat, Mississauga, Ont. – Pop, R&B
Avery Florence, Montréal – Soft-Soul, Low-Key R&B
T. Thomason, Halifax – Indie, Pop-Rock
Trevor LaRose, Mississauga, Ont. – Alt-Pop
Phé, Vancouver – R&B
Episode 3 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor: Max Kerman (Arkells)
Song Producer: Jon Levine
Charlie The Kid, Toronto – Confetti-Folk
James Clayton, Montréal – Singer-songwriter, Alternative Folk-Rock
Old.Soul.Rebel, Vancouver – Soul, Rock-n-Roll
Polina Grace, Montréal – Power-Pop
Saveria, London, Ont. – R&B, Neo-Soul
Episode 4 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor: Jann Arden
Song Producer: Shaun Frank
Clancy Coulter, Princeton, B.C. – R&B, Alt-Pop
Jayde, Peterborough, Ont. – Alt-Pop
Julia Gartha, Markham, Ont. – Singer-Songwriter, Pop
Nick Babcock, Kingston, Ont. – Pop
Olivia Lunny, Winnipeg – Alt-Pop
Episode 5 – Airing Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor/Song Producer: Bryan Adams
Ben Cottrill, Vancouver – Acoustic-Rock, Soul
Jordane Labrie, Québec City – Folk Americana
Maddie Storvold, Edmonton – Country-Folk
Nate Daviau, Toronto – Country, Americana
The Faceplants, Vancouver – Pop-Rock
Episode 6 – Airing Wednesday, Mar. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Celebrity Mentor: Bebe Rexha
Song Producer: Nile Rodgers
Adrian Chalifour, Victoria – Indie-Rock, Folk-Rock
Del Hartley, Toronto – R&B/Soul
Michelle Treacy, Ottawa – Pop
Sarah Carmosino, Aurora, Ont. – Indie-Pop
WILL, Toronto – R&B, Pop
As announced last fall, the exciting second season of THE LAUNCH features A-List mentors and producers, including Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan; Grammy® Award-winning music legend Bryan Adams; frontman for four-time JUNO-Award winning rock band Arkells, Max Kerman; celebrated multi-platinum award-winning singer-songwriter Jann Arden; chart-topping singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha; and recording/producing superstar Ryan Tedder, who produced the Season 1 certified platinum hit single “Ain’t Easy” by Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, returns.
Additionally, some of the most successful producers working in music today join Season 2 to produce fresh hit songs including Nile Rodgers (Madonna, David Bowie, Diana Ross); Jon Levine (Avril Lavigne, Drake, Bebe Rexha); Alex Hope (Carly Rae Jepsen, Troye Sivan, Tove Lo); and Shaun Frank (The Chainsmokers, Steve Aoki, Dragonette).
Based on the success of the first season, THE LAUNCH secured an exclusive worldwide distribution deal with Sony Pictures Television (SPT). In addition, the inaugural season delivered a series of consecutive #1 hit songs amassing more than 30 million streams internationally to date, including “Ain’t Easy” by Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine, which also has accumulated more than 342 million radio audience impressions to date. The pop/hip-hop duo won the iHeartRadio MMVA for Best New Canadian Artist in August, and recently dropped their latest single “Better Off.”
As announced last year, each super-sized episode of THE LAUNCH will now feature reduced commercial time, delivering even more music and extended insight into featured artists’ auditions, and the process of recording, performing, and launching a new hit song. Each hour-long episode provides custom advertising opportunities including “the superpods,” which features one stand-alone advertiser in the break. The custom creative tactic offers a more seamless and engaging viewer experience between the commercial content and the program.
