Lucky number seven! CTV today announced the expansion of its all-new, original music series and international TV format THE LAUNCH to include a seventh, final episode. JUST LAUNCHED rounds out the highly anticipated inaugural season, with an in-depth look at the continuation of the journey for the six breakthrough artists selected at the end of each episode of the series for the life-changing opportunity to record and launch a new, original song.
Today’s announcement comes ahead of THE LAUNCH’s world premiere airing next Wednesday, Jan. 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CTV and CTV GO, and in super simulcast on CTV Two and Much. THE LAUNCH is also set to air in French on VRAK day-and-date with CTV.
In addition to the series’ expansion to seven episodes, CTV also revealed today THE LAUNCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT, an extended version of Episodes 1-6 of THE LAUNCH that will debut exclusively on CraveTV weekly at 10 p.m. ET immediately following the network broadcast. Each episode of THE LAUNCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT takes viewers inside extended auditions of each of the five artists featured in that episode along with comprehensive mentor reactions/feedback, and never-seen-before moments that are exclusive to the CraveTV DIRECTOR’S CUT version of the episode.
Fans are also invited to visit CTV.ca/TheLaunch leading up to and throughout the season for exclusive, expansive digital content featuring THE LAUNCH celebrity mentors and the 30 artists selected to participate in the series’ inaugural season. Digital content includes comprehensive Q&As with all artists taking part in THE LAUNCH, now available on the site’s video portal. Refreshed Q&A materials featuring each episode’s respective artists will be release in advance of the season premiere on January 10, and weekly leading up to each subsequent episode. In addition, CTV.ca is the destination for blogs highlighting Season 1 mentors’ greatest achievements, with new blog entries to surface throughout the season and beyond. Following each episode, CTV.ca will release videos featuring extended musical performances, in-studio demos and “first-listens”, unique moments between artists and their mentors, and a variety of other exclusive digital content.
THE LAUNCH: JUST LAUNCHED
Production of THE LAUNCH’s first six episodes wrapped last fall in Toronto, with the additional seventh bonus episode currently in development by the Bell Media Studios team, documenting the up-to-the-minute trajectory and life-changing journey of each week’s newly launched artist. JUST LAUNCHED will air one week following Episode 6 on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT on CTV and CTV GO.
Featuring behind-the-scenes moments and outtakes of the six artists chosen to launch their original songs, the one-hour bonus episode includes up-to-the-moment interviews with each selected artist and an all-new interview with series co-creator and world-renowned record mogul Scott Borchetta. The episode also follows each artist back to their respective hometowns after creating their new single; is on the scene with the chosen artists as they watch the broadcast episode for the first time with their nearest and dearest, as viewers across Canada tune in to the episode; and captures each of the six “launched” artists’ as they hear their song launch on the radio for the first time. In addition, the bonus episode will feature brand-new performances by each of the chosen artists – including clips of the first-ever performance of their respective singles outside of their episode.
THE LAUNCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT
THE LAUNCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT serves up a robust, behind-the-scenes look inside the production of THE LAUNCH, inviting viewers inside the audition process of the five aspiring artists featured in each weekly episode of the inaugural season of THE LAUNCH. Viewers are also taken inside the intimate, behind-the-scenes moments of post-audition deliberations, feedback, and suggestions provided to the five artists by each episode’s celebrity mentor and producer/ songwriter. An authentic, first-hand glimpse into how the music industry’s A&R process unfolds, THE LAUNCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT offers a deeper look at the experience of the five artists featured weekly as they take a shot at becoming one of the two artists shortlisted to record the new original song and perform it on stage in front of a live audience.
As previously announced, international musical icon Shania Twain and award-winning producer/songwriter busbee join THE LAUNCH co-creator and world-renowned music mogul Scott Borchetta in amplifying the experience of five previously announced aspiring artists to be featured in the premiere episode, by providing invaluable industry guidance and mentorship as they audition for the opportunity to perform and record a new original song. The artists featured in Episode 1 include (in alphabetical order):
Episode 1: International musical icon and reigning “Queen of Country Pop” Shania Twain and award-winning producer/songwriter busbee (Jan. 10)
- Havelin (Edmonton)
- Julia Tomlinson (King City, Ont.)
- Logan Staats (Ohsweken, Six Nations of the Grand River reserve in Ontario)
- The Revel Boys (Toronto)
- Vivian Hicks (Georgetown, Ont.)
Following THE LAUNCH’s inaugural episode, a staggering roster of musical A-listers join Borchetta weekly as mentors in the series’ forthcoming episodes. As previously announced, the mentors are paired with groups of five emerging artists per episode as follows:
Episode 2: OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder and Grammy® Award-winner, Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles (Jan. 17)
- Basil Phoenix (The Pas, Manitoba)
- Divine Lightbody (Brampton, Ont.)
- Elijah Woods x Jamie Fine (Ottawa)
- JP Maurice (Vancouver)
- LITEYEARS (Hamilton, Ont.)
Episode 3: Eight-time GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum superstar Fergie and Canada’s own Stephan Moccio , the music mastermind behind massive, inescapable hits like the quintuple-platinum “Wrecking Ball” (Jan. 24)
- Ezra Jordan (Toronto)
- Faiza (Toronto)
- Jaryd Stanley (Rothesay, N.B.)
- Poesy (Ancaster, Ont.)
- Sariyah Hines (London, Ont.)
Episode 4: Rock icon and founding member of legendary rock band Mötley Crüe Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx and Dann Huff (the producer behind more than 50 #1 hit records) mentor (Jan. 31)
- Amy Bishop (Calgary)
- Chad Price (London, Ont.)
- Dylan Menzie (Belle River, P.E.I.)
- Sons of Daughters (Vancouver)
- The Static Shift (Calgary)
Episode 5: Grammy®-nominated Best New Artist of the Year Julia Michaels (“Issues”) and the in-demand songwriter behind chart-topping hits for artists including Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, along with Grammy®-nominated record producer Ian Kirkpatrick (Feb. 7)
- James Marshall (Acton, Ont.)
- Jayd Ink (Toronto)
- Nicky MacKenzie (Salt Spring Island, B.C.)
- Noelle Maracle (Tyendinaga, Ont.)
- Zack Lane (Moncton, N.B.)
Episode 6: Culture Club alumnus and Grammy® Award-winner Boy George; Grammy®-nominated Best New Artist of the Year international pop sensation and Canadian singer/songwriter Alessia Cara, and Canadian producer extraordinaire Stephan Moccio (Feb. 14)
- Elequen (Forest, Ont.)
- Ethan Young (Toronto)
- Grace Bakker (Toronto)
- Raymond Salgado (Lantzville, B.C.)
- Victoria Azevedo (Toronto)
Episode 7: THE LAUNCH: JUST LAUNCHED rounds out the highly anticipated inaugural season, with an in-depth look at the continuation of the journey for the six breakthrough artists selected at the end of each episode of the series for the life-changing opportunity to record and launch a new, original song. (Feb. 21)
