AOL Music’s “The Biz”

AOL; Fall 2005

Considered one of the first online reality shows, my first professional gig out of college was acting as the Lead Web Publisher for AOL Music’s “The Biz”. Wait, you never heard of it? That’s ok:

The Biz is a Web-based reality show where 9 finalists from across the country compete to prove who’s got what it takes to be America’s next music mega-mogul. These contestants — who were chosen from 9000 entrants — will undertake a variety of music business jobs to see who can rise to the top of The Biz ladder and ultimately win the show’s grand prize: The opportunity to found and run their own record label at the Warner Music Group. Along the way, they’ll get guidance from music industry legends like Lyor Cohen, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music, Warner Music Group. These execs will also decide who has the chops to win the prize and make it in the music business.

Despite its relative obscurity and never really gaining a significant audience, this AOL / Warner Music partnership still managed to drum up some pretty impressive artists and executives: Fallout Boy, Panic! At the Disco, Jason Mraz, Paul Wall, TI, and Russell Simmons.

web publisher, digital producer