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Previous winners include Birdy!

The music contest judges for the Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final have been confirmed! Amongst the prestigious line up of music contest judges are Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale MBE, Mobo and Brit Award winner Shola Ama and D:Ream singer-songwriter Pete Cunnah!

Music contest judges at the Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final!

First of the music contest judges set to judge the Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final is legendary Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale MBE, who is best known as Britain’s first female DJ and Radio 1’s longest serving broadcaster. Annie’s career has seen her hang out with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones as well as become a journalist and TV presenter. Her accolades include the John Peel Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio’, and she is the only female DJ in the world to have been honoured with an MBE by the Queen and will now be one of the music contest judges present at the Open Mic UK Grand Final!

Another of the music contest judges set to judge the final include RnB artist Shola Ama. Shola’s debut album ‘Much Love’ sold over one million copies, and she enjoyed chart success with top 5 singles “You Might Need Somebody” and “You’re The One I Love”. Her success saw her win two MOBO awards for ‘Best Newcomer’ and ‘Best RnB Act’, and a Brit award for ‘Best British Female’. Shola continues to write and record new material, and makes regular appearances in the UK charts, and will

Pete Cunnah will be another of the music contest judges present at the Open Mic UK Grand Final, and is best known as lead singer and songwriter of 1990’s UK dance pop band D:Ream. He was the writer, producer and singer their entire catalogue, including the multiplatinum number 1 single “Things Can Only Get Better”, chosen by New Labour as their 1997 election campaign song. As an artist and producer Pete has sold over 3 millions records, including twelve top 40 singles and two top 5 albums, and he has written, produced and remixed for various major label acts including Duran Duran, Steps and A1.

Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final – music contest judges

The other music contest judges set to judge the Open Mic UK final are Head of BGM Michael King, Head of Future Music Chris Grayston, Flavour Magazine columnist Semper Azeez-Harris, Choice FM presenter E Plus, and Head of A&R for Future Music Ben Price.

Michael King is one half of the force behind music group BGM, and will now join the Open Mic UK Grand Final as a music contest judge. BGM is made up of five active arms - Major Music (the UK's number 1 development academy), publishing, production, management and record label, and currently develops 40 acts, manages 5 artists. Artists that have worked with BMG include Another Level, Rui Da Silva, Pixie Lott, Etta Smith and Hatty Keane.

Chris Grayston has enjoyed success as a promoter, instigator of dance label Hectic Records, and writer and co-producer of his own music. Now Head of Future Music, Chris has seen over 40,000 acts perform across the UK, and is one of the most intuitive and experienced talent scouts in the country, and is set to join the Open Mic UK Grand final as a music contest judge.

Semper Azeez-Harris has been a journalist for three years, during which time he has interviewed big names including Teddy Riley and Wretch 32. He is now talent columnistfor the award winning Flavour Magazine, using his feature to highlight unsigned but brilliantly talented individuals, which is why he’ll make a valuable addition as a music contest judge.

E Plus, the Choice FM presenter dedicated to bringing his listeners the freshest emerging urban talent, will make a valuable addition as a music contest judge with his extensive knowledge of the UK’s breaking music scene. 

Ben Price, now Head of A&R at Future Music, began his music career in radio. As a regular on the Open Air show for four years, Ben hosted a blend of new music, unsigned acts and chart classics, and interviewed an eclectic mix of musicians including Cockney Rebel’s Steve Harley, and 1980s pop idol Paul Young, before moving into A&R full time at Future Music.

Each of the music contest judges experience and knowledge of the music industry will make them valuable assets to the Open Mic UK Grand Final judging panel, fully equipped to recognise and source out the best talent in the prestigious live singing competition final.

Although it is too late now to be a part of this year’s Open Mic UK competition, you can still perform in front of prestigious music contest judges by entering the Live and Unsigned 2012 competition!