Also known as C. Grayston Name Chris Grayston Origin England Role Promoter | Instruments Keyboard Years active 1990–present | |
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Associated acts IkonMidasCynical Blend Record labels Fusion Records, Future Music, Hectic Records Similar People Hatty Keane, Mark Hill, Vinylgroover, Ras Kwame, Luke Friend | ||
AUDITION TIPS FOR SINGERS. Chris Grayston speaks to Open Mic UK singing competition!
Chris Grayston is a British music promoter, event organizer, record producer, musician, label owner, and talent scout. Currently, Grayston is employed as a music consultant including working for acts, record labels.
Contents
- AUDITION TIPS FOR SINGERS Chris Grayston speaks to Open Mic UK singing competition
- Live and Unsigned
- Book
- Controversies
- References
Live and Unsigned
In 2007 Grayston organised and co-founded Live and Unsigned, an annual music competition for unsigned acts in the United Kingdom. Grayston regularly serves as Events Director and head judge for the competition. The competition annually attracts 10,000 participants, and after a series of live judging panels, ends with a summer National Grand Final at the Indig02 as part of Live Fest.
Through the competition Grayston has discovered a number of acts, including 2007 winners B-Kay and Kazz, who later achieved a top 30 hit in the UK charts with the single "You Know it's Right." He also discovered participant Josh Dubovie in 2008, who went on to represent the United Kingdom at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest. In 2008 he also discovered Welsh indie/electronic band Kiddo360, who won the Grand Final and later went on to win a Vodafone Award. Others include The Lottery Winners, Scottish band The Detours, and Nathan Sykes from The Wanted in 2008, who met with chart success in 2010.
Book
In 2016 he published the book The Secret to Success in the Music Industry.
Controversies
Following Luke Friend's appearance on 2013's X Factor and subsequent top 40 hit, Future Music Ltd threatened to sue Friend for alleged breach of contract. Future Music Ltd argued that "the winner must give TeenStar, run by Future Music, first refusal on management services within 18 months of winning", in addition to "appearances and promotion for an 18 month period from the end of the competition for a minimum of 5 times." Luke Friend's management company, Crown Management, have stated that "Our client was saddened to have received this claim from Future Music with whom he worked amicably for some time, including during his time in X-Factor. The claim has absolutely no basis in fact and will be robustly defended. We have every expectation that our client will be vindicated in due course."