YouTubers have been covering their favorite songs for a decade now, but a new original series from the streaming platform is hoping to raise the stakes.
In each of Best.Cover.Ever.’s 10 episodes, host Ludacris will walk recording artists like Demi Lovato through videos of fans who have covered their songs on YouTube, letting them act as judge. Once the celeb has decided who their favorites are, the grand-prize winner will be flown out to perform a duet with their idol. Other episodes will include Katy Perry, DNCE, Bebe Rexha, Backstreet Boys, Keith Urban, Flo Rida, Nicky Jam, Jason Derulo, and Charlie Puth.
It sort of sounds like American Idol or The Voice, but with the guarantee that the contestant actually has a relationship with their judge’s music. Ludacris promises “a lot of tears.”
https://youtu.be/uyTCRJOLDaw
Execs seem optimistic that free-to-view YouTube Originals like BCE might do bigger numbers from the get-go than anything on their YouTube Red subscription service has. Red is still struggling to find its footing in the streaming landscape, but with bridge series like this to act as an appetizer, a Red-curious YouTube customer might finally feel ready to make the leap.
Best.Cover.Ever. premieres on YouTube Nov. 20.