The Next Star Season 7 to feature new judge, Dan Kanter

Musical Director and lead guitarist for Justin Bieber joins the judging panel for Canada's longest running talent competition series

TORONTO, April 8, 2014 /CNW/ - YTV's The Next Star Season 7 will hit the road on April 26, 2014 for a cross-country audition tour with a new addition to its judging panel, music producer and songwriter Dan Kanter. Originally from Ottawa and based in Toronto, Dan is a multi-instrumentalist, guitarist and performance coach, as well as the Musical Director and lead guitarist for Justin Bieber. He co-produced two of Justin Bieber's albums and co-wrote his song "Be Alright" on the album "Believe". Joining returning judges, country sweetheart Tara Oram and music industry impresario Mark Spicoluk, Dan will bring his wealth of experience to the table in guiding this season's young hopefuls through The Next Star experience.

"I'm so excited to join The Next Star's awesome panel of judges for Season 7," says Dan Kanter. "Working with young artists, helping them find their voice and learn the skills they need to follow their dreams of becoming a star is my favourite thing in the world. Being part of The Next Star will give me a chance to do what I love with Canada's most talented young performers!"

Dan has also directed and performed with Stevie Wonder, Carlos Santana, Usher, Miley Cyrus, Drake, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, Mary J Blige, Cody Simpson, Busta Rhymes, Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead, Carly Rae Jepsen and Fefe Dobson. He has appeared on Saturday Night Live, Oprah, Ellen, as well as at Madison Square Garden, and has even performed for the Obamas at the White House. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Musicology at York University.

The Next Star's Season 7 audition tour begins on April 26 in Halifax. The tour will travel across Canada, with open call auditions for singers under 15 years old in each city.

Tour Dates & Locations:

Halifax, Saturday, April 26, 2014
World Trade and Convention Centre
1800 Argyle Street

Montreal, Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Centre Mont-Royal
2200 Rue Mansfield

Winnipeg, Saturday, May 3, 2014
RBC Convention Centre (Winnipeg Convention Centre)
375 York Avenue

Edmonton, Tuesday May 6, 2014
Edmonton Expo Centre (Edmonton Northlands)
7515 118 Avenue NW

Vancouver, Saturday May 10, 2014
The Westin Bayshore
1601 Bayshore Drive

Toronto, May 17 and 18, 2014
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front Street West

Social Media Links:
www.nextstar.ytv.com
Facebook.com/TheNextStarYTV
Twitter: @TheNextStar
#NextStarNation
Instagram: @TheNextStarYTV

About The Next Star
Produced by leading Toronto distributor and producer Tricon Films and Television in association with YTV, The Next Star follows a new group of hopefuls from across the country, aged 15 and under as they vie for the ultimate prize – the title of The Next Star. The Top Six finalists will all get a taste of the limelight, but only one will take home the coveted title of The Next Star at the Finale, live from Canada's Wonderland. The Next Star can count some of Canada's hottest talent as alumni, including 2013 Juno Award nominee and platinum-selling artist Victoria Duffield and fellow JUNO Award nominee and double-platinum artist Alyssa Reid. Also making waves in the Canadian music industry is Season 4 winner Charlie, whose single landed her on Billboard's Top 100 Canadian Emerging Artists' Chart and music video on iTunes' top 10 list.

About YTV
Celebrating 25 years in television, YTV is a leading cross platform entertainment brand for kids and families. The channel offers quality entertainment with hilarious animated and live-action comedy series, popular Nickelodeon series, blockbuster movies, top-rated original Canadian programming, music, celebrities and the channel's after-school block, The Zone. Through its multiple platforms and exclusive digital and interactive content, YTV is the voice of Canadian youth culture. YTV is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company that creates, broadcasts and licenses content across a variety of platforms for audiences around the world. The Company's portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing, children's animation and animation software. Corus' brands include YTV, TELETOON, ABC Spark, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), HBO Canada, Historia and Séries+, as well as Nelvana, Kids Can Press, Toon Boom and 39 radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Fresh FM London, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

Tricon Films & Television is one of North America's leading producers and distributors. With offices in Toronto and Los Angeles, Tricon has quickly emerged as a prominent supplier of award-winning factual and scripted programming that continues to be successful around the world. Tricon's distribution arm features a broad catalogue of high quality, multi-platform content including primetime scripted drama and comedy, kids, lifestyle, factual and documentary series and specials. www.triconfilms.com. 

For high-resolution images, please visit: http://mediacentre.corusent.com

SOURCE: YTV Canada Inc.

Kate Calder, Corus Entertainment Inc., [email protected], 416-479-6319 OR Alina Duviner, Unit Publicist for The Next Star 7, [email protected], 416.574.1098; Emily Blake, Unit Publicist for The Next Star 7, [email protected], 647.291.6097