John Rich Starts His Own Talent Search

John Rich has already signed up to be a judge on NBC's 'Nashville Star,' and now the country music mogul has started his own talent competition. But this one is on a slightly smaller scale.

Every Monday night, starting March 31, Rich will host a singing competition at 12th & Porter, a small venue in downtown Nashville. Ten unsigned acts will perform for various celebrity judges each week, with the winner taking home a $300 prize donated by Rich himself.
Rich, best known as the shorter half of Big & Rich, says he wants to help out young talents who, like himself years ago, have trouble getting their foot in the door.

"If you think about it, there's a kid in town right now waiting tables or parking cars who is the next big thing in our business," Rich told Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "But they don't have the money to put a band together and rehearse the band, and even if they did, they wouldn't know where to play or who to invite to see them."

More than 200 people have already signed up to play at the first show next week.